Saturday, November 5, 2011

Old Soul Lacey

The chiropractor Brent shares an office with does photography on the side (just for fun, not professionally) and so he came over the other night to take pictures of Abby.  While we were waiting for Abby to "take five", Lacey got in on the modeling.  I love these photos of Lacey.


I think this last one is my favorite.  Even though she's only a year old puppy, she looks like an old soul dog.  Maybe it's the white on her chin or the look in her eyes. 

Thanks Steve! I'll post his photos of Abby soon. 

Night Sweats...Ugh!

Why did no one mention to me or why did I read nothing about post partum night sweats?!  Maybe because I was too busy reading about pregnancy and breastfeeding a newborn that I failed to even read anything else about my changing body...

Let me tell you...I wake up each night (2-3 times in fact thanks to our little lady!) and I'm soaked with sweat from my chest up.  I've even had to do a t-shirt change in the middle of the night because I was so drenched. 

They say the night sweats are due to a hormone switch in the body.  Well, hormones, I have to say, hurry up and switch, I'm tired of waking up with wet hair and clothes and then being chilled as I sit and nurse the little one.  One could argue that I put on something to keep me warm while I nurse.  However, in my sleepy-ish state, my mission is to quiet Abby as quick as possible. 

I do have things set up for my late night/early morning feedings so I have to do as little possible in my sleepy-ish state to prepare to nurse.  For instance, I have a burp cloth ready by my chair (a must have item...don't go anywhere without one!) and a blanket ready to throw over my legs with one hand.  I had to explain to my husband why part of the blanket was left on the arm of the chair as he didn't like it on there when he sat in the chair.  Once I explained myself, the blanket has remained on the arm of the chair ready for my one handed toss.  So I could  have another blanket or zip up sweatshirt (not pullover...too bulky when you have to pull it up to nurse) ready by the chair.  But is that just another obstacle in my mission to quiet Abby as quick as possible? 

An even better solution?  Have my hormones normalize and have the night sweats subside.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Tummy Time Fun

Look at me holding my head up!



 All things you see in these photos are gifts!  Taggie blanket (from Stephanie O'Connor...I'm pretty sure), boppy pillow (from Aunt Mary Gronas), butterfly outfit (from Jenny Vogelgesang), polka dotted burp cloth (from Cece DeCurtins - handmade!), tummy time blanket (from Peggy Brockschmidt - handmade!) and floral blanket (from Donna Sullivan - handmade!) 

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

3 weeks old!

Abby is 3 weeks old!

I had planned on adding new statistics each week, but honestly, I can't remember one week from another, so that idea fell flat pretty quickly.  Hmph. 

I'm certainly no professional photographer...I can't seem to get a good shot of sweet Abby!







Sunday, October 30, 2011

You know you're a mother when...

I am in the midst of late night-middle of the night-early morning feedings.  Every night I hear Abby stirring in the bassinet set up next to my side of the bed and I swoop her up before she totally wakes up and starts screaming.  I sit in the bed with Abby attached to me as I try to stay awake myself.  After each feeding, I carefully place Abby back in the bassinet hoping that she'll fall right back to sleep.  Once that has been secured, I quickly lay back down into bed for another few hours before I do the process again.  On a couple of occasions, I would snuggle into my pillow to feel a cold sensation as my shirt rubbed against my chin.  I think "ooh, is that spit up on my shirt?".  I lean my head down to move my nose closer to the suspected wet spot on my shirt.  I smell it and it doesn't smell like spit up.  I then lean my head back and go to sleep.  And even when it does smell like spit up, I still lean my head back and go to sleep. 

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Abby meets more friends!


Abby and Jill
Abby and Graham

Abby and Heather

Abby and Kim

Abby and Rob

Abby and Doug

Abby and Melissa

Friday, October 28, 2011

First Bath

Abby had her first official bath today!  Both Brent and I anticipated some wailing on Abby's part because we know that she doesn't like to be cold and naked.  Surprisingly, she was cool as a cucumber.
  

And then after we got her clean and dried off...she spits up on herself.  Greaaaaaaaat. 

Showing off her spit up that went all over her arm and torso.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

2 Weeks Old

Mommy's Little Pumpkin is 2 weeks old!

New statistics:
4 - number of times spit up has spewed off the back of my shoulder
1 - number of times spit up has spewed off my shoulder and landed on Lacey
1 - number of times spit up has spewed off my shoulder and landed on my shoe (not on my foot)
5 - number of times spit up has landed on my sheets and/or pillowcases.
0 - number of times sheets have been washed since spit up
12 - number of smiles we have caught during sleeping or other random moments
5 - number of pacifiers in rotation
1 - number of pacifiers missing in action

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

They work!

Abby was 8 pounds 15 ounces of baby goodness when she was born.  When we were discharged from the hospital, Abby weighed 8 pounds 8 ounces (it's very normal for babies to lose a little weight at discharge).  That was a Friday.  The following Friday, we had our one week weight check at the pediatrician's office.  She weighed in at 9 pounds 6 ounces. 

Do you know what that means?  Yes, it means that she's gained weight.  Yes, it means that her digestive system is working.  But do you know what else that means?  Abby gaining nearly a whole pound after being discharged from the hospital by obtaining nutrition soley from me means that...

my boobies work! 



I began pumping the same weekend.  Now that is a whole new experience.  Seeing liquid come from a part of your body that you have not seen excrete liquid is just odd.  However, I'm beginning my stock pile of breastmilk.  Let the pumping adventure begin!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Friends and Family meet Abby!

Aunt Bethany

Megan (old co-worker of Brent's that now works at Christ Hospital)

Grandma Sue

Uncle Andy

Aunt Stephanie

Uncle Blake with Aunt Stephanie

Uncle Craig

"an actual Aunt" Megan and "an actual Uncle" Kevin with cousin Natalie

Grandpa C

Aunt Tara

Aunt Lauren