Sibling Love

For the most part, P really loves being a big brother. Of course, he's pinched her a couple times...and plugged her nose once while she had her pacifier in (yeesh!) but overall, he's been sweet to her. He likes to hold her and talk 'baby-talk' to her. I'm thinking I should record that and play it back to him when he's 16 or so, ha!

And the Crying Continues

There has been a lot of crying the past couple weeks. Our poor baby assumably has colic...although I've read that for it to be true colic, it has to last for 3 weeks. Maybe it won't last that long. Maybe we'll figure out what is upsetting her. So far, I've determined that spaghetti sauce and peppers & onions are NOT her friend. Some of her problem seems to be from gas pains...so that's why I keep trying to figure out what foods are causing her pain.

The next issue may be my eating dairy. I've cut out milk. It's rice milk or almond milk on cereal for me...but I have not eliminated dairy completely. I crave it. I love milk, ice cream, butter, etc. But, if it's causing M pain-I'll cut it out. It will be hard to go dairy free, especially if she has a cow's milk allergy...because that will mean cutting out all milk proteins, casein, etc. And that is a LOT that I cannot have. How do you eat anything when you go completely dairy free?? Our pediatrician said it would be early for her to be evidencing signs of a cow's milk allergy (especially when this all started, just after she turned 1-week-old) but I may take a diaper in for them to analyze this week. They'll look at it under a microscope. If it's a cow's milk allergy, there will be blood in her stool!

Either way, I have to figure out how to get less of this...


...and more of this!

Isn't this bow fantastic?! I love it. A sweet friend gave it to M as a gift. She got it at PinkBowtique.com. So fun!

P-Man Plays T-Ball

On Saturday Mr. P played in his first game. The previous TWO games had been rained out. It's been a rainy season, for sure! He was pouty at first, because he didn't know how to play. I explained that nobody really knew HOW to play and that's the reason we were there, to LEARN...He got into the game and seemed to have alot of fun. Plus, the kiddos get snacks afterwards. It's really a win-win.

I realize that the teams consist of 3 and 4 year olds...but, it's curious to me how they play the game. After a kid hits the ball, several balls are thrown out onto the field, so many kids (instead of just one) get to "field" the ball and throw it in the general direction of 1st base. I didn't know that these kids would be so entertaining to watch. :)

Here's a photo of P in action:


And here's what his sister did all through the game:

Photo Album

Joel put together another album. I loved looking through the pics, and can't believe it was just a week ago tomorrow that M was born! We all love the fact that we can finally hold and snuggle her. And P is THRILLED to finally be a big brother. He's also pretty happy that he's gotten some gifts from visitors that have stopped to see the baby, ha!!

http://www.creativeschmidts.com/mckenzie/

So Thankful

We're home with our baby girl. The last couple days have been a whirlwind of events, which culminated with us checking into the hospital at 9am Friday morning, and having our sweet baby at 10:01 am! :) We are overjoyed at her arrival. The Lord did such a perfect job of preparing the way for us. We 'happened' to be at my Sister's house the night before she was born. Knowing that my contractions were in full swing (but still 10-14 minutes apart)...we left P at my parents for the night. The next morning, after we had gotten some sleep...okay, Joel got more than I did...;o) we called the doula. I had been waiting for the right 'pattern' of contractions before calling my midwife. They needed to be 4 minutes apart, lasting for a minute each, for at least an hour...Yet-that never happened. Before I knew it, the contractions were 3-5 minutes apart, and pretty painful. I still thought they were maybe just Braxton Hicks. Joel got dressed for work. The doula called back. We talked to the midwife group. It was time to go to the hospital.

I still wondered on the way there if this was really it. I was pretty sure they were going to check me and send me home. False alarm. Those crazy Braxton Hicks. I had another pretty painful one in the parking lot. Got checked in and to my room. I was at 7 centimeters. Relieved and glad to know this was the "real deal". :) I got the I.V. antibiotics for my Strep B infection. Then, they put the j-tube on my I.V. and I was free to move about. Joel helped me through another very painful contraction. I wanted to jump in the jetted tub. It was almost ready...I got in-for about 4 minutes. So soothing. Then suddenly, I was ready to push! The midwife helped me out and to the bed. About 20 minutes later, Mckenzie Sharon was born. Her cry was one of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard. P is excited about his baby sister, but probably a little bit even MORE excited, to be spending another night with his Grandparents. :)

Meanwhile, we're enjoying being home. And M is taking a nap. She seems to be worn out from the past couple days. Or maybe just from her lack of sleep last NIGHT. Hmm. I do not want to take the intoxicating scent of newborn for granted. I will scoop her up and cuddle her and kiss her sweet head, all the while remembering that they grow so fast. And I need to take the time...to be thankful.



For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. -Jeremiah 29:11

Baby Girl Room!

Joel got our baby girl's valance hung last night. I ordered the lamp and the valance off Ebay. Since we chose to reuse P's old bedding...I was excited that I could 'girlify' the room and coordinate with his bedding. I think it works!

We (okay, Joel mainly) painted two walls 'Eastern Sky' and left the other walls the mint green. I also love the way the colors go with the bedding. Okay, enough explaining. Here's a few pictures...(If you click on the collage it will get bigger, so you can actually read the words.)

You Know What's Funny?

P's favorite game these days is asking me, "You know what's funny?" To which I respond..."What?"

Within the past 5 minutes there have been some doozies, but here were the first two:

P: Mom, you know what's funny?

Me: What?

P: A band-aid on your eye. (He then laughs his maniac little laugh.)

P again: You know what's funny?

Me: What?

P: A cow wearing sunglasses. (More laughing hysterically.)

Most of his 'funny stories' make me smile. Some are just plain weird. Either way, I'm going to give him this, the kid is creative. :)

I've been feeling a bit better, hooray!! And after making no progress in dilating for 3 weeks in a row now...I'm thinking this little girl just may hang out until her due date. Just because the midwives thought I'd go early (based on P being so early and the fact that I seemed to be progressing so early) doesn't mean I will. Every morning that I wake up though, I am amazed that I'm still pregnant, ha!! She'll come in God's perfect time though. I do know that I am ready to snuggle her.

Her hospital bag is packed with not one...but FOUR outfits. Excessive? I think not. I'm not sure how nice it will be when we head home, or the time of day, or exactly how big she'll be. So I've packed a couple of 0-3 month outfits, some newborn jammies, and a c-u-t-e little summer newborn outfit. At least we'll have options. :)