Family

I am so in love with my family!!!

1 Month Letter to Callie

My Sweet Girl,

Yesterday you turned a month old, how can a month have already gone by?!?! While Mommy was pregnant I used to have conversations with Daddy about how nervous I was to bring another baby into our family. I was worried that we I wouldn't be able to handle another baby, you know your brother can be quite the handful. Boy was I wrong, God blessed us with such a sweet and loving little girl. He must have known that Mommy needed an easy going baby who loves to sleep. The 3 weeks of your life all you wanted to do was sleep, I had to ask Daddy  many times a week if this was normal. I am not used to having a baby that likes to sleep, and that loves to cuddle. You are such a blessing in our lives, we couldn't imagine life without you.

Your brother Austin is starting to warm up to you now as well. When we first brought you home, he was very reluctant to go near you. He was very jealous and didn't want to share any of his things(bathtub, baby wipes, etc.) with you. He still has his moments, but I am finding him talking to you, rubbing your head, playing with your hair, and he is obsessed with your little tiny fingers. He holds your hands and likes to compare them with his. The other day I caught him giving you a sweet little kiss on your forehead, it melted my heart.

I can't wait to see what next month brings. We have lots of fun stuff planned, Aunt Heather is coming to meet you and we are going to the beach. We are heading to Pennsylvania, to meet all of Daddy's family. Austin is turning 3 and we will having a party for him and you will get to meet all of his friends. Busy and fun times are ahead for us little girl!!

Here are a few pictures of you and Austin on your 1 month birthday. I love the way you and Austin are looking at each other.

 You are all smiles for Austin!!!

Love always,
Mommy

1 Month Old

Age: 1 month

Weight: 8.8 pounds  35% percentile

Height: 20.8 inches 33% percentile

Head Circumference: 36.25 cm  26% percentile

Clothing: Some newborn, but mostly 0-3 months even though she is swimming in most of them.

Sleeping: She still the majority of the day sleeping and taking cat naps. We are working to get her adjusted to day and night, but it is a struggle. Bed time is usually between 10:30-11:30, than she wakes up twice during the night usually around 2:30 and again at 5:00.

Eating Habits: She is eating every 2-3 hours, usually 2 1/2 to 3 ounces at a time. She is spitting more than normal, so yesterday I took her to the Dr. to discuss possible reflux issues. Austin had pretty severe reflux when he was a baby, and Callie has been exhibiting the same symptoms so I had a feeling she had it as well. Sure enough after chatting with the Dr. for a few, my suspicions were spot on, Lil Miss Callie has acid reflux and is now on Zantac twice a day. Hopefully the medicine starts working soon, she seems to be in so much pain when she eats.

Favorite Activity: Sleeping and watching her big brother Austin.

Milestones: A few days ago she started smiling without being asleep. She is also starting to lift her head more on her own. She is still very wobbly, but her neck muscles are getting stronger.

Updates: What a whirlwind of a month this has been. It is definitely hard going from one kid to two kids. I always prided myself on being 10-15 minutes early to everything, however now with 2 kids I find that we are always running at least 15-20 minutes late.

 

 

Callie's Newborn Pictures

I got back Callie's newborn pictures and I couldn't be more in love with them. Big shout out to my friend Normailed from Iled and Nick Photography. Now I just need to choose which ones I want to use for her birth announcements and which ones I want to print and hang on our wall.

Father's Day 2012

We had a great time spending Father's Day with at my in-law's house. 

Austin had a blast playing on his John Deere Gator.

Callie spent the entire time sleeping. 

If anyone knows my husband than they know that he has a huge sweet tooth. The way to this man's heart is with candy. Thanks to Pinterest Austin and I made Michael a candy poem for Father's Day. 

Inspiration

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my amazing husband. I am not sure how he puts up with the 3 of us but I am sure glad he does!!!

Please excuse the horrible picture of me. This was taken 5-6 days after I delivered.

 My wonderful father, Dean

 

My father-in-law Mike

3 Weeks Old

Wordless Wednesday- Daddy's Hard Hat

Callie's Newborn Pictures Sneak Peak

This past weekend we had Callie's newborn pictures taken. My friend Normailed from Iled and Nick Photography offered to take her pictures. We couldn't be happier with how this picture turned out!!! I can't wait to see the rest.

2 Weeks Old

Can You Dig It?!?!?!

I apologize for the crappy quality of these photos, Austin was messing with the camera and put it on some weird setting.We got Austin a "Can you Dig it, I am a Big Brother!!" shirt and also a camera from Callie. He is obsessed with taking pictures and playing with our camera, so we figured it was a pretty good gift.

Austin is a BIG BROTHER!!!!

2 Week Check-Up

Even thought Callie is not quite 2 weeks old yet, today she had her 2 week check up. The Dr. wanted another weight check to see if she was back up to her birth weight and she also had to get another PKU done. Callie weighed in at a whopping 7 lbs 9 ounces which is still 2 ounces below her birth weight. The Dr. said that it is not great but not bad either. They like to see newborns gain about 1 ounce a day and she is averaging 1/2 an ounce a day. We just need to make sure we keep up with her feedings and don't let her go more than 3 hours between feedings. We go back in a few weeks for her 1 month check up.

Here are her 11 day stats:

Weight: 7.6 lbs        33 percentile

Height: 19.8 inches    36 percentile

Head Circumference: 34.5 cm    22 percentile

Wordless Wednesday- My Sassy Girl!!!

Callie's First Bath

Tonight Miss Callie got her first bath. She hated it at first, but once I started rinsing her off with warm water she started to enjoy it. After we dried her hair Michael and I were shocked to see how curly her hair is.

 

 

Callie's Birth Story

    
     Since my mom was in town, we decided to spend Saturday walking around Annapolis and enjoying the beautiful weather we were having. I had contractions off and on all day, but there were far and few in between. We got home about 4:00 or 5:00 that evening, and the contractions had all but stopped. We ate dinner, watched TV, and everyone decided to head to bed early. Around 11:30 I woke up with strong contractions, but wasn't too concerned because they were about 7-10 minutes apart. Around midnight, they really started to pick up in intensity and were starting to become 5-7 minutes apart. Michael decided to take a shower, since we would probably be heading to the hospital at some point. My mom called the Dr. at 1:15 am to let them know that my contractions were coming faster and that I needed to come in to be seen. While on the phone with the Dr. I felt a sharp pop, and knew that my water had broke. It was full of green and black/brown meconium, so I knew we had to get to the hospital ASAP. The Dr. didn't seem to concerned about the meconium, but said that I did need to head in since I was GBS positive and needed to start my antibiotic IV.

     Almost immediately after my water broke, I started feeling the urge to push and knew that they baby was coming. We left 5 or 10 mins after talking to my Dr. around 1:20-1:25 am. I don't think I have every seen Michael so nervous. He drove about 90 mph the whole way there, slowing down only for turns and on/off ramps. The hospital is about 45 minutes from our house but we made it there in just under 20 minutes.We were both very nervous that I was going to deliver on the side of the highway or at some fire station!!! The whole drive there I tried my hardest not to push, but I just had too. Michael called the Dr.'s office again when we were getting close and told them to meet us in the ER, because I would be delivering this baby in the parking lot. The whole drive in I kept screaming to Michael that he was going to have to drive faster or he would be delivering the baby. With each contraction I had to push and at one point I reached down and could feel the baby's head. All I envisioned was being interviewed for the morning news, because we delivered on the side of the highway. I could already see the headlines!!!

     We arrived at the 1:52 am, and the baby's head was already crowning. Michael ran inside to the ER and had them call up for L&D to come down for me. Michael came back out to park the car. While Michael parking the car a security guard came outside with a wheel chair, and took me through the side door. I didn't think anything of it, but later found out that the security guard breached protocol and should have never taken me through the side. Michael came back to the ER to find the L&D nurses looking for me. No one knew the guard had taken me up. The guard kept apologizing to me, about all the bumps and the long ride up the elevator. All I could do was scream in pain and tell him repeatedly that he needed to pick up the pace because the baby was coming, and I couldn't stop pushing. I think he finally got the hint and picked up the pace.

     When we finally hit the L&D ward 6 or 7 nurses came running up to us in the hallway and took over. The room wasn't prepped, no one was ready, I don't really think anyone thought I was close to delivering. The nurses got me into the bed, and the Dr. came over to check me. I asked where my Dr. was and everyone looked at me like I was crazy. Apparently there was some kind of miscommunication because they paged Dr. Leah instead of my doctor Dr. Lee. However there was no time to wait for my Dr. to get there, the baby was coming. The nurses prepped the bed while I began to push, but I lost it because Michael was still not in the room. He finally got to the room and her head was already out, thank goodness he made it in time. Because it only took 3 or 4 pushes and Miss Callie made her debut at 2:00 am on the dot, 8 minutes after we arrived at the hospital. There were a total of 9 nurses and doctors in the room when she was delivered. The NICU team immediately looked her over because there was meconium when my water broke. Callie ended up aspirating some of the meconium and needed her throat and nose suctioned 3 or 4 different times. Callie scored an 8 and 9 on her apgars, weighed 7 pounds 11.8 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. She had a full head of dark brownish/black hair was a spitting image of Austin when he was born.

     I am honestly shocked that I was able to do the entire delivery medication free, although I didn't have much of a choice. Since there wasn't time to get an EPI, IV, or any kind of antibiotics for the GBS positive diagnoses, we needed to stay in the hospital for the full 48 hours so Callie could be observed to make sure there was no signs of infections. She had some bruising on her eyes because the delivery was so fast. It is really hard to believe how fast her delivery happened. Everyone told me that second babies come much faster, but I never thought I would deliver her 8 minutes after arriving at the hospital. I was definitely the talk of the L&D floor, every nurse I had made some kind of comment on how quick.the delivery was.

1 Week Old

She's Here!!!!!

Michael, Austin and I are proud to announce the birth of 

Miss Callie Ann 

 born May 27, 2012

7lbs 11.8 oz and 19 1/2 inches long