Two Months Old!!

I can't believe my sweet baby girl is two months old already! It's gone by so quickly. This is my last week home with her and I'm so sad it's over! I spent the first six weeks of her life finishing my MBA, and was completely overwhelmed, trying to adjust to my girl while working 20 hours a week on my capstone project. I finished with a 499/500 on my final paper, so I was very proud, but by the time that was over, I had just four weeks home with her. I've tried to cram in as much quality time with her as I can, but she's had a rough road with her belly. After trying five different formulas, Callie is now on Similac Soy, which is what Mia ended up on. She has reflux so we thicken it with rice cereal. She will surely be a huge baby before long, but at least she feels better. It's been a tough ride for her and her belly, trying to get this all figured out. She still has pretty bad gas, but at least she isn't choking and throwing up. Callie is a sweet, beautiful baby, and her smile melts my heart. We are all absolutely in love with her! She started cooing and even giggled in her sleep the other night, so I try to get her to "talk" to me every chance I get. She loves her sister too, and Mia calls her "Little Baby Bunny" and sings to her all the time. She's not a consistent baby during the day. Some days she sleeps, others she's awake nearly all day. But she sleeps great at night! She's usually ready for bed by 7 or 8, we wake her for a "dream feed" at about 10, and she's out for the night. She wakes up once for an additional nighttime feeding, these days anywhere from 6 1/2 hours to 10 hours later. But she doesn't cry in the middle of the night otherwise. Mommy and Daddy sure do appreciate that! Callie had her first beach trip last week. We went to Destin with Dad, Sue, Emie and her friends, and the Farfsings. It was not much of a relaxing trip, since Callie was awake so much during the day, but it was fun regardless. We did so much with Mia, Cara and Ramsey. They did an obstacle course, bumper boats, miniature golf, ferris wheel, a pirate cruise, and of course played on the beach and at our pool. They were exhausted by the time they got in bed each night! Callie rode down with Mike and me, and I had to sit in the backseat with her almost the entire trip. She was just fussy. Mia rode with Dad and Sue and was great. She watched movies, so she was fine. I'm sure Callie was uncomfortable sitting that long, so I tried to get her out as often as I could. But it's hard to explain that to an 8 week old! We are heading to the doctor for her two month check-up here soon. I will update afterward.

Welcome Callie Marie!!!

Our sweet, beautiful girl was born last Wednesday, April 10, at 9:50 a.m. She was 7 lbs, 10 oz and was 19 inches long. She is every bit as perfect as her sister and there wasn't a dry eye at the hospital upon her arrival.

Callie had many, many visitors at both the hospital and when we arrived at home. Of course all her grandparents, aunts and uncles were there, plus her cousin Emie. Aunt Joyce and Tom visited, as did Amy, Margo and Kim. Mommy's work friend Melissa stopped by and Mommy's school friend Warren, did as well. Uncle Matt came to the house when we got home.

Mommy's experience was much better this time than it was with Mia, so I got to enjoy my baby girl much more. I have had lots of help since I got home, with Nana, Papa, Granny and Grumpy coming over on most days to help out and let me get some rest. Thanks to them I've been able to enjoy Callie while also having energy to make sure Mia gets enough attention and love as well.

'Twas the Night Before Callie...

In almost exactly 12 hours, I will be entering the OR to meet my baby girl. Finally! What a long journey this has been, one that has left me very impatient. This pregnancy has been so different than my pregnancy with Mia. I have been nervous and uncertain from the moment I got the positive test. Doubts have lingered in the back of my mind that this day would truly come. Even now, I'm worried about tomorrow. Will fate truly allow me to finally hold my baby? Will she be healthy and happy? Will I come out of the surgery okay? There have been so many obstacles to us realizing our dream of a second child that it seems unbelievable that it will really finally happen.

Nevertheless, we are ready. We have prepared a room especially for Callie. It's very different from the unisex room we had for Mia. Diapers and wipes are waiting, all her clothes are washed, and this time I bought cute outfits for hospital pictures, as well as things for her to wear while we're there. I'm definitely a much better prepared Mommy this time around!

Mia is just beside  herself about finally getting a baby sister. She has made card after card for Callie and is always writing her name. This morning we sat in bed together, Mia's head on my belly and her arms wrapped around me. She kept kissing my belly, talking to Callie and singing her songs. She wants to be one of the first people to meet Callie tomorrow and wants it to be just the four of us when she does. What a great moment that will be!

More than anything, I just can't wait to see this child, who we already love so much. Callie, all your life, know how much you are wanted, how much you are loved, and know that it's you who made our family complete. I cannot wait to meet you.

37 Weeks Pregnant

I had my weekly ultrasound and appointment today. Mamaw went with me. Callie didn't "breathe" as she should have so they had to do a non-stress test. She also failed that, so they informed me we needed to go to Labor and Delivery to do additional testing. I started to wonder if we'd have Callie today! Fortunately while we were waiting for everything to get squared away, she did the things she needed to and passed the test. I had an exam. No further progress, but I have lost 3 pounds. At this point I've only gained 23 pounds total, so I'm feeling good about that. I started out 13 pounds heavier this pregnancy than with Mia, so in my mind I'm really "ahead"!

Callie Pics

 

We're pregnant!

 

First appointment, approximately 5 weeks.

 

19 weeks.

 

It's a girl!!!

 

Sweet girl.

 

Trying to eat her cord.

Growing Girl

Mia celebrated her 5th birthday in style! Mommy and Daddy picked her up from school early and took her to Club Tabby to get a little girl makeover. She selected the "Rainbow Rocker" look and got her hair spray painted and her nails and makeup done. Afterward we went to Chuy's for dinner and met Missy, Cara, Ramsey, Dad, Sue, Mom, Bruce, Carol, Jim, Charlie, Kelly, Logan and Beau. Mia had a great time and loved showing off her new look.

Miss Mia is doing so well in school. She brought home a poem several paragraphs long and we are to practice reading it each night. It amazes me how she sounds out her words and is quickly figuring them out. It's not unusual for her to read a word or two over my shoulder now. Guess I better watch what I'm reading!

She got accepted into St. Aloysius. She did fantastic on her readiness test. I wasn't surprised, but it was a nice reinforcement of our thoughts that the teachers and academic structure at Kayfield is well worth our expense.

Mia has asked to get her ears pierced. I always said I would not do it until she came to me and wanted it done and that has happened. We are scheduled to go tomorrow after gymnastics. We'll see if she goes through with it!

I'm also going to take her tomorrow to a stable to see my friend's daughter's horse. Mia doesn't know yet but I think she will love it. She loves her big stuffed horse, so I can't wait to see how she acts with a real one!

Mia has lost two teeth now. The tooth fairy gave her $5 for her first tooth and $1 for her second tooth. They were her two bottom teeth. I thought it was pretty early to be losing them, as she was still 4 when they came out. But a couple other kids in her class have lost them too, so I guess it's okay. Her dentist didn't seem to think it was unusual.

I am absolutely overjoyed about my relationship with Mia these days. I love this age!! She's so fun and clever and we really have a wonderful time together. She continues to be a snuggle bug and my favorite time is when we are cuddled up in bed together each night. Some nights we watch cartoons, some nights we read. It's also a good time for me to reinforce all the things I love about her and I tell her every night how smart she is, how funny and sweet. I will always do everything I can to boost my girls' confidence in themselves and give them the security that they are loved and appreciated for who they are.

35 Weeks

I will be 35 weeks this Sunday and at this point I'm wondering how I will make it to April 10. We've had an eventful couple of weeks. I've had Braxton Hicks nearly every day and have missed two days of work due to them. They are often accompanied by cramping, back pain and nausea, but I'm always just below the threshold of what the OB nurse deems serious enough to come in. When I had my appointment with Dr. Paul last week I had lost my mucous plug that morning. I was barely dilated and only 20% effaced, so she was not concerned. She did tell me little Callie was head down, which made me very happy. Even though I'm having a c-section, I like knowing things are lining up as they should. I had also lost some weight, which put my total weight gain at 24 pounds. I started out 13 pounds heavier with this pregnancy than with Mia, so the lower weight gain is putting me in a better position for loss afterward, for which I am very grateful.

I definitely feel 40 and pregnant. I'm so uncomfortable, and everything hurts. I'm having occasional sciatic pain, painful swelling just below the waist and back spasms woke me up the other night. Even with all that, I just love feeling my little Callie move around. She is every bit as active as Mia was, and Mia really enjoys laying next to me and feeling her sister move around. She fell asleep the other night with her hand on my belly, and when she woke up the next morning she immediately put her head on my belly, kissing it and talking to Callie.

Dad has finished painting Callie's room. I just love it and am now waiting for Mike to bring up the crib and put it together so I can get everything settled. I have a baby shower next weekend and really only have a few things left to get. I've washed and put away all her clothes. I have diapers out and her swing and rocker are ready for her.

At this point, although I want her to get all the time she needs inside of me, I really want to meet her. After nine miscarriages, I still have a surreal feeling about this pregnancy. I have not enjoyed it nearly as much as I did with Mia because I'm scared. I want to look at her and see that she's okay. I want to hold her close and shower her with all the overwhelming love I have for her. So many people are excited to meet her, no one more than her mommy, and I can't wait for her birth day to arrive.

That being said, I'm completely overwhelmed with school right now. The last class of my MBA before my capstone started last Monday and it's a bitch. No other way to put it. It is the most difficult I've had in these two years and my brain is operating at less than optimal speed these days. I'm worried I will not do well, or that Callie will arrive before the end of this class and I will fall behind. It's adding a huge level of stress to my life right now that I just don't need. But I'm determined to get through it. I want my girls to know and appreciate the value of their education and no one can set a better example for them than their mommy.