K is 2!!!

Dear K,
2 years ago today you came into our lives, almost on the exact minute of my birthday,  and things haven't been the same since!  You fill up our days with lots of smiles, lots of screams, and most of all, lots of love!  In so many ways you are much more independent than your sister G was at the same age, and in many ways you are so much more a baby than she was.  You have a strong personality, you know what you want, when you want it, how you want it, and if you don't get it just like you want it you make sure everyone knows!  On the opposite side of the spectrum you are still very much my baby in the sense that when you want Mommy, nothing else will please you.  You love to snuggle up with me while you sleep, and what would a night be without waking up for a midnight "nursey"  You thrive on routine.  Bedtime is 8pm sharp, with Daddy rocking you to sleep, waking around 6 and climbing into bed with Mommy (if you're not already there), naps between 1:30 and 2:30pm every day.

Sweet K, it is hard to express how much I love you!  You are strong willed and temperamental, but also have an amazing caring side.  If G wants something you have, you may fight with her for a bit, but then you're quick to give her exactly what she wants.  If she is crying you are quick to give her "love".  If Bro needs something you come to find me or take care of his need yourself!  Each bit of your personality endears you to me.  I hope you always know how very much you are, always have been, and always will be loved!

Weight:  24lbs
Height: 

• You wear a size 4 diaper.  You've gone in the potty multiple times, but only when you want or ask.  We're going to wait to start potty triaing!
• You can still wear a few 12 month items, but wear mostly 18-24 month clothes, with a few 2t's scattered in!
• You have all your teeth and you LOVE to brush them!
• You are very attached to your "banky" & bunny lovey.  You love to wrap yourself up in your blanket and sleep with it close to you!
• You call G, "G" :)
• You call Bro, "Bro"
• You are SO happy when Daddy P comes home and run to the door or to him and squeal "Daddyyyyyyyy"
• You love to play with your dolls.  "Baby" gets her diaper changed frequently, her clothes changed frequently, and she loves to swing in Bro's swing. 
• You love to play in your pretend kitchen and will bring me "tea" and snacks!
• You love chocolate, but don't eat much  of anything else!  You'll eat Cheerios's, a bite or two of yogurt, chicken nuggets, and small amounts of other things. 
• You're still nursing, and pretty frequently, so I don't worry about your eating (too much ;)
• You enjoy spending Sunday afternoons with Grammy & Grampy.  I think you like the one to one attention, playing with toys all by yourself, and getting to do special things with them.
• You are speaking in sentences!  Your first 3 word phrase was "Hold me please".  Other things you say are:  G, Woof, Cat, Doggy, Mommy, Mom, Daddy, pwease, NO, Up, Book, read, barney, 1, 2, Maizie, Pas (for passy) and so many more!
• You can point to all your body parts, including elbow & shoulder!
• You love Micky Mouse Clubhouse, Barney & Maizie.
• You are a climber and have NO fear at all!!!  You will climb, scale and/or jump off of anything!
• You love shoes!

You are growing by leaps and bounds and I can't wait to see where the next year takes you!!!

Happy Mother's Day: My Gift!!!

To me Mother's Day is everyday.  Granted I don't appreciated every day like I should, anywhere near like I should, but I have the things in life that I need and want. 

I am married to a man, the super Daddy P, who is in full agreement with my desire to be a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM).  We don't exchange gifts on any holiday or birthday, there's just no budget for it, but I remind him often that my gift is being a SAHM.  Instead of dropping my children off somewhere each morning I get to be at home with them pretty much all day, every day, and while there ARE moments during each day that I would love to run off and escape somewhere, I truly view each day as my Mother's Day (Birthday/Anniversary/Christmas) gift.  My children are only going to be babies, toddlers & preschoolers once.  There is no place I would rather be than at home raising them myself.  I'm already seeing how quickly time passes. 

Much to my unease G is starting preschool 3 half days a week in the fall.  The fall, and I am already staying up at night stressing over this.  For her entire life she's been with me, and the few times I've been away she's been in the care of Daddy P or Grammy & Grampy.  Starting in August I will have to drop her off to be in the care of someone else for 4 hours a day.  Some Mother's may relish this time, and I may grow to, but for now I can't imagine what it will be like not to have her with me.  I don't want to hold her back, and am thankful she will be in a school that Grammy & Grampy are very involved in and that is a very short distance from our home, BUT I am dreading the day that I take her there and leave her and drive away with K & Bro.  I know that all too soon they will be doing the same and I will be back in the world of the working, looking back at my days of being a SAHM with looonging.

When I first became a Mother I told a friend I had found the job I was born to do.  She, another SAHM, said she felt the same way.  It's the only way I can describe it to people.  The second G was born I knew that being a SAHM was the best job in the world for me and what I had waited for my entire life.

So today, the official day of recognition for Mother's everywhere, I celebrate my journey in Motherhood.  Yes there are times I wish I had a lunch break or the ability to run out for anything, but those are the minority, minutes or seconds of my life, and aren't what my days are made of.

Thanks to Daddy P for giving me a gift, well 3 gifts ;),  I get to enjoy every single day of my life, I don't know what I'd do without a hubby like you!

K: 18 Months

My Sweet K is 18 Months!

How time does fly.  This time last year we celebrated you turning 6 months old with 6 cupcakes with pink frosting.  You didn't eat much, but you sure did get frosting everywhere.  Now you love anything that is sweet.   You have my sweet tooth.  You are walking, climbing and moving.  You are also talking more and more each day.  You have your own distint personality, one so different than mine, and I love watching you as you grow and explore the world around you.  You've taught me so many things over the 18 months you've been in my arms, most of all how much love my heart can hold.  You want to do everything your sister does, and get so frustrated when you can't.  In your own time you will, and I foresee you doing many things even before your sister does in the future.  You are so brave, it frightens me.  You don't look before you leap, you just take off into the unknown and often times leave me with my heart racing.

18 Month Stats:

Weight:
Height:

• You are wearing a Size 4 diaper (a Size 3 at Grammy & Grampy's house)
• You wear 12-18 month clothing
• You love the song "The Itsy Bitsy Spider"
• You LOVE Barney and when you hear the song "I Love You, You Love Me" you  run to either Mommy, Sissy or Daddy (or Grammy/Grampy) for hugs and kisses
• You also LOVE Micky Mouse
• You can climb up and down the stairs with no help at all.
• Some of your favorite foods are peanut butter crackers, red beans & rice, mortgage lifter, grahm crackers & yogurt.  You go through periods of eating and periods of not eating
• You love your evening bath with Mommy & Sissy
• You are taking gymnastics and we have to hold you back.  You want to go go go.
• You are an outgoing little girl, though have reservations about people you don't know.  You run to spend alone time at Grammy & Grampy's house and don't look back, but you cry when it's time to go into the MOPS nursery
• You love to brush your teeth
• You love to have your nails painted.
• You are talking more and more each day and understand everything that is said.
• You spend half the night in a toddler bed right  next to ours and the other half snuggled in with Mommy & Daddy
• You are still nursing and we both LOVE it!

I love you more each day baby girl!

15 Months!!!

Dear K
Happy 15 Month Birthday Sweet Girl!  In some ways the past 15 months have flown by and in other ways it doesn't seem like we were ever without you!  You have multipled the love in our family, brought so many smiles to our faces and filled our lives with excitement.  You are so different than me and help me to see things in a completly different way.  You are an independent little girl and want do everything your sister does and do it on your own, yet you are still my baby and I love our quiet moments together (very often when you are sleeping, but there are times where you come running up to me or Daddy and just want to be held...you put your little head down on our shoulder and wrap your tiny arms around us and it's just the best feeling!)

Stats:
Height:  29 inches
Weight: 20 lbs

Diaper Size 4


You are walking, running and climbing on everything.  Moreso than G ever did, and she did moreso than anyother child I knew at the time!  The kitchen table, the fireplace, tables, chairs, stairs, beds, etc....if you can figure out a way to climb on it you do.  You have had A LOT of bumps & brusies due to your climbing skills!

• Along these lines you can climb up the climbing wall attached to our swing set and then slide down the slide.

You have 4 teeth with 2 more ready to pop through.  Teething is very painful for you and causes you to be very grumpy and irritable.

You are still nursing and love it more than ever (so do I :)

You can sign all done and use your own made up gestures to get other points across!

You can say Mamma & Mommy, Dada, bark, quack & thank you (g makes sure your needs & wants are met so you don't have a need to talk much )

You give kisses when asked to Mommy, Daddy, Grammy, Grampy, Cody & Maggie.

You love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse & Barney

You love to eat so many things.  Rice, beans, chicken & peanut butter crackers are among your favorties and just like Daddy & Gracie you LOVE chocolate! 

You can point to head, eyes, nose, teeth & mouth.

You love to brush your teeth and run to the bathroom when Daddy says it is time.

You LOVE bath time and run up the stairs and to the bathtub when we ask if you are ready for a bath.  You can even climb in the tub yourself, which is very scary to Mommy!

When G goes potty you sit on the princess potty and "pretend" to potty too!

You LOVE to be outside and cry and throw a temper tantrum when it is time to come in.

You stay in the MOPS nursery 2-3 days per week and have gotten to the point where you just walk right in with G without any tears!

You are going to be a BIG sister!!!!

We love you more each day!

Happy 1st Birthday K

Dear K,

Today is your 1st Birthday!  It's hard to believe that at this time last year you weren't even born yet.  As I'm writing this it is 12:49 pm and you were born at 1:30 pm.  We've had an amazing year.  Before you were born I tried to imagine what life would be like with you here, and nothing I could have dreamed of could describe the perfect joy you bring to our lives.  You've come a long way in the past year...from a tiny baby weighing 6lbs 14oz to a little person almost the same size as her big sister.  I love holding you, watching you, and am constantly amazed by everything you do & are.  You have such a sweet personality, but are a fiesty one who will not be looked over.  You want to do everything your older sister does, you want to be a part of everything that is going on, and sometimes get frustrated that you can't do certian things.  You will get there my sweet girl.  I enjoy ever second of my life with you and can't imagine not having you as my daughter.  Last year at this time your Great Grandfather & Grandmother,  who you are named for, were awaiting, with great anticipation, our phone call with the news that you had arrived.  All through your first year they were just as amazed at you as everyone else and words cannot express my joy that you were able to meet them, together.  While we were visiting Kenny couldnt' stop thanking Daddy P & me for bringing you to him.  He loved meeting you as much as he did your sister, and proudly announced your name to everyone who came into his room.  When I call your name, when I look at you, when you do certian things you continue the incrediable life he lived.  We are blessed to be your parents and blessed to have you in our lives.  We all love you my sweet little girl.

1 Year Stats:

Height:
Weight:

• You are wearing a size 4 Diaper
• You are wearing 9-12 Month sized clothing
• You have 2 teeth
• Your smile lights up your entire face and you use it often!  I love to see you smile!
• You love your sister G so much & want to do everything she does.
• You love Micky Mouse & Minnie Mouse & Barney
• You are walking and have been since you were 9 1/2 months old!  You keep me on my toes!
• You love to climb.  The train table, the stairs, onto chairs, onto the fireplace, on all of your toys and anything else you can!
• You have had several bumps & bruises from all your exploring!  You've already had a busted lip, a bloody forehead and always have a bruise somewhere on your body!
• You say Mama & Dada, and understand lots of other words.  If I ask you were someone (G, Cody, Dada,) is you look at them
• You run, with arms streached out wide, calling Dada, and bounce with joy when Daddy P gets home!
• You have so much fun with Grammy & Grampy.  You bounce with excitement when you see them and no tears come when they babysit for you!
• You are outgoing and want to be a part of everything!  Often we have to stop G from physically holding you back at places like Kindermusic!
• You love when you and G wear the same exact clothes!  You want everything she has and we're already having to encourage sharing between you and your sister!
• You sleep right next to Mommy & love to snuggle up to me all night long!
• You have a Minnie Mouse "Lovey" that you LOVE and bring everywhere you go!
• You are still nursing and love it more each day (so do I)

K & Her Namesakes

Sweet Sleep, Second Glances, & Scary Moments

K was sleeping this afternoon and looked so sweet snuggled up with her bunny.

So peaceful.

Earlier today we were getting ready to go to a petting zoo at a local college.  I put K down to get some things ready and she cried & screamed--nothing unusual--but for some reason I went back to check on her and found her laying on her back with white froth coming out of her mouth. 

HEART STOPS.

She was also coughing, so I knew she was breathing.

I picked her up and calmly  PANICED while patting pounding her back, and she threw up, spit up, and finally I found what was causing her problems.  A tiny piece of juice box straw plastic.  Not the whole straw wraper.  A piece of it.  I pulled it out of her mouth & held her and she was fine.  So scary to think of what could have happened.  I cried all the way to pick up Daddy P to go to the petting zoo.

The thing is K always cries when I put her down.  Screams in fact.  It's normal for her to cry & scream and roll around.  Something made me check on her today and for that I am thankful!

When G was this age we were SUPER cautious about anything she came into contact with that could potentially go into her mouth.  We didn't buy ANYTHING that came from China, for fear of lead paint or some other chemical leeching into her systerm when she put a toy into her mouth.  G NEVER put anything into her mouth.  She still doesn't....K on the other hand puts EVERYTHING into her mouth.  Just last week I found blue crayon in her diaper.  Why is my 2nd child the one who puts everything in her mouth.  It is next to impossible to keep everything small enough for her to ingest out of reach, especially with a very active 2 year old sister running around!

My Sweet K, 8.5 Months

Dear K~
As I write this today I've neglected this blog and your monthly updates for 3 months, 3 months in which you have grown, changed and accomplished countless things.  You are now 8 You experienced your first Christmas, New Year's, snow, Valentine's Day, hospital stay & move.  You still haven't met any of our Northern family, including my Grandparents, who you are named after.  I pray that you will be able to meet them.  That they will be able to hold you and you will have a picture of you with them to look at in years to come.

Stats:

Weight:  16.8 lbs
Height:

• You are wearing a Size 3 Diaper
• You are wearing 6-9 Month clothing
• You are sitting well by yourself
• You are crawling,  pulling up on anything & everything, and crusiging along.
• You had your first taste of solid food on your 6 month birthday (cupcakes--ARGH) and have steadily increased your intake since then.   Currently you usually eat a YoBaby for Breakfast, have cereal at lunch time & a jar of Earthsbests babyfood at dinner.  You also nurse throughout the day/night & have bits and tastes of table food throughout the day.
• You are able to drink from a straw all by yourself.
• You love to watch Cody & G play. 
• Nothing & nobody makes you laugh like G does.
• You were hospitalized for 4 days :(  March 7-10th.  It was so hard for Mommy, Daddy & G to see you sick.  Thank God for Dr. Mommy Love.
• You had a fever for several days before the 7th, but it was controlled by medicine (staying around 101 with meds), but during the night of March 6th it spiked at 103.8 with medicine.  Our ped office was open and though we couldnt' get you in at first, Dr. Mommy Love worked her magic and we were seen.  They ran all sorts of tests, all coming out negative, but because of your fever & lethargy they admitted us to the hospital.  You had to sleep in a crib, though Mommy slept on a chair by yourside, have an IV, and have lots of other unpleasant things done.  It made us all very sad and turned you against any strangers.  Thankfully after a course of IV fluids & antibiotics you were able to come home on March 10th!
• Since your hospital visit you are a MOMMY's girl.  You won't stay in the nursery at the Y anymore, so I only work in the evenings now.
• You have found your voice and squeal & make lots of noises.
• You are still nursing & we both LOVE it more each day.

You are amazing and I love you more than words could ever express.

5 Months Old

Dear K~

Today, my sweet baby girl, you turn 5 Months old! You have been physically with us for almost half a year. Amazing. Especially since the first month of my pregnancy with you was so worrisome.

One year ago today we didn't know if you were to be. We had put our trust and hearts in God's hands and prayed unceasingly as we waited. To us you were real the moment the pregnancy test came out positive. As we had ultrasound after ultrasound, and waited week after week, our hopes of holding you in our arms dwindled. Our last ultrasound was really just done to confirm that my womb was empty, that my body was playing a mean trick on me, yet as soon as the ultrasound tech started the sonogram, there you were, arm & leg stubs wiggling around, heart beating and little tail wagging! Where less than a week ago there was nothing, now you were there, perfectly formed. Truly our Christmas Miracle. Dr. Love told us later that had we been another couple he would have recommended a D&C much earlier. Our "Faith" kept us going and believing, and now, here you are.

As you turn 5 Months old we also mark the 2 week anniversary of Father Jim's death. He was the Pastor at St. Marys, he died on the Ascension and was buried on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Those of you who know us in person know K's full name and I find all these things comforting.

Stats:
Weight: About 14lbs....

• You are wearing a size 1-2 Diaper, but we are going to buy you size 2-3's to start wearing tomorrow! (Toys R Us on Christmas Eve will be fun I'm sure)
• You are wearing 3-6 Month Clothing & 6 Month Clothing
• You are becoming more and more of a Mommy's Girl. You often cry when I'm not holding you, and you turn your head to follow me wherever I go if I'm not holding you.
• You LOVE bath time. You take a bath with G and I every night and no matter how fussy you have been, you smile & laugh in the tub.
• You LOVE to stand up. You can't stand up by yourself yet, but you love to be in your exersaucer and for us to hold you in a standing position.
• You rolled from your back to your stomach today~12/22/09~ and it was your first time to do it! We were at Grammy & Grampy's house and I didn't see it, but Grammy & G did.
• You don't nap well during the day, unless I'm holding you, but you sleep through the night. You usually get up between 3:30-6 to eat and then go back to sleep.
• You don't cry when you wake up! I wake up to the sound of you laughing and cooing! It is the sweetest sound and I love to just look at you during those wee hours!
• You "talk" & babble all the time! You are such a verbal baby. I love to listen to you and often wonder what you are saying!
• You look just like G did at this age.
• You love G so much. You watch her every move and laugh at/with her so much. I hope & pray that you and G are always close.
• You, G & I sleep snuggled up in bed every morning. It's one of my favorite parts of the day.
• You are outgrowing your bassinet and I've got to find a place for you to sleep. I may bring in a pack n play and put it next to our bed. Daddy & I would love to have you in our bed, but I find comfort having you on the breathing monitor and am not ready to give that up. I really wish we had a co-sleeper! (the weight limit is more than a bassinet.)

I love you more each day and am truly amazed at how much I love you. When I had G I never thought I could love anyone more and now I love you just as much. As I wrote to G on her 21 Month Birthday sometimes I secretly think that I must love you two more than any other mother on earth!

4 1/2 Months

Dear K~

You are 4 Months old today! You are growing and changing so quickly. You are so alert. I love to watch you take the world in. It's amazing to watch you watch your surroundings. It's funny to think you are experiencing all the same firsts at the same time as I did. You will be the exact same age as I was for your first Christmas, Easter, etc...

Stats:

Weight: 13.3 lbs (actually about 1lb less than G at the same age)
Height:

• You are still wearing a size 1 diaper, but as soon as this pack is finished will go to a size 1-2
• You are wearing a mixture of 3-6 month clothing and 6 month clothing.
• You love to watch your sister and laugh at her all the time. If nothing else makes you smile, G will.
• You can sit up with no support for several seconds at a time.
• If we put you on your tummy you roll right over to your back.
• You are still sleeping in a bassinet right next to Mommy.
• You sleep through the night unless you aren't feeling well.
• You had your first cold, which was actually croup, and it lasted a loooong time. (almost 2 weeks) It was scary and no fun for anyone. Daddy and G both got the same cold and stayed sick too.
• You celebrated your 1st Thanksgiving but didn't seem too impressed....you were still sick though!
• You coo and talk all the time. You are a very verbal baby.
• You watched us decorate the Christmas Tree & put up all the Christmas decorations. We let you touch the tree and lay under it. You love to look up at the lights.
• You stay in the nursery at the YMCA 3 days a week for an hour while Mommy lifeguards. Ms. B holds you and you stay very happy.
• You love to nurse.
• We just started you on a new reflux medicine, and it has made your tummy feel so much better.
• You love to suck on your fists/fingers. You've always got your hands in your mouth!
• You take a paci, but can live without it. G doesn't understand this and tries to put it in your mouth even when you don't want it.
• You have started playing in your exersaucer a bit and really enjoy it!

We love you more each day!

Scary Moments

Last night our Angel Monitor went off around 1:30 am. I put my hand on K and it stopped but as soon as I took it off the alarm sounded again. I turned on the bassinet light to check on K, and she was a little purplish. I immediately got up with her and she was fine, but what a scary moment. We used the Angel Monitor with G for the first 6 months of her life and it never went off (unless we picked her up and forgot to turn it off). Last night was our first experience of it actually going off for a reason. Having the alarm go off last night was well worth the cost of it (though ours was a gift). We don't know what would have happened had the alarm not gone off, but Thank God that it did.

Graco Angelcare Movements Sensor with Sound Monitor

While it may seem that your baby is perfectly still when she is sleeping, she really isn't. Our Movement Sensor with Sound Monitor detects your baby's slightest movements, even while she sleeps. An alarm will sound alerting you to check your baby ONLY if she becomes absolutely still for 20 seconds and no movement whatsoever is detected. The under-the-mattress Sensor Pad detects your baby's slightest movements and sends the signal to the Nursery Unit. The Nursery Unit sounds an alarm ONLY if no movement is detected for 20 seconds. It also transmits all other nursery sounds and has a Movement Indicator Light showing if movement is being detected. The Parents' Unit receives the alarm and all other nursery sounds. The Angelcare Movement Sensor will give you the peace of mind you won't get from just a sound monitor or even a video monitor. And, this monitor is an excellent value. It is 2 monitors in 1 so you don't have to purchase a sound monitor.

I talked to Dr. Mommy Love and a friend who is an ENT today and they both seem to think the reason Mary Faith stopped breathing has to do with her reflux. To be clear we don't actually know if she stopped breathing or was just having difficulty, etc, but whatever happend the sensor didn't detect any movement from her for 20seconds and her coloring was off for the first few seconds I had her.

The girls both have appts with Dr. Mommy Love on Tuesday so barring any other episodes we'll be talking to her more about it then.

I've always felt reassured by the monitor but after last night I think it is something that all new parents should have.

K is 1 month old today!

I know I'm repetitive, but it really is amazing how fast time passes when you have children. Time has NEVER gone by this fast for me and I just want to drink in every moment with both the girls. I LOVE being a Stay at Home Mom and know these days won't last forever (eventually we'll have money...and a house...etc...) Being at home with the girls is worth everything to me. I hear "I wish I could stay home, but there's no way we could afford it" a lot. To most people I want to say, "You can!" It means making choices, not sacrifices, but choices about the way you live your life. It means being stressed out about money sometimes and close to broke all the time, but it is worth everything. The daily moments I have with the girls are priceless to me. I didn't have easy pregnancy's with either of them and I am greatful every second of every day to have them here with me.

1 Month info for K:

• She has hit the 8lb mark (on our scale at home)
• Still wearing newborn sized diapers (although she wears a 1 at night so I don't have to change her as often :)
• Her newborn clothing is fitting perfect.
• She smiled at her sister today!

Not much has changed in the past week so I thought I would write about the beginning of my pregnancy.

We found out I was pregnant with K pretty much right away. I had some weird cravings one night in late November and said to David, "Wouldn't it be funny if I was pregnant?" The next morning I took a home pregnancy test (well 3 HPT's...I like to be sure) and they all came back positive. I called Daddy P at work and told him and we were both thrilled. We pretty much told everyone right away. I know there are different schools of thought about when to tell people, and we go with what works for us, which is telling everyone right away....we just can't contain our excitement! I called Dr. Love right away and was able to go in the next week! At my first appt Dr. Love did an ultrasound, but didn't see anything...he said it was probably too early and told me to come back in a week for another ultrasound. We went back 1 week later and had another ultrasound. Dr. Love still wasn't seeing what he should be seeing. By this time I was going nuts. I couldn't stand not knowing what was going on with my body. I was feeling nausiated and throwing up, and had several positive pregnancy tests, my beta numbers were going up, etc...my body thought it was pregnant. Dr. Love thought it might be a blighted ovum and had us come back for 1 more ultrasound--2 days before Christmas. We prayed and prayed and prayed. My mother came with us for the ultrasound--we all thought it was going to be an upsetting one and wanted someone to stay with G in the waiting room. I was crying before it even started, but we were in for a very good Christmas surprise--K's heartbeat came right up. We could see her little body (very little body as I was probably only about 6-8 weeks along at this point). Hence part of her name, Faith. I truly believe our Faith gave us our little girl. So many people were praying for us and for her. She was meant to be. Many people asked me if I regretted telling people before the 12 week mark after we went through the period of not knowing what the outcome of the pregnancy was going to be. We didn't. In fact I was comforted by so many more people than I ever would have been if I hadn't told anyone. So many people told me their stories and lifted our family up in prayer, it was amazing.

K's name is very meaningful to us. Before we knew if she was going to be a boy or a girl we decided the baby would be named after my father and grandfather or after my grandmother. When we found out she was a girl we decided on _______ _____ _____. It's a long name, but meaningful because it combines my Grandparent's names.

Due Date and The Girls

Today is K's actual due date. It's been weird thinking about how I could and technically should still be pregnant with her the past few weeks. We never thought I would go past 38 weeks so the last 2 weeks she's been here haven't been as weird. She is doing great and growing fast. I'm trying to decide if we need to buy more newborn diapers or just put her into size 1's. She's not quite 8lbs yet and newborns go to 10lbs, but we've got 2 boxes full of size 1's. We'll see.

We've had a super weekend and I'm sad for it to be ending. I love having Daddy P home with us. We went to the park yesterday and G played and played. She loves to swing, climb the rockwall, slide and just run around. There were several other families there but it wasn't too crowded and most of the kids there were right around G's age. She had a ball watching them and doing some parallel play with them. G got a purse yesterday. She picked it out herself. It's so cute and perfect for the fall: it's a small blue quilted purse with the Auburn logo on the front of it! I don't know if I want to get G to into Auburn though, it's much too far away for her to go to college to! I'm thinking of a local college for her. That way she can live at home :) I'm sure that's what she'll want to do too....

Must go feed K.

3 Weeks Old

K is now 3 weeks old! It feels like I was pregnant and blinked and now she is here. (Actually it feels like I was just pregnant with G, blinked and now she is almost 1 1/2 and I have K here too) I am getting used to daily life as a Mom of 2 girls. It's been going pretty good, though yesterday was rough. Both the girls wanted to nurse ALL day long. Now I love nursing, but nursing 2 for hours at a time is exhausting. They were both irritable yesterday too--I think G's teeth were bothering her and K was very gassey. Five o'clock couldn't come soon enough, and sure enough as soon as Daddy P got home G was as happy as could be and K was sleeping! (Mommy however was NOT in a good mood) Daddy P took over and gave me a much needed break and after a quick "Mommy Time" trip to Kroger I was in a much better mood.

3 Week Stats:

• Not sure how much she weighs, but K is filling out.
• Her left extra finger fell (with help from Daddy) off the day before she turned 3 weeks.
• She is wearing newborn diapers and newborn sized clothing. Newborn clothing is actually fitting her. (((Note to self: If we have any more children I will buy newborn sized clothing and diapers...my children use them...I will not listen when people tell me "You never need newborn clothes/diapers)))
• She is no longer waking up every 2 hours to eat (most nights) She usually gets up at 2 and at 5 to eat.
• She is a very early riser and likes to nurse from 5am to 7ish on and off....G usually wakes up at 7:30 so I try to sneak in some Zzzs while I'm feeding K.
• She had her 2nd bath this week and after getting a sponge (washcloth) bath she jumped in the tub with Mommy & G. She LOVED being in the tub.
• She hates paci's. G does not understand this and tries to give (shove) a paci in her mouth whenever she can.

Life is passing very quickly these days and we're just trying to absorb every moment and be happy in them. Easy to say now, not so much on days like yesterday :) I am thankful for my girls and my husband every day though. After such a trying day yesterday I crept into bed with G and snuggled her for a bit while she slept. One of the best feelings in the world.

2 Weeks Old!!!

Dear K-

Today you are 2 weeks old! This is around the time we thought you would be coming. I was induced at 38 weeks with your sister G and that was what we planned with you, but my body had other plans for you! I look at you often and think that you could still be inside of me, WOW, that is amazing. I miss the movements that only you and I were aware of, but am happy to have you out here to share with Daddy, G, Cody and everyone else.

Here is what you are up to:

• You weighed 7lbs 3oz when you were 12 days old! You are growing fast! (Maybe because you love to eat so much!)
• You still eat every 2 hours at night, but I don't have to wake you up--you wake up every 2 hours on the dot to eat at night.
• You still have your days and nights mixed up--you would sleep all day without eating if I let you!
• You love to watch your sister and she loves to entertain you!
• You won't take a bottle anymore. This doesn't bother me--no more pumping, which I don't especially love.
• You are wearing newborn sized diapers now.
• Your right extra finger fell off today. I called Daddy right away to tell him. We were at Grammy & Grampy's house when I noticed it was missing. (It was in your little mitten)
• You don't like paci's very much, but don't cry very often at all--only when you are hungry.
• You are allergic to wipes--just like your sister was. Thankfully she grew out of it at about 1 year, until then it's only washcloths for you!

Birth Story

I'm tired right now (more like chronically exhausted), but I want to get K'sbirth story up before I start to forget it. I've still got G's birth story (the 1 paragraph I got through) saved on the computer to finish one day.

We'd been seeing the high risk dr and my regular OB (aka Dr. Love) 1x per week for the past several weeks and had gone to 2x per week the week before K was born. On July 21st I was scheduled for my regular high risk appt and my regular apt with Dr. Love. I had been on bedrest since Friday, July 17th and was anxious for my apts because the bedrest was wearing on me emotionally. I'd been feeling really horrible due to my blood pressure and having to be in bed or on the couch all day made me feel even worse.

We got to the high risk dr and had my regular ultrasound and talked with the dr about my bp and how bad I'd been feeling. At that point he decided it was time for K to come, because of my blood pressure and because my amniotic fluid level was going down (had been low the previous visit as well)! We had packed a suitcase that morning before we left, just to be on the safe side, so we were prepared, but still surprised. While at the high risk dr I was hooked up to a monitor for about 30 minutes to review K's heartbeat. After that the high risk Dr told us to get lunch and then go to our apt with Dr. Love. We left his office and headed to the Mall for some lunch and some last alone time with G and then headed to Dr. Love's office. He did a basic exam and then told us to head over to the hospital where they were expecting us! Before going to the hospital I wanted to get a pedicure (silly to be focused on my toes at this point, but it was super importnat to me), so I went to a place that some of the girls at Dr. Love's office recommended and enjoyed a pedi! I think I made the man who did the pedicure nervous because he asked me when the baby was coming and I told him we were heading to the hospital next!

We got to the hosptial (just as G had fallen asleep--so I walked into the hospital very pregnant, pusing a sleeping baby in a stroller) and were immediatly take to a Labor, Delivery, & Recovery room (the very same room I gave birth to G in). I had planned on taking a shower and relaxing a bit when we got there, but they were ready to go! I got into my hospital gown, they started an iv, giving me fluids and antibiotics (since I was only 36 weeks I hadn't had the Group B strep test done yet) and started my induction! It all happened so fast. We got to the hospital around 3 and by 4 I was hooked up to all the monitors, had an iv and had been given the cervadil to get things going. Mom and Dad came to pick up G and Drew, Camila and Brandon came by shortly afterwards. The entire gang, including Daddy P, went to dinner at Cracker Barrell while I rested and then Mom & Dad & G returned home. It was bittersweet when Daddy P got back--we were alone for an entire night for the first time since being in that room the night before G was born. G was very happy to leave the hospital--she wouldn't come to me, even to nurse, and was scared by all the wires. Daddy P and I relaxed and he got his bed, aka hard hosptial chair, ready and by 11pm I was out cold. I actually slept all night courtesy of ambian, but David was cold and awoken many times by the nurse checking K and I.

At 6am the next morning pitocin was started. I didn't start feeling contractions until around 9, and had an injection of pain medicine, which made me very crazy for a while--poor Daddy P, and didn't do anything for the contractions. I asked for my epidural around 10 and the epidural lady started it around 10:30am. Epidural lady felt it necessary to use the least amount of medicine needed, which I did not appreciate until AFTER K was born, and which upset me until I went to sleep around 11:30. I woke up at 1:30pm, the nurse checked me and said it was time! She went and called Dr. Love, who magically appeared and it was time to have a baby. David and I were still both waking up, and I was really thinking it was going to be another loooong labor, but boy was I surprised! I pushed through 4 contractions and suddenly Dr. Love told me to stop, and her head was out! K was born at 1: 56pm at 36 weeks and 3 days gestation and was healthy as a horse! (Though if she hadn't been healthy they were well prepared--as I was pushing more and more people were coming in and as Dr. Love put it, I didn't know we were selling tickets to the birth, LOL) I had no stitches or tears and was up and walking an hour afterwards (thank you mean epidural lady, though I didn't appreciate the small amount of medicine you gave me in the beginning I did afterwards)

We had to spend an extra night in the hospital due to our old friend Bili Ruben, but were happily discharged Saturday July 25 and spent our first night at home as a family of 5 (yes, 5--we include Cody in our family) 1 week ago today!

1 Week Old

Today K is 1 week old!!! Wow! Time has flown by.

1 Week Stats/Info:

• You weigh 6lbs 10 oz
• Today is the first day you are not being stuck to test your bili
  levels! YAY!!!
• You wear a Preemie sized diaper
• You have your days and nights mixed up!
• You have to eat every 2 hours
• Newborn clothes are HUGE on you, and all the summer clothes we have for you haven't been worn yet...you have to wear warm clothing all the time!
• Daddy has given you several bottles and you don't seem to mind taking them, in fact you drank 3oz from one this morning (in one sitting)
• You are sleeping in a bassinette in Mommy & Daddy's room.
• You like to go the bathroom as soon as we take your diaper off!
• You are spending more and more time with your eyes open.
• Your umbillical cord stump fell off today (7-29-09)!!!

Birth Story to come soon...(as soon as I have time, which may be today, or may next week, month or year, LOL)

G

The first few posts on this blog have to do with the arrival of K...now it's time to focus on the new BIG SISTER, G!

G is falling into her role of big sister. I think she misses the days of just Mommy and G (and Cody :), but each day I see some improvements in her attitude and behavior. She really hasn't had a problem with K--just Mommy and Daddy. She's had a few meltdowns, but luckily can escape to Grammy & Grampy's when ever she wants. G had never been away from me for more than 6 hours (and that was only 1x) and had never spent the night away from us until K's arrival so Daddy P and I were worried about how she would do when we were in the hospital. We shouldn't have worried! G had a blast at Grammy & Grampy's and our only worry when we got home is that G wouldn't want to come back. She helped Grammy cook, helped Grampy take care of the flowers and the dogs and spent many hours snuggling with Maggie, or as she says, "Aggie".

Up until the minute K was born one of my biggest fears was would I love K as much as I love G. It just didn't seem possible. I spent many hours of my pregnancy just staring at G wondering how I could love anyone as much as my first born girl. G and I spent every day together, cuddling, running errands, going to Kindermusic, Waterbabies, playdates and more. There was no one else to think about. If we wanted to stay in our jammies all day or go meet Daddy for lunch we could. Things will change, they already have, but to my great relief I loved K just as much as G from the moment she was born. It also amazes me to see how much G loves K. K has been jaundiced and has required multiple heel sticks to test her bili levels. G hates to see her in pain or crying and comes to find her Daddy or I when K is upset. She also loves to help us take care of K--she will bring me a diaper, put the old one in the trash, find a paci for K, and many more things.

Overall we've had some stressful moments, but G seems to be adjusting well. I'm sneeking alone time in with her whenever I can and she especially loves that (I do too--I crawed into bed with her this morning at 6 and we slept snuggled up until 9!)

:)

K has arrived!!!

K

36 Weeks 3 Days

July 22, 2009

1:56pm

6lbs 14oz

20 1/4 Inches Long

She arrived almost exactly on Mommy's birthday (July 22, 1978, 1:32pm)

Photos to come...

For a full album of photos go to...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=97092&id=570719715&l=a9ac667867

K's Growth Chart

08/07/2009
Weight: 7 lbs. 9 oz.
Height: in.

--08/03/2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weight: 7 lbs. 3 oz.
Height: in.

--07/30/2009-------------------------------------------------------------------------


Weight: 6 lbs. 14 oz.
Height: in.
comments:
Back up to your birth weight, YAY!!!


--07/28/2009-------------------------------------------------------------------------


Weight: 6 lbs. 10 oz.
Height: in.

--07/27/2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------


Weight: 6 lbs. 7 oz.
Height: in.

--07/22/2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------


Weight: 6 lbs. 14 oz.
Height: 20.25 in.
comments:
Happy Birthday K!!!


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