1 month

How can it be that my baby is 1 month old? I am not looking forward to how fast time is going to fly by. But, I am looking forward to watching Elsie grow and develop:)

Last month at this time, our sweet baby was in the NICU and we were really not sure what was going on. We had just gone into visit her and many many tears were shed and LOTS of prayers were said. My mom, dad, brother, sis in law, and niece kept us company for most of the day. Andrew's parents came later in the evenings and we had a few family/friends come to visit.

Here is our lovely lady today:


I am not sure exactly how much she weighs or how long she is, but I am thinking about running up to the hospital for a weight check.

What Elsie has been up to the past month:
She LOVES her swing!! She would stay in there forever if we would let her. After her first morning feed, she hangs out in there while mommy gets things done around the house and gets ready for the day.

If she is fussy, you can swing her in her car seat or put her in the swing. The baby loves to swing. We are going to by a travel swing for when we camp, go to BG, etc.

After she eats, she is wide awake and alert. This is when we do tummy time and play on her play mat.

She is more and more alert each day and in the past week has started making noises and "talking" to us when we talk to her.

She will smile when she is being talked to, when she is falling asleep or is all the way asleep. I love her see her sweet smile.

Elsie most definitely recognizes mine and Andrew's voice, and it makes us feel so special.

She is eating at 10, 2:30, and 7 most nights. Which means mommy and daddy get around 7 hours of sleep each night (daddy gets more because he sleeps through the feedings and only wakes to change a diaper or burp her)

She is nursing most of the day every 3 hours and gets 3 oz bottle of breastmilk right before bed. That's Elsie and Daddy bonding time.

We try to get out of the house once a day, whether it be a trip to Target, meeting daddy for lunch, going for a walk, running a random errand, small group, etc.

Big Events the past month:
Easter (seems so long ago)
Newborn pics/Family pics
First trip to Bowling Green (stayed with Grandma and Granddaddy)
Mommy's cousin, Kim's, wedding reception
Adam, Em, and Bella came to Evansville a couple time
Met Mommy's teacher and student friends at Tekoppel

I am sure I am forgetting some important things, so I will have to try to come back and fill in as I think of things throughout the day.

GAS...o, how I dislike you!!

So, let me start with the title of this blog post...GAS-

GAS came into our lives about a week ago. Actually it came in 2 1/2 weeks ago, but didn't cause us any issues until about a week ago. Baby E has been the champion of tooting and burping after feeding. There is no doubt when she toots, it is loud and occassionally stinky. However, about a week ago, I could not get my sweet baby girl to calm down. My first moment of HOLY COW WHAT HAVE I DONE!!!! I was getting frustrated and I even cried with her for a few minutes. Then, I got her calmed down and sleeping. When Andrew got home, she did the same thing, then we remembered we had Mylicon drops and decided to try those. They were AMAZING!!! Almost instantly, she started tooting and life was good.

To this point, she is a very content baby. The only reasons she cries are if she is hungry and if she has gas. With gas, MOST of the time the Mylicon will work, but not always.

Now-what most of our days look like-

Elsie usually eats between 5 and 6:30, some days, she stays awake after that, other days she goes back to sleep (like today!!)

She eats again 3 1/2 to 4 hours later and is awake after that feeding. She may lay under her play mat, lay in her boppy lounger, or swing (she LOVES the swing).



After she plays for a bit, she is ready to nap again. Sometimes in her swing, boppy lounger or mommy's chest (my fav!)




We usually repeat this a couple times until daddy gets home.



She eats again between 9-11 and we put her to bed for the night. She will get up once in the middle of the night to eat around 4 1/2 hours after her last feeding. We swaddle her then swaddle her ever moving legs with another blanket. Sometimes she will take a paci to help her calm herself down, but sometimes she just goes right to sleep.

I am LOVING being a mommy and I am so grateful that she is such a good baby. I have been able to clean house, eat meals (maybe not at the right times), and do other things around the house between feedings.

First few days at home...

I am typing this post hunt and peck style as I have a sleeping babe in my arms and a jealous dog on my lap.

We came home Wednesday at lunch time. We got settled and E's rockstar daddy unpacked (he gets his own post later). My parents came over that evening since they had not seen her yet. Our first night was about what we expected it to be.

Thursday we laid in bed as a family of 3 plus 2 dogs and just enjoyed relaxing at home. We chilled around the house and had more company that evening.

Friday morning Elsie wanted to eat at 8, 9, and 10, but then napped until 2. She slept throught the trip to Target, woke up for her weight check (6 lbs 15 oz), then slept while we got lunch and went to the bank. Friday night was rough, I'm not gonna lie.

Saturday, she ate 3 times in the morning again and slept through Babies R Us, Sprout and only woke for her weight check. (7 lbs) She also got to meet her other grandparents and both of her great grandparents on my side. We got 3 2 hour increments of sleep! woo hoo!

more to come...dinner is done...

And so her story begins...

Elsie Ann has been with us since Monday morning at 7:03 am. She has been nothing but an absolute blessing in our lives. She was born weighing in at 7 lbs. 8 oz. and was 21 inches long.

The story begins on Sunday afternoon. Andrew and I were enjoying our last Sunday with just the two of us when I noticed something different going on. I thought it might be my water breaking, but I wasn't sure. I consulted some friends that recently had babies and made the decision to call the doctor on call. She sent me to the hospital to "test" the fluid, and it was in fact my water. I was only 1 1/2 cm dialated at that point, so I knew I had a long night ahead.

I got admitted and went to my room where they started an IV and pitocin. My parents came to see me, along with Emily, since she and Bella had just drove in from BG when I called. Around 10 or so (I completely lost track of time), I was only 3 cm with some crazy painful contractions, so I asked for my epidural. That thing was cake!! I highly recommend it. After that, I was able to nap for 15 mins here and there between vitals, checks, etc.

At about 4:30 am, I started pushing. Yes, I pushed for 2 1/2 hours. We had lots of people in the room when she came out because it was the middle of the shift change for the nurses and my doctor made it in time along with the on call doctor.

It was amazing seeing Elsie for the first time. No words can ever describe the emotion that Andrew and I felt seeing her. We continuously talk about how only God could create some an amazing being. After seeing her all wrapped up and me getting to hold her, and us take a family pic, she was taken to the NICU. She cried when she came out, but her cry was not very powerful. Her cord was also wrapped around her neck. So, baby girl had a very tough delivery and ended up getting a lot of my fluid in her lungs.

The story of her in the NICU can not be put into words. The only words to describe this time are GOD IN POWER!! Our sweet baby girl had so many people praying for her and so many people checking in on her. Andrew and I have never ever felt more loved! We can never ever thank everyone enough for their love and caring support for our baby girl. It was a very tough 36+ hours and God definitely tested us. We prayed for our baby girl in my hospital room, we prayed over her in the NICU, we knew people everywhere were praying for her. Now, she lays in her cradle next to me sleeping soundly.

I am so in love with this little lady. I am not good at writing and putting my feelings into words, but if I was able to put my feelings into words, this post would be a mile longer than it already is.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE who prayed and is praying for our baby girl. We could never ever thank you enough.
THANK YOU to mine and Andrew's parents for being so supportive and being at the hospital with us even tho Elsie wasn't there.
THANK YOU to Adam for letting Emily and Bella stay in Evansville with us. We needed them more than he will ever know.
THANK YOU Em and Bella for being a distraction during this time of trial for us.

WE LOVE YOU ALL!!!


Taken yesterday

First time seeing her in the NICU

Immediately after birth

40 weeks

So Friends-I never thought that I would actually be writing this post. I don't know why I have had it in my mind since this all began that Elsie would come early. Not like a week or two, but at least a couple days. We had 3 friends/family members that had babies in the past month and ALL came at least a couple days early. That fact alone is making me more ready than ever for Elsie to be here. However, I called and talked to my dear friend, Keila, this morning and she made me feel much better. Her son, Nehemiah, was a week late and he has been a great baby with no problems breastfeeding, not sick, sleeps at night, etc. She also shared a bible verse with me from when she was at the same stage I am.

: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything present your request to God." Phil 4:6.

As hard as it is, and as much as I want to meet my baby girl, I have to remember who is in control and who's plan this is...NOT mine:)

•How far along: 40 Weeks
•Total Weight Gained: 12 pounds (Gained 4 2 weeks ago, then lost 3 on Tuesday) My guess is water weight
•Maternity Clothes: ALL the time! I have been able to wear my normal shorts for MOST of the pregnancy, but now, they are all too short and thus, I have minimal attire at this point.
•Sleep: UGH!!! Last night was great (only 2 pee breaks), the past few nights tho...NOT GOOD!!! Laying there pondering/worrying for 2 hours is not my idea of fun. If I am going to wake up in the middle of the night, I want a baby to feed/change/hold.
•Best Moment of the Week(s): Andrew's Cousin, Melanie, had her baby Madelyn. LOVE seeing all the pictures!
•Movement: Yes! and sometimes she feels like she is going to push her way out, but obviously, she hasn't. I can tell she is getting bigger. When she is in my ribs and pushing down low, makes me think she is HUGE.
•Food Cravings: Pizza...I'm a freak. Why is this all I want?
•Food Aversions: anything healthy...Terrible! I know! and meat with bones. YUCK!
•Symptoms: Finally having some Braxton Hicks Contractions, even though at this point, they should be REAL!
•What I miss: having some clothes to wear...
•What I'm looking forward to: WEDNESDAY!!!! I will be induced Wednesday if she doesn't come before then, so instead of getting my hopes up, I am just couting down. 6 days!
•Other news: Andrew and I are so ready to meet our baby girl. I have a really cute Easter outfit for her, but she is most likely going to be like 3 or 4 days old for Easter and probably won't be able to wear it because she will be too small. I am off work until August. I don't have a job for next year yet (I have a job, just not a specific location). I get to meet Emmalyn this week. (my friend, Kayla's month old daughter). I think that's it.

Productive Day

Andrew and I have had a very productive day to this point. I am loving the sense of accompishment and knowing we are more ready now for our baby girl to come.

Today, we slept in, made breakfast (skipped church on accident, time got away from us), cooked breakfast/dinner meals to freeze, worked in the yard, cleaned up the house, and I think that's it.

As Andrew finishes mowing/weed eating, I have my feet propped up as they are HUGE and SWOLLEN from standing in the kitchen for 3 hours. Here are some photos from our cooking day.


tex mex chicken baking


kept some goodies out for this week


muffins and granola bars/lasagna ready for the freezer

We also cooked turkey thighs, chicken enchiladas, and taco meat.

COME ON ELSIE!

CHECK, CHECK, CHECK

Andrew and I spent most of today finishing up the to-do list. Here are a few things we accomplished...

-Oil Changed in both cars...CHECK (Andrew does this all by himself, he rocks)
-Grass seed spread over the yard...CHECK
-Landscaping "fluffed" and "cleaned out"...CHECK
-Target run...CHECK (We had a big list here!!)
-Piece for the back of the Escape bought and installed...CHECK
-Kitchen, Living Room, bathrooms cleaned...CHECK
-Couches vacuumed...CHECK
-Dogs bathed...CHECK
-Grass cut...CHECK

I might have forgotten a few things, but the bags are still packed, and her room is ready...Now all we need is our sweet baby girl!