Obi-Wan Kenobe and Chloe

I took Chloe to the fertility clinic I used yesterday to show her off. Obi-Wan Kenobe was so great during our treatments for infertility. We are so grateful to him and the staff there. Unfortunately the NP who I saw many times takes Wednesday's off and I had forgotten, but I did get to see everyone else I wanted to see. Obi-Wan was so sweet when he came in. I gave him a huge hug and he wanted to know all about the birth and who delivered and who Chloe's pediatrician is. He also asked if I was going to come back over there or if I am going to stay with my OB. I hadn't really even thought about that yet. I need to do my post partum with my OB, but after that I will probably move back over to the fertility clinic.

After that we also stopped by my work to show Chloe off there. Everyone was so great and oohed and ahhed over her. Many of my co-workers even said she look like me! I will have to take her back in sometime because one of my friends wasn't at her desk and another one wasn't there at all.

It's hard to think that she is going to be three weeks old tomorrow. On one hand, I can't believe she is actually here and has been for three weeks. On the other hand, I can't believe that she hasn't been here forever. We love her so much!

Wordless Wednesday

Today's Project

I absolutely love shadow boxes. They are wonderful for nostalgic, sentimental items that you just don't know what to do with. A couple of Christmas' ago, Mom and Dad bought Russ a shadow box and I put his old boy scouts stuff in it. We have had it hanging in our apartment since. He loved it and I love that his old stuff isn't just stuck in a box somewhere not being appreciated.
When I got my box of baby stuff I knew exactly what I wanted to do with part of it. I wanted to put it in a shadow box and hang it up by Russ' Boy Scouts shadow box. The pink dress at the top is what I wore home from the hospital when I was born. The pink bonnet beside it goes with it, but I actually wore the white bonnet underneath it. The pink outfit and bonnet at the bottom were purchased by my Daddy for me. The shoes were just cute and looked nice. Mom said that they weren't from any special occasion. I just wore them when I was a baby.
Russ' shadow box was in his office/Chloe's room, but I moved it out to the living room and hung it up beside mine. I just love them!

Baby Development

Do you all get annoyed with mothers who think their child is developing faster than average? I used to until I met little Chloe. Caution: I'm so going to brag on my baby girl in this post and you may need to throw up if you continue reading. Don't say I didn't warn you.

1. She smiles. No, really, she does. She has been smiling since a she was a few days old and I just chalked it up to her finding her facial muscles. I didn't really think she knew what she was doing....until Sunday. I was pinching her little cheeks and cooing at her and she was looking straight at me and started grinning. Grinning! It was too perfect for her not to have know what she was doing. And it was extremely adorable but I'm biased.

2. She can see. Newborns eyes aren't supposed to be developed enough to follow objects. Her little eyes can follow things, mostly Russ and I, and she can focus on certain things. This one I'm not so sure about, but it just seems that way.

3. She has almost full neck mobility. One of the first things my parents and sister commented on when they met Chloe is her neck movement. She needs little help holding her head up and it has been this way since she was born. She also can turn her head without help. I think it's because her head is so small that she didn't need as much muscle development to be able to use her neck.

4. This is the last one. I promise! She can turn over. Not completely over onto her belly, but when I put her down to nap in her pack-n-play, I always put her on her back. She doesn't like to sleep on her back and when I go to check on her, she is always on her side. Plus she'll be on her right side one time and she'll be on her left side the next.

Maybe I'm just silly and these things aren't that unusual, but I was not expecting this so soon. My baby is growing so fast. I'm going to go have myself a good cry now.

This statement actually came out of my mouth this morning:

"Butt crack and love have nothing to do with each other."

My Opinions

No, I'm not going to get on a soapbox and state my opinions on controversial things and yes I know you all are happy about that. This post is to admit that I make opinions about things that I have no business being opinionated about. I jump to conclusions that are completely wrong. I have posted in the past about how much it hurts when people ask us about having children or having more children as the case is now. They just don't stop to think that we may have had issues with infertility. If they didn't go through it, it is probably the farthest thing from their mind and I understand that. Unfortunately I do the exact same thing. I have made judgements about couples that I know that I shouldn't have made. I don't know people's pasts unless they tell me or I ask (which I don't because I know how much that can hurt, also). I am guilty of thinking things that just simply aren't true about people. Why is it that infertility has taught me so many valuable life lessons, but I can't seem to get this aspect of myself under control? I am so opinionated about things and people that I can't see past my own thoughts and judgements. I hate that I am that way and I am striving to do better. I don't want to be that role model for Chloe Jo. I want to be the role model that gets the whole story before making rash judgements. Though, I don't want to have any confusion on opinions verses beliefs. I want to show Chloe Jo how to be strong and to stand fast and believe in what the Bible says, but I don't want her to see how judgemental I can be. I want to fix this. I need to fix this. I have to grow as a person and as a Christian and get past this part of my self.

Mine!

When I let people besides family hold Chloe what I really want to do is snatch her back, stamp my foot and yell "MINE!"

Scrapbook Pages

My pregnancy scrapbook is complete! And instead of taking a nap like a good, well-rested mother would, I'm going to upload the pictures so you all can see!

I also finished Chloe's birth announcements the week after she was born and sent them to family and a few friends.
This is the outside. The letters and dress were cut with Cricut.

I also put the handprints on the back of the envelope as a teaser.
Mom and I stamped Chloe's little bity baby feet for her scrapbook...which I need to start on!
No post is complete without pictures of the cutie patootie. This is what she does best...sleep. I'm not sure if she gets that trait from me or her father. We are both good sleepers...well, were, until she joined us!

We have been having a little bit more awake time lately. Awake time means some play time. The first picture is her sitting in the boppy (one of the best and most useful things I purchased). The second picture is maybe not the cutest ever, but her eyes are so open! Notice the smile in the first picture? Seriously, the girl can smile. She doesn't know that's what she is doing, but it is so stinking cute!

A Few Baby Thoughts

I have been a mother for all of two weeks and I have found some things that work with Chloe and a lot of things that don't work. I have read a few books about parenting trying to prepare myself for this enormous responsibility. There are a few things that books today say to do that I'm finding hard to follow.

Everything that I have read say to wake baby up after 3 to 4 hours so baby can eat. I worked in daycare for 2 1/2 years and we never woke a sleeping baby to feed him/her. I tried to do this for the first week and have found that it works so much better if I let Chloe sleep and wake on her own. I feed her as soon as her diaper is changed after her nap so she doesn't have time to get really fussy before she eats. She eats better if I let her get a full nap in, too. When I woke her to eat, she could barely stay awake to get in a full feeding. Also, my mother said that she never woke us (my 2 brothers, my sister and I) up to feed us. We didn't starve.

I think books can be an injustice in some ways. I've read all this material and I think and worry about things that I probably shouldn't worry about. For instance, I have been taking Chloe on walks during the day. We just walk up to the mail room and back. It's about 10 to 15 minutes. It has been in he 70's this week and I worry about her getting dehydrated. The thing is that this would never have crossed my mind if I hadn't read about it in a book. I think books are making a first time mother more paranoid than she already was being a first time mother. The fact is that Chloe getting outside and getting some sunshine is healthy and she won't get dehydrated as long as she is eating full meals.

Anyway, these are just a few thoughts that I am having. I am second guessing my instincts and I shouldn't be. I need to just put these books and materials that I have read out of my mind and go with the way I know to care for a baby. She's not going to starve if I let her sleep for 6 hours at night (though that is laughable right now) and she's not going to get dehydrated during a 10 minute walk. I worry way too much, but it is so hard to not worry.

Wordless Wednesday

Learning to Sew

When my sister and I were little, my Mother taught us how to do different types of needlework. We started off learning to embroidery. While looking through my box of baby stuff the other day, I came across this tea towell that I had made when I was small.

When I pulled it out of the box, the memories of learning to sew came flooding back into my mind. The particular tea towell is the one I learned to sew on. I remember sitting in the living room with my Mother and sister one evening dedicated to my sewing project. I really took to sewing and still love to make things to this day. I don't do embroidery as much, but I do still enjoy it. Anyway, I was sewing along (I believe it was on the bunny rabbit) and I lift up my tea towell and to my surprise I had sewn the thing to my jean skirt! How I did that I will never know, but it sure made for a fond memory....and a fun blog post!

CJ Dr Appt Update

We made a trip to the doctor again this morning. Chloe Jo is doing fantastic. She weighs 6 pounds 12 ounces...up from 5 pounds 14 ounces just last week. Her pediatrician wanted to see an ounce a day weight gain and she is averaging 2 ounces which is great! She has been having some drainage in one of her eyes that is apparently a blocked tear duct. We have to massage it a couple of times a day and it will work itself out. She also has started having dry skin. It wasn't really bad until this morning after her bath. She looks like she has leprosy now. The ped said I can start using baby lotion on her now and if that doesn't work I can use adult lotion as long as it isn't scented. We'll see what happens.

We have been going on daily walks up to the mail room for the past three days. It's been really nice to get out with her. It has been a bit windy so I've had to keep the canopy up on her carseat/stroller, but I think she has enjoyed it. She's always tired afterward which is nice. I've been trying to sleep when she does since she doesn't like to sleep very well at night. I don't really know what to do about that. I need to go get a swaddling blanket and try that since a few of you suggested it. I'm trying to follow the Babywise book, but I'm not very good at it. I guess the only thing we can do is keep on trucking and see what happens. Her ped did say that exclusively breastfed babies sometimes don't sleep through the night until six months. Yay.

Baby's and Bonnets

Mom started a tradition when my brother's wife had their first baby. Mom kept a box of items from when each of us kids were baby's and then she would give us the box when we had our first baby. For years I have been looking forward to getting my box of baby things. Infertility put that off a few years and there were times that I thought I would never get to look in my baby box. I was finally given my baby box last week. I was able to do a quick look through then, but haven't had time to actually go through it at a slower pace until today. One thing that my Mom did get out to show me when she gave me the box is this bonnet.
I wore this home from the hospital when I was born. She wanted Chloe to be able to wear it home, but the box was in the attic and wasn't reachable until after Chloe came home. Since we stayed with my parents for a few days after Chloe was born, Mom requested we let her wear it from their house to ours. This is going to make a great scrapbook page for her baby book.

My A-Z

Feel free to swipe this and join in!

A - Age: 26
B - Bed size: Full
C - Chore you hate: Cleaning the bathrooms
D - Dad's Name: Chuck
E - Essential start your day item: Breakfast
F - Favorite food: Chocolate Ice Cream
G - Gold or Silver: Silver
H - Height: 5'9"
I - Instruments you play(ed): Trumpet
J - Job title: Customer Service Representative
K - Kid(s): One! This is the first survey I've been able to say that!
L - Living arrangements: 2 bed 2 bath Apartment
M - Moms name : Jody
N - Nicknames: Lili
O - Overnight hospital stay: One when I had Chloe
P - Pet Peeve: Interupting Conversations
Q - Quote you like: It's on my header
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: 2 brothers and 1 sister
T - Time you wake up: Whenever the baby needs me to
U - Undying love for: Russ and Chloe
V - Vegetable you dislike: Peas
W - Ways you run late: Dawdle in the shower
X- X-rays you've had: Teeth and a hysterosalpingogram
Y - Yummy food you make: Mexican Casserole
Z - Zodiac: Virgo, but I don't believe in the zodiac

Tidbits

*We recieved Chloe's newborn pictures in the mail today. They are so sweet and I am excited to hang one on the wall in our living room.

*Chloe has been awake since 3:45 p.m. and that makes me happy. Hopefully she will sleep well tonight. Last night was a bit rough.

*There have been a few questions posted in my comments: 1) Did my milk hurt coming in? Yes. The engorgement phase is just that. Engorgement. I felt like I had stuck bowling balls in my chest. Luckily it only last for a day and it doesn't hurt anymore. 2) How do I feel after giving birth? I feel great. Seriously. I took Chloe to church Wednesday evening and we went on a walk today. Everything is better with her there. 3) Am I sore at all? Yes. I have a few cramps here and there mainly during feeding time. I am also sore in my nether regions. That is to be expected, though. 4) How did I manage to only gain 27 pounds? I watched what I ate like a hawk and I made sure to keep up with my excercise. I did quit excercising around 36 weeks or so, but before that I kept it up for as long as I could.

*I put my maternity clothes away today. This was bittersweet and I actually cried while doing it. Who knows if I'll ever be able to experience pregnancy again? I love my baby, but I also loved being pregnant.

*Chloe hates her pack-n-play. She wants to be snuggled up even when she sleeps. While we stayed with my parents, my mother had a box that we lined with blankets and she slept in there. She loved it. The pack-n-play is just too big and she won't sleep in it. There is a basinett that is on the top, but I am cautious about letting her sleep through the night in it. Babies are supposed to be flat on their backs during the night. I can always keep an eye on her during nap time so I don't mind doing it then. Any suggestions?

*I revised some of my birth story. I just forgot to mention that I had to be on oxygen for the majority of labor because of Chloe's irregular heartbeat. I am so thankful for modern medicine because without it, she may not have made it.

That's it for now. I am going to go take a nap!

Bump Watch - 40 Weeks

Yes, I realize I don't have a bump now! I just thought I should go ahead and finish out the 40 week timeline for here and my scrapbook. It just makes sense to me.Weight gain: My total weight gained was 27 pounds according to my doctors records and the hospital scale. According to my scale at home it was 23 pounds. Either way, I made my goal and I am extremely happy about that. I need to lose 2 more pounds to be back to my pre-pregnancy weight....seriously. It all just melted off. I am back in my normal clothes and everything.

My Dolly

Thank you Mike and Terra for my dolly! I love it. I only have that look on my face because I just spewed all over myself.

Love, Chloe Jo

Wordless Wednesday

Pictures

Mommy, Chloe and Daddy

I love this picture!

My precious little angel.
Mommy, Chloe and G-Jo

I can't resist posting more pictures of my little dream come true. She is so precious! Mommy-hood is wonderful. It's hard when I don't know what to do when she is crying, but it is also has been beautiful. We had our first doctor appointment today. She weighs in at 5 lbs 14 oz. So she has lost an ounce since leaving the hospital but the pediatrician was thrilled with that. My milk is starting to come in so she should start gaining weight. She is such a great little breastfeeder. I'm so glad I decided to breastfeed even though I'm very sore right now. Everything else was great. Her color is really good and the doctor is thrilled with her progress. That's it for now. Thanks for all the congrats and well wishes!