Oregon Roadtrip October 18-24, 2012

Well on October 18th, my mum and I took Evelyn on her first road trip.  We drove to Pendleton, OR for her first hotel stay that night.  She was an awesome little traveler and did really well sleeping in a place other than home for the first time.  The second day we made it to Oregon City and my sister's house.  Evelyn loved the attention that my niece and sister gave her while we were there and even tho her routine was disrupted she was a trooper while we were gone. 

I wasn't able to get a picture of her by the Welcome to Oregon sign like I wanted to because it was too cool and I forgot to bring her winter pram with us (bad mommy).  I had plenty of blankets to keep her warm in her carrier tho :).  She was even in her first snow storm as we had snow over the Blues Mountains as we were coming home from Oregon.  Not even 2 months old and she has been in 2 states now :)  My hope is to get her to as many states as I can.

                                         My niece, Amy, and my sister, Sherry with Evelyn

                                                       My sister, Sherry with Evelyn

One Month Old.....already?!?!?!

I can not believe that my baby girl is already 1 whole month old.  Seems like there is no way that much time has passed.  Evelyn is more and more aware of the world around her every day.  She is awake for somewhere between 8 and 12 hours every day now and is starting to smile, coo and babble at us.  She is even somewhat playing with her toys.  She will hit at her toys while laying on her tummy time mat if we place her on her back on it.  She will sort of grab on to her doll or tiny stuffed tiger and loves watching the bar rattle or her rattle ball move.  She is up to 3-4 ounces of formula at nearly every feeding. 

I can't really say we are on a set schedule but we kinda have a routine going of an AM nap, a noonish nap and an early evening nap (along with several little naps in between).  She is also getting better at sleeping at night.  She has gone 6 hours between feedings a couple of times and 7 hours one time that I know of.  Bedtime is typically between 7pm and 9pm tho that is subject to change depending on how late/good her early evening nap is. 

She definitely recognizes me and Mike as being around all the time and she responds to my mother and Mike's Dad when they are around really well.  She is also a little trooper when we are at PWOC, MOPS and Velocity and everyone wants to hold her.  She goes to pretty much anyone with no fussing (at least for now). 

                                                         Salina checks out Evelyn in the crib

                                                   Tummy Time with Penny

                                                         Evelyn and her first Smurf

                                                       Watch me grow - 1 month old

                                                       "Look at me sitting in the glider"

                                                             Cuddling with Ridget

2 Weeks Old

Well, Evelyn had her 2 week appointment at the Pediatric clinic on base yesterday (10 September).  According to the doctor she is a very healthy little girl, weighing in already at 7 pounds 11 ounces and measuring 21 inches long.  She is growing so much already, kinda makes me sad. 

I introduced Tummy Time on a blanket on the floor this week.  She seems to be taking to it just fine.  She will kick legs, rock body, and lift head while on her tummy.  When she is tired of Tummy Time she will fuss at me and I will flip her on to her back and she'll lay there and kick and move her arms happily.  We had been doing tummy just with me laying on my back with her on my tummy but decided to add this in for more freedom for both us.

She also loves her rocker/bouncer, happily sitting in it while I fold laundry or try to do other minor chores around house. 

                                                          Rocker/bouncer time

                                                                     Tummy Time

                                                                 After Tummy Time

One week old

Well, we have survived the first week of Evelyn's life.  It has had its share of ups and downs as any new adventure has.  Parenthood is DEFINITELY a new adventure and one that I truly believe that God has given me the strength, peace and knowledge to get through. 

Evelyn is up to a minimum of 2 ounces of formula at every feeding and sometimes 3 ounces.  She has taken to the bottle a lot better than she ever did breastfeeding and is a good little eater.  We also have had our share of baby messes, including feet being placed in it (EWWWW).  By no means are Mike and I perfect parents but we are doing our best in trying to care for this little angel. 

Evelyn got to watch Star Wars movies with me on Saturday so we are already teaching her how to be a geek.  She also has watched a couple Chicago Cubs baseball games with me.  In fact I was trying to change her during the last inning of the game today and she decided to roll onto her side and not stay on her back.  It was like she was trying to see last little bit of game. (I know that isn't the case but that is what it seemed like).

She loves the little infant/toddler rocker that we have for her.  She enjoys it both as a rocker and as a bouncer and has taken a couple naps in it.  She is such a cutie in her rocker waving her arms and legs when we first put her in it.  Definitely a perfect purchase.

In my mind, Evelyn also hit a milestone today.  The stump from her umbilical cord fell off tonight nearly exactly 1 week from when she was born.  (about 1 hour too early)  The sight looks terrific and no sign of any infection. 

I am so blessed to have such a beautiful little girl.  I never imagined how much love I could have inside me.  I just want to share her with the world, too bad my energy levels are lagging at the moment.  Oh well I can share her soon enough.

Evelyn Marie is here:)

Well a lot has happened since my last post on here.  Let me start with the day before Evelyn Marie's birth.

Saturday August 25th, 2012 - Mom and I had gone out in the morning looking at garage sales.  We found a few good deals but had to cut the outing short as I was having some tightness in my back and we wanted me to be able to go out to dinner that night.  After our dinner outing later that night I sat with a heating pad on my back as it was still causing me discomfort and pain.  Eventually I went to bed on the couch.

Sunday August 26th, 2012 - 6:30AM
              WATER BREAKS!!!!!!  We are on our way to base hospital and I am thinking I was right, wasn't gonna make due date for all the doctors' said I would.  Get to base and get admitted into Labor and Delivery.

Sunday August 26th, 2012 - ALL DAY
              What a way to spend a lazy Sunday, walking the halls waiting for contractions to get strong enough and close enough together.  Finally around 330 they started me on medication to speed up the labor process and then a few hours later they add pain medication to IV to help me deal with contraction pains.  I DID NOT have an epidural.  Around 10pm contractions are getting strong enough and hard enough that they actually think my baby will be here in the next hour or so

Sunday August 26th, 2012 - 11:15PM
              After over 16 hours in labor Evelyn Marie is born into this world at 7 pounds 1.3 ounces, 20.5 inches.  I can't believe this tiny human is actually mine, feels surreal to be a mother to someone so precious.  I do hurt but the love for my daughter totally is overriding the pain.

                                 Evelyn Marie just a mere 15 minutes after being born

                                         Daddy and Evelyn with Salina kitty

                                            Evelyn likes her rocker/bouncer

Baby Shower time :)

Well today was the baby shower.  I was officially at 38 weeks pregnant and feeling EVERY bit of it.  No matter what the symptoms/feelings are I am having I wouldn't change it for the world.  But back to the baby shower.  My good friends, Jennifer Huff and Stephanie Higgins, hosted my baby shower and while it was a smallish affair it was lots of fun and lots of good memories were made :)  Loved the games, especially the multi-tasking one where you had to talk on a cell phone while holding the baby and hanging up laundry on the clothesline.   Definitely have to work on being able to multi-task better. 

                                   Delicious red velvet cake that Stephanie made and decorated

                                                  Clothesline before Multi-tasking game

                                                    How well can you multi-task???

                                                               Starting to open presents

37 weeks Pregnant (LATE POST)

Well it has been a few since I posted here.  I am now at 37 weeks and the baby is considered full term.  I would be more than happy to deliver her before my due date as every day it gets harder to get comfy. 

Mike and I did go on our trip to Tucson and Show Low, Arizona.  Was nice to be out of Idaho for a while but thinking I may NEVER travel during weeks 34 and 35 ever again if I get pregnant again.  For time in vehicle it was the MOST uncomfortable I have ever been on a trip but according to the doctor after we got back it did neither of us any harm.  In fact I do believe that Evelyn's heartbeat was actually better after the trip than it was before the trip (YAY!!!!)

Next step along my baby journey is the baby shower.

                                          37 weeks 3 days along :)