3 Week Update - First (unscheduled) doc appointment

3 week picture:

We had our first unscheduled checkup at the doctor this week.  We had been keeping an eye on a rash that developed on her bottom.  Typical response from any other mom would be, diaper rash.  The thing is, I've seen diaper rash and this was not on her butt cheeks, but rather around where everything comes out and she was developing open sores. No matter what we did, it wasn't going away, so I took her in.  Call it paranoid mommy, but the pediatrician (Dr. Neill) reassured me that it was good that I took her in.  Dr. Neill was not sure if it was an allergic reaction or severe diaper rash so she just suggested changing our diaper cream and keeping the area as clean as possible.  Slowly but surely, it seems to be clearing up.  On a good note, the doctor said that Addie is "spot on" as far as her weight (9lbs exactly as of Wednesday).

Milestones:

Strength: We've said before that Addison is a VERY strong baby, but I can't explain how truly STRONG she really is!  Today when we were giving her a bath, Shane was holding her upright drip drying her while I grabbed the towel and he said she began pushing with her feet on the bottom of the tub.  After a few seconds, he said both feet were planted firmly and she was basically standing with very little help from him. 

Feeding:  She seems to want to eat much more often lately.  I wouldn't say she's necessarily on a fixed "schedule" because it really does change from day to day.  Some days she wants to sleep for several hours, and some days she wants to eat about every hour.  Let the sleep deprivation begin! :)

Faces: It seems as though Addie had her first non-gas-related smile this week.  Shane was talking to her and holding her and while he swayed her gently from side to side she kept smiling at him.  The only smiles I've been getting have been when she's sleeping or trying to poop!! ha ha

Here are a few other pictures from the week:

Shooting fluids....

Ok, I know the title is a little much, but no one really prepares you for the projectile world of parenting.  For example, careful when breast feeding because if you're not, you can accidentally shoot your infant in the eye with milk.  I know this because it happened only a few days after bringing Addie home.
Also, when changing your infant...know that poo and pee can travel several feet through the air before finding a resting spot.  Seems like the second that cold air or cold wipes hit her bottom, fluids begin to fly.  The most recent occurrence was a doozie.  While changing Addison's diaper, I was in the process of wiping and poo began to fly past me and land about 2 feet away from the changing pad and some of it caught my arm!  If that's not enough, right before sealing off the diaper, she began to pee.  Not just any trickle though.... it looked like Old Faithful!
Despite the messes that she makes though... she's the sweetest thing in the world!

Baby's first bath

The pediatrician said we needed to wait until Addie's belly button was healed to give her a bath.  Talk about feeling like an eternity!!  I know it's only been two weeks, but when there's poo, pee, and spit-up involved, you feel like you need to carry around a power-washer 24-7!!!!  Addie did really well with her bath.  Of course, she squirmed a little and cried a bit, but she didn't completely flip out like I thought she might.  Here are a few pictures:

2 Week Update

Two weeks old!!  It's amazing that after only two weeks with Addison, we can't imagine life any other way.  Shane and I find ourselves mesmerized by her every squirm, smirk, and sound.
Here's her two week picture.  

Special visitor of the week:
My Aunt Shirley (from my dad's side) came to visit us this week.  She lives in Hudson, IL, but has a house at the lake here.  I hadn't seen her in years, so it was a special treat to have her visit and meet her great-great-niece.  Here's a picture from the visit.

Milestones:
Strong!!  Addison is a very strong baby.  She has been lifting her head since day one and can hold it for several seconds looking around.  Her incredibly LONG legs are incredibly STRONG as well.  She pushes off of most anything that comes into contact with her feet and has much force behind her kicks.  When we're trying to change her, she stretches her legs out as far as possible and stiffens them so that we can't get the diaper on/off of her.  She does NOT like to be changed! ha ha
Sounds: Addie likes to hum to us when we're feeding her.  It's really cute!  When Shane has her on his chest and she is slowly falling asleep, she'll coo and make humming noises like she's trying to talk/sing herself to sleep.
Eating:  Overall, feeding Addison is easy but she can be finicky at times when something is bothering her.  For example, if she has to poop while I'm feeding her, she grunts and squirms in my arms and will stop sucking but won't unlatch and will often BITE down....UGH!
Sleeping:  Addie still LOVES to sleep.  Noises and commotion don't seem to phase her either.  We've had a lot of strong thunderstorms coming through the area in the last week but none of it has affected her sleep.
Here's a few other photos from the week:

1 Week Update

Addison is one week old today!  Here's her one week baby pic.  She's pretty laid back and wasn't about to open her eyes for the camera... instead, we got a yawn and a few poo-making grins.

We had such an amazing first week with her.  Since Shane was able to take the week off, we were able to spend some quality time bonding with Addie.  Shane said he has noticed already in the last week that she seems more alert and loves to watch you while you hold her.  She's such a great baby!

Feeding and sleeping are both going great.  Addie eats about every 2 1/2 to 3 hours, sometimes more than that, and she LOVES to sleep!  

I'm working on her baby announcements now and should have them out within the week.  I've decided to take the pictures myself because I'm not sure when we would be able to get her into a studio.  We'll probably end up posting a few of the pictures on here too.

Here are a few pictures of daddy holding her on her big 1 week birthday!

Daddy's first time feeding Addison

We had heard that it's best not to bottle feed within the first few weeks if you plan to breast feed, but with the amount of pain I was in at the beginning of the week, I wasn't sure if I could keep up with Addie's busy feeding schedule.  I pumped just enough milk so we could do a test run.  We've been going back and forth between breast and bottle over the last week and Addie seems to be doing great!  I was a little worried she would become finicky, but she seems to be happy no matter where the food is coming from! 

It was really cute to watch Shane feed her for the first time.  I included some pictures below.

5 days old

So far, Addie LOVES to sleep!  We have to wake her up just to get her to eat and sometimes that's even a challenge.  Her first doctors appointment was Tuesday and everything looks good.  She had lost a little bit of weight initially in the hospital, but according to the pediatrician, she's back to her birth weight of 7.2lbs which is at 30%.  Her length at the doctors office was a little off from the hospital, but she wasn't wanting to straighten her legs out for the nurse at the doctors office.  Doctors office length was 20 3/4 inches and hospital measured her at 21 1/2 inches which puts her at 92% for length!!!!

Addison has been blessed with so many well wishes and visitors.  I was finally feeling well enough to get the camera out on Wednesday when Addie received a few visitors at home.  She wasn't very fussy and doesn't seem to have a problem being handed around.
Here are a few pictures of Addie with her Uncle Dillon, Aunt Joy, and cousins Blake and Avryl.

Welcome Addison Elizabeth Handley

Around 2:45 this morning (Friday, May 7), I got up to use the bathroom.  Nothing out of the ordinary, as I am used to peeing about every 1/2 hour at night!  After I thought I was done, I got up.... and woops! I needed to sit back down because I wasn't done!  This kept happening for about 15 minutes.  I slowly realized that my water may be slowly breaking.  I really wasn't sure though, so I called the OB department at the hospital.  Of course, I was urged to immediately proceed to the hospital.
I woke Shane up by calmly telling him my water may have broken, and we need to go get it checked out.  Of course, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking.... what if I just peed myself?? LOL
During the drive, I was having minor, slightly painful contractions.  Upon arriving at the hospital, it was confirmed, my water had broken.  We were immediately admitted at around 4:00am.
Labor started off somewhat slow, I had contractions, but they were far apart and really not very painful.  The nurse administered pitocin (to increase contractions).  The contractions began to get worse and worse so they gave me my epidural.  WHAT A LIFESAVER!!  Contractions really didn't level out until about 11 or so, and around 12:30 we began pushing.

I had been pushing for about an hour when the nurses realized that Addie was facing the wrong way.  Instead of her head facing my backside, it was facing my frontside.  This can pose a problem for her exit because babies apparently don't slide out as easily that way.  The nurse was able to flip her, and away we pushed again.  It really didn't seem like we were making much progress and the doctor decided to use suction to help aide in delivery.  The suction slid off Addie's head THREE TIMES before it finally helped get her out.  At 2:45, Addison Elizabeth Handley was born.  She weighed 7lbs and 2oz and was 21.5 inches long.  She's absolutely beautiful!!  Here's proof, more to come.

39 1/2 Week Update

Only ONE cm dilated.... according to the doctor at our appointment today.  ::SIGH::  Doc said not to be discouraged though, because these things can happen over night, LITERALLY!
Assuming that Addie does not make her big appearance before next week though, I am scheduled to be induced Tuesday night/Wednesday morning of next week.  Doc said he will decide Tuesday (based on how much more dilated/effaced I am) if we will be induced that night or the following morning.  Either way, there's light at the end of the tunnel! :)
Mother's day is this coming Sunday.  I'm wondering... am I allowed to celebrate if Addie isn't here yet, or do I wait a full year before I can celebrate?  ha ha