Yesterday, January 27th was Hope's 4 week birthday. We celebrated with her grandma and grandpa Cleveland. The real treat is when she was playing on her favorite mat and we were so impressed with how good she was holding her head up and then it happened...she rolled over! We were laughing so hard and I totally thought it was a fluke until the middle of the night. I went to feed her at 3 am and to my dismay she had rolled to the opposite end of the crib (long way). I cried basically the whole time I was feeding her. Mac blames the hormones, but I was just sad to think that she is growing up so quick. First she rolls over, next she graduates college - it all happens so fast! Today she was back to her usual tricks of funny faces and messy poops, so I was glad she didn't grow too much today. My favorite thing to do with her is trim her nails and comb her hair. It is just so fun to have a little girl!
We watched American Idol tonight. I sing songs to her the whole time and Hope lets me know if she likes the song or not. It is sometimes hard to console her.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Hope is 3 weeks old!
Hope turned the big 3 weeks yesterday, January 20th. It also happened to be the same day someone named Barack became president. Her name Hope really had nothing to do with Barack's discussion of Hope, but we did have her back up name as "change" just in case.
Today we took Hope to the doctor for her 3 week check up and she weighed in at a whopping 7 lbs 11 ozs! We had her weighed at 2 weeks and she was 7 lbs 3 ozs, so she is gaining just over 1 oz per day, which is great! Mom and dad were pleased with her growth, she was not as excited about the visit.
Today we took Hope to the doctor for her 3 week check up and she weighed in at a whopping 7 lbs 11 ozs! We had her weighed at 2 weeks and she was 7 lbs 3 ozs, so she is gaining just over 1 oz per day, which is great! Mom and dad were pleased with her growth, she was not as excited about the visit.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Hope was due today!
Hope was supposed to join our family today, January 11th, but instead she blessed us and came almost 2 weeks early. I am so thankful that she came early, we have had so much fun with her. We have experienced many wonderful things since she joined our family such as: numerous visits from friends and family, new pink clothes and accessories, learning how to wrap her like a burrito, several major diaper blows outs, emergency baths, lots of laughs over her funny faces and most of all, overwhelming love for our little girl!
We had our first date night on Friday night. We went to Broadway pizza, nothing too fancy which was required since I only wear sweat pants. She did really good and slept the whole time, so mom and dad enjoyed our first night out with her.
Laura "meals on heels" Smith
We had our first date night on Friday night. We went to Broadway pizza, nothing too fancy which was required since I only wear sweat pants. She did really good and slept the whole time, so mom and dad enjoyed our first night out with her.
Laura "meals on heels" Smith
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The end of the "cream puff" era
It's mommy here, finally doing a blog. I thought I would tell my story of the labor even though I think Mac and I are the only ones that read these. To begin I earned the nick name 'cream puff' when I was in the 4th grade or so. We were golfing and my family loves to golf, I dont share that same passion. I was sick of it after we hit off the first tee and started to complain about my bag being heavy and yada yada yada I got the nick name 'cream puff'. You would think it would be short lived, but 20 some years later it still haunts me. So much so that I made a bet with my brother that if I could make it through labor with no drugs (epidural) the nick name would be forgiven. Now that you know what is at stake, let’s talk labor...
Monday (12/29) : I had a great day: had the day off from work, ran errands, worked out at the club, did some nesting, made dinner and dessert, etc. Thought I was feeling way to good to be going into labor soon. Went to bed that night around 11pm and just as we were getting settled in my water broke or I wet myself! We called the dr and he told us to go in. I was totally calm and made sure to feed the cat, pick up the house and make sure we had everything packed in case this really was the real thing (at the time I was still concerned that I wet myself and would be really mad if that was the case).
Tuesday (12/30): At the hospital the dr confirmed that my water had broke and admitted us to the labor and delivery room. Since I had already been up for 16 hours I decided to just lay down and try to rest during the night while contractions started. Mac was able to sleep in a really uncomfy cot in the room and I rested but couldn’t sleep since contractions were coming every 5-7 minutes. They weren't that bad during the night so I was feeling pretty good about things. Unfortunately by 8 am they completely stopped. We walked the halls and I tried to hit on the birth ball to get them going again, but with no luck by 10am they decided to start the pitocin to get them going again. I really didn’t want to do this, but since my water broke they needed to deliver within 24 hours. I was really bummed when they told me that I couldn’t do any labor in the tub after starting pitocin. That was my plan when labor got really tough. I knew at this point that I was in for a long process. She also told me that contractions are more painful with pitocin when your water has already broke...not really what I wanted to hear.
They increased the doses every 15 minutes and the contractions started to get closer together and more painful. I would go through phases of feeling good and want to play cards, check emails and call people and then I would go through phases of wishing it would all end soon. Around 3pm they checked and I was only dialed to 6 cm but her head was about as low as it gets before you deliver. This meant I couldn’t push but I wanted to with each contraction. This is when it started to get ugly. Contractions were really not fun and I wanted to push and started to each time. I couldn’t help it. As time approached the dreaded 4pm I kept asking to be checked and told them that I was pushing. They finally realized I wasn't kidding and around 4pm got ready to deliver. My dr that I had seen during my pregnancy was on her way to the hospital so they tried to hold me off so she could deliver...at this point I could care less who was there, I was doing this thing! I was finally in so much pain that I asked for an epidural knowing that my dreams of losing the cream puff name would be over. Once again, the nurse delivered the bad news that it was too late. I now officially despise this nurse.
From the start of the real pushing her head was basically right there. I thought this really stinks, but at least it will be quick...couldn't be more wrong! For two hours I pushed as hard as I could and not to get into too many details she had a pretty good cone head when born. I held myself up with a sheet across a bar and pushed for two hours so my muscles and every ounce of strength was tapped. I found out later that they don't let people without an epidural go more than 2 hours without an episomoty. Needless to say I took care of that myself and I knew exactly when that happened. I would argue that it was the worst pain anyone can feel. Compared to that; all pain seems relative. I had no food and no sleep so my adrenaline was all that got me through it. Finally at 6:22pm Hope was born in every since of the word! They put her on my tummy and Mac cut her cord. I was shaking too bad to hold her, so they took her to do their thing. After stitches, afterbirth and other not so fun things I was feeding her. Such an amazing miracle and I know that they need to make babies so sweet to help you forget how awful everything else is. Luckily, we got the sweetest baby of them all! Hope is the best little sweetie ever and I love every minute with her. Within minutes of birth I managed to tell the staff that I get to lose the nick name 'cream puff'. I told them the basic story behind it and they confirmed that I am the opposite of a cream puff after all I went through. My dr brought it up again at Hope's 1 week check up, so I was pretty proud of myself of making it through it all and ditching the nick name.
Wow, that was a novel. Sorry, but wanted to share my story...the good the bad and the best thing of all - HOPE!
Monday (12/29) : I had a great day: had the day off from work, ran errands, worked out at the club, did some nesting, made dinner and dessert, etc. Thought I was feeling way to good to be going into labor soon. Went to bed that night around 11pm and just as we were getting settled in my water broke or I wet myself! We called the dr and he told us to go in. I was totally calm and made sure to feed the cat, pick up the house and make sure we had everything packed in case this really was the real thing (at the time I was still concerned that I wet myself and would be really mad if that was the case).
Tuesday (12/30): At the hospital the dr confirmed that my water had broke and admitted us to the labor and delivery room. Since I had already been up for 16 hours I decided to just lay down and try to rest during the night while contractions started. Mac was able to sleep in a really uncomfy cot in the room and I rested but couldn’t sleep since contractions were coming every 5-7 minutes. They weren't that bad during the night so I was feeling pretty good about things. Unfortunately by 8 am they completely stopped. We walked the halls and I tried to hit on the birth ball to get them going again, but with no luck by 10am they decided to start the pitocin to get them going again. I really didn’t want to do this, but since my water broke they needed to deliver within 24 hours. I was really bummed when they told me that I couldn’t do any labor in the tub after starting pitocin. That was my plan when labor got really tough. I knew at this point that I was in for a long process. She also told me that contractions are more painful with pitocin when your water has already broke...not really what I wanted to hear.
They increased the doses every 15 minutes and the contractions started to get closer together and more painful. I would go through phases of feeling good and want to play cards, check emails and call people and then I would go through phases of wishing it would all end soon. Around 3pm they checked and I was only dialed to 6 cm but her head was about as low as it gets before you deliver. This meant I couldn’t push but I wanted to with each contraction. This is when it started to get ugly. Contractions were really not fun and I wanted to push and started to each time. I couldn’t help it. As time approached the dreaded 4pm I kept asking to be checked and told them that I was pushing. They finally realized I wasn't kidding and around 4pm got ready to deliver. My dr that I had seen during my pregnancy was on her way to the hospital so they tried to hold me off so she could deliver...at this point I could care less who was there, I was doing this thing! I was finally in so much pain that I asked for an epidural knowing that my dreams of losing the cream puff name would be over. Once again, the nurse delivered the bad news that it was too late. I now officially despise this nurse.
From the start of the real pushing her head was basically right there. I thought this really stinks, but at least it will be quick...couldn't be more wrong! For two hours I pushed as hard as I could and not to get into too many details she had a pretty good cone head when born. I held myself up with a sheet across a bar and pushed for two hours so my muscles and every ounce of strength was tapped. I found out later that they don't let people without an epidural go more than 2 hours without an episomoty. Needless to say I took care of that myself and I knew exactly when that happened. I would argue that it was the worst pain anyone can feel. Compared to that; all pain seems relative. I had no food and no sleep so my adrenaline was all that got me through it. Finally at 6:22pm Hope was born in every since of the word! They put her on my tummy and Mac cut her cord. I was shaking too bad to hold her, so they took her to do their thing. After stitches, afterbirth and other not so fun things I was feeding her. Such an amazing miracle and I know that they need to make babies so sweet to help you forget how awful everything else is. Luckily, we got the sweetest baby of them all! Hope is the best little sweetie ever and I love every minute with her. Within minutes of birth I managed to tell the staff that I get to lose the nick name 'cream puff'. I told them the basic story behind it and they confirmed that I am the opposite of a cream puff after all I went through. My dr brought it up again at Hope's 1 week check up, so I was pretty proud of myself of making it through it all and ditching the nick name.
Wow, that was a novel. Sorry, but wanted to share my story...the good the bad and the best thing of all - HOPE!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Hope's 1st Week
Hope celebrated her first week of life last night by eating, sleeping, and pooping. What else could you ask for. Hope has been doing a lot of cluster feeding which means Mom and Dad don't have much time to ourselves. Not they we have a lot of plans but when she is eating every hour to two you have no options. Laura is hanging in there. She tries to take some naps during the day while I watch Hope and it seems to be working. Hope is much more awake and alert. Her eyes are big and dark blue. I was pleased to see that she got my ears which means a life of no lopes. Laura is not happy because she is the kind of person that frowns on lobeless people.
We just mailed out our baby announcements today so everyone should be receiving them over the next couple days. We used shutterfly and it was pretty slick. We ordered them on Sunday night and we received them on Tuesday which was two days earlier then expected. We have some friends stopping by tonight and family stopping over this weekend. My folks, PJ and Jim, have not seen the little one so they are pretty juiced. Besides the visits, we have been just enjoying our time together.
Mac
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Hope's First Viking's Game
We sat down at home to watch Hope's first Vikings game. She slept through most of the game but was able to watch a few minutes of it. What she saw was nothing special. A team that underperformed all season and disappointed us again. She cried a little bit over the outcome and also pooped her pants. I am not 100% sure if that was from the loss or because she poops 10 times a day.
Friday, January 2, 2009
We're Home
We were discharged from the hospital at 3pm on 1/1. We are both very excited to finally bring Hope home. Hope seems to be very excited about being at her new home even though all she does is sleep. Laura's folks came over last night and brought us dinner which was very nice. Chicken wild rice. Hope's first night went well. She had a little trouble falling asleep. She was whimpering and crying for a couple hours until big papa put the sleeper hold on her. Mom has been feeding her every few hours so she is still not getting a lot of sleep. Today, we slept in for a bit and then had a big breakfast. Some more family and friends are stopping by so I think it will be another busy day.Mac
PS, Hope seemed to like watching the Rose Bowl with her dad. I am not sure if it she enjoyed watching USC run all over Penn State or if she just liked the bright lights from the TV.
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