Callie Girl - 3 Months Old

Oh, my little Callie Girl. How in love with you I am! You light up my world with your sweet smiles and your infectious giggles. Your dad and I are so smitten with you. We sit and just look at you, marveling in our little miracle. And your sister...well she can't get enough of you! She reads to you, sings to you and last weekend had a fashion show with you. She brushed your quarter-inch hair and put you in a tiara and bracelet. You just let her dress you up, grinning the whole time! You are getting so big so quickly. I know I don't post here nearly like I did when Mia was a baby. It is partly due to having two children that need my attention. There aren't very many free moments with a three month old and a five year old. I have also just started a new job last week and leaving my former job to transition to this one has been challenging. I was in Las Vegas last week and am typing this from Chicago. When I'm home I want to interact with my girls, not just write about you. But also I was much less confident in my decisions as a mother when Mia was a baby, and I wrote to work through my insecurities. Now I'm confident and more relaxed and just simply enjoying your babyhood even more than I did with Mia. You've had a rough couple of weeks that have challenged my heart though. Two weeks ago on Sunday you spiked a fever of 101.3. I called the pediatrician and they told me to take you the emergency room. With Mia, that temperature wouldn't have necessarily caused much alarm, so daddy stayed home with Mia. But apparently that level of fever in a child less than three months is a big deal. Quickly after our arrival a catheter was inserted to draw urine, an IV was inserted to draw blood and administer medicine if needed and a chest x-ray was taken. I was soon in a state of panic, over what may be wrong with you and over the level of pain you were experiencing from these procedures. You were too small to get anesthesia and I was desperate to find out what was going on and to eliminate the need for so much pain. After the chest x-ray your daddy arrived and I held you for hours as test after test came back negative. But you were still fussy and still had the fever, and the NP decided she wanted to do a spinal tap to test for meningitis. What a horrible decision that was for us to make. I had just had an epidural for my c-section with you. I was terrified of a physician inserting a needle into my own spine. To do that into the spine of a screaming, wiggly baby was beyond my comprehension. But I read up on your symptoms while we sat there, and you were definitlely exhibiting enough of them to cause concern. Meningitis can kill babies quickly, so we knew we must find out to keep you safe. We waited in the lobby while you had the procedure. Granny showed up while we were out there, midnight by that point. I cried and cried in fear for you, but hours later the tests came back negative again. We went home and by the next day your fever was down. Then on Wednesday I was at a going away party with my work friends when I received a call from daddy that he had been in a wreck with you and Mia in the car. All he kept saying was for me to get there and that he "thought" you were okay. My friend Beth drove me to daycare in rush hour traffic while I sat there in panic, wondering if you were all really okay. When we pulled up, we saw daddy's car and it was obviously totaled. It had been a stormy afternoon and a woman decided to pass in the median. She crashed right into the front driver side as daddy pulled out of the daycare parking lot. Daddy appeared to be okay, and when I went into daycare you girls appeared to be okay as well. However we knew we needed you all to be checked out at the hospital to be certain. So papaw took daddy to the adult hospital, and mommy, granny and grumpy took you girls to the children's hospital. Daddy had a sore back and some burns from the airbag. You girls had a couple of bruises from your seatbelts. After x-rays determined you were okay, we took you home. I've never seen your daddy so shaken up and he cried when he walked into your hospital room. In fact, many tears were shed by mommy and daddy in the days after that accident. You girls are the most precious gifts we've ever received. We love you both with all our hearts and souls, and would easily give our lives to keep you both safe and healthy. It's hard to know what that feels like until you are a parent. But always know we love you more than anything. In the past week you have started to giggle. You love when I kiss and "munch" on your belly and your big, hearty laughs make me laugh out loud with you! Two days ago you started reaching for toys. You love to sit in your swing and reach for the little dangling toys that hang from it. You are also really pulling your head up a lot to look around you, and you no longer need to be swaddled at night. You're sleeping through the night in your sleep sack. We still have you in the elevated sleep sling instead of your crib. Until your reflux stops I want you elevated. But otherwise you are one happy, content little girl. And you have your mommy's heart in your hands!

My Baby Girl

My Callie Girl

Before Mia was born, I'd never called anyone "Punkin" in my life. But somehow, that became my nickname for her and it's stuck. Similarly, before Callie's birth, I'd never referred to anyone as "Sweet Pea", yet my girl is definitely my little Sweet Pea. I love her to pieces! She did great at her appointment today, even though she had to get four shots. She cried for less than a minute, just snuggling into me as I talked to her and calmed her down. Before that she was smiling at everyone, cooing and even giggling twice. Oh, how I love that girl! She weighs in at 13 pounds, 2 oz, (95%), is 23 1/4 inches long (80%) and her head is 15 1/2 inches (85%). She's right on track!

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"!