Holy Moly!

Lila and I had a big day yesterday running around town and making Christmas returns/exchanges. We wound up being out of the house from about noon til 4pm, and Lila slept the whole time! By the time we got home, she woke up with quite an appetite! I fed her a couple times, then we headed to Mim and Pop's house for dinner. Lila ate two more times while we were there, with the last feeding at 8pm. She was pretty much awake the whole evening with the exception of a couple quick cat naps while she was being held. By the time we got home around 9:30, I knew she HAD to be exhausted! She was still just a bit too wound up to go to sleep, though. I rocked her for a little while, then let her cry it out for a few more minutes before she finally conked out for the night. I woke up around 3am and realized she hadn't woken up for her nightly feeding! At this point, it had been 7 hours, and she usually wakes up after 5-6 hours. I snuck in her room to find her still snoozing, so I laid back down to wait for her to wake up. She didn't wake up and feed until 5:15am!!! She went 9 hours and 15 minutes between feeds!! I doubt this will be a trend, but I certainly enjoyed my long night! After Lila ate, she went right back down until 8:45. Who is this child, and where in the world did she get this schedule? I have no idea, but we are certainly NOT complaining!!!

I had to add these pictures in. They were taken a couple nights ago, but the outfit absolutely cracked me up! I got this outfit for Lila before she was born, and I LOVE it, but our cousin Stephanie Cox got Lila this hat, and it absolutely makes the outfit! The hat says "Miss November" in rhinestones! It just doesn't get any better than that!

FIVE Weeks!

Lila Jane, you are FIVE weeks old!! I wanted to do a One Month update, but the holidays just got right in our way. Here you are at 5 weeks old!
At your 1 month check-up, you weighed 10 lbs, 4 oz., and you were 21.5 inches long! You are wearing Size 1 diapers, but you've pretty much been in those since you were born! We only used the newborn size for a week or so until we had used them up. You are definitely no longer in your newborn clothes! Your 0-3 month clothes are fitting perfectly, and if you get much longer, we will have to get out some bigger clothes! It's no wonder you are growing so quickly, as you take between 4 and 5 oz. of breastmilk from a bottle. You typically nurse for about 20 minutes.

You are getting more alert every day! I love when your big eyes are open and looking around. Your eyes were a really dark greyish navy when you were born, but they are lightening into a deep blue.

You had your first big road trip last week! We went to Mayfield for Christmas, and you slept the whole way there! We did mess up your schedule a little bit during the four days that we were home, but you are already settling back in now that we're back in Louisville.

Yesterday, December 28, you gave Mommy and Daddy a BIG scare! When I was giving you your sponge bath for the morning, I noticed a big dark bluish colored knot kind of under the skin on your side, under your right arm! I panicked, and tried to figure out if it was a bruise or something worse. I took you right in to the doctor to see what it was, and they told me that it's only a hemangioma under the skin. What a relief!! You already have one small red hemangioma ("strawberry mark" or "angel kiss") on the side of your belly, but I hadn't seen this one! It's completely under the skin, so it doesn't have the red "strawberry" appearance, but is thick and bluish. The doctor seemed very unconcerned about it, but she did go on and schedule you for an Ultrasound at Kosair next week just to be absolutely certain that's what it is.

I really can't believe you've already changed and grown so much! I'm so proud of you and the little person I'm watching you turn into. As much as Daddy and I would love to keep you little bitty forever, it really is amazing to watch you grow. I look forward to every new phase you will go through, and I'm SO proud to be your Mommy!!

Routine? HA!

I should have known better than to post about our "routine" that we have going, Miss Lila. You did really well Wednesday, but Thursday was a rough one! Mommy's friend Stephanie came to visit us today, and you were really good while she was here. You did eat more often than usual, but I didn't think much of it. You really always eat on your own schedule. After Stephanie left, though, you kind of lost it a bit! You always have your longest wake time in the afternoons, so I wasn't surprised when you were awake for a while, but I surely didn't expect that you would cry alllll afternoon and evening! By the time Daddy got home from work, I was SO ready for him to take a turn! I had tried feeding you, changing you, giving you gas drops, rocking you, letting you cry it out, feeding you again, and every other trick I knew. I hoped that Daddy would be able to calm you down, but really you kept it up pretty much all evening. I still don't know what was wrong! We finally decided that since you were mad anyway, we might as well go on and strip you down and give you a bath, then feed you again and put you to bed. You fussed for a few minutes when we put you to bed, but then... you slept. And slept. Aaaand slept! I finally woke you up after 6 1/2 hours!! You've never slept that long or gone that long between feedings before! Apparently you had really worn yourself you. I woke you and fed you, then put you back in bed. You slept for another almost 5 hours! You finally woke up to eat again, then you went back to bed while Mommy got ready and got her chores done. And you slept most of the day today! You've really only woken up to eat, then had your usual short afternoon wake time. I have no idea what tonight will bring, but I hope the fussy part doesn't happen again for a looong time! I HATED seeing you so pitiful and having no idea how to help you. I'm SO happy you've been so very content today!

A whole new week!

Miss Lila, we are in a whole new week! Now that you're three weeks old, we're really getting our routine together! In the mornings, Daddy goes to work really early, so we sleep in a bit. I get up next and go on and shower and get myself ready while you sleep in a bit. Once I'm ready, you're usually up and at'em! I feed you, then get you bathed and ready for the day. You have all kinds of stuff to do in your morning routine. You take your vitamins, get drops in your eyes for a clogged tear duct, get cream on your bottom, and get saline in your nose so Mommy can suck the yuckies out! It's quite a process, and you usually get pretty mad by the time we take care of all that. After our morning routine, you usually go right back to sleep for a while. This is Mommy's chance to get things done! Monday, we went to Target and finished up all of our Christmas shopping. Tuesday, we stayed home all day so Mommy could get some baking done and wrap some gifts. Today, Wednesday, we are going to go to Mommy's work to pick up our Christmas ham and visit with our girls. You're usually up and ready to eat again around lunchtime or a little after, so we try to come back home then. After this feeding, you like to stay awake and play and talk for a while. Sometimes you'll stay awake until your next feeding! Mommy really likes it when you're awake! Sometimes we'll just snuggle and watch tv, or sometimes we'll have playtime on a mat on the floor. You really prefer to be held, but playing on the floor is really good for you! Daddy usually comes home around 4:30 or 5, and you're usually back asleep by then, but Daddy still gets you up and holds you for a while. He really misses you when he's at work! After dinner, you like to stay awake again for a good while. We'll play and cuddle and hang out with Daddy until bedtime. At bedtime, I feed you for a long time (and sometimes you have a bottle after that!) then we snug you into your sleepsack and tuck you into your bouncy seat. You don't like to lay flat in your bed, and since you have a cold, sleeping upright is better anyway. The doctor said that as long as you're sleeping 4-5 hours at a time, to just let you sleep wherever you'd like! I agree!! You usually do go 4-5 hours between feedings at night, and once you wake up and eat, you go right back down. You're SUCH a good baby, and we're SUCH lucky parents!!

We Love Weekends!

Well Lila, you were pretty pitiful yesterday! Your cold made you sleepy, and you weren't very hungry. You seemed a little better today, though! Daddy and I decided we were ready to get back into our old Sunday routine this morning, so we took you on your first visit to Olivia's restaurant for brunch. It's just down the street from us, so it was a nice little trip out of the house for a cold grey day like today. When we got home, our friend Sage came over and brought you a special ornament with your name on it! She was really excited to get to meet you and snuggle with you! She also brought Mommy and Daddy some yummy fudge! I hope you like fudge, because you'll be getting your share soon! The rest of today was spent at home, snugged up and napping. We're all really good at naps here! You were much more alert again today, though. Mommy was happy to see your bright eyes looking less pitiful. This evening, you took a funny nap laying across Mom's leg! You were sitting upright on the couch with your belly laid over my leg. It didn't look very comfy, but you stayed there for a really long time! You took a nap kind of like that with your Papa Jimmy not too long ago, too!
Tonight was a big new adventure! You took your first real tub bath! We've been giving you sponge baths on the changing table, but it was definitely time for a real dunk! We tried once before, but Mommy set up your tub wrong and poured water all over the kitchen, so this time we played it safe and put your tub inside Mommy and Daddy's tub. You didn't like it much, but it didn't last long, and we thought it went really well! Wet babies sure are slippery, though!
You're crying in your bed right now, so I think that means it's time to go save you from the scary dark. We love you, Lila Jane! I can't wait to see what kind of adventures tomorrow will bring!

Busy Baby!!

December 11, 2009: Today Mim and Pop came and picked us up for a big shopping adventure! It was your first time to get to ride in Pop's BIG van, and it seems that you LOVED it! You and Pop stayed toasty warm in the van most of the morning while Mim and Mommy finished up some errands and Christmas shopping. You slept for over 4 hours while we did our shopping!! I was starting to get worried about you because you slept for so long and didn't even wake up to eat. We finally went home to Mim and Pop's house and we got you all woken up and fed! You were a happy camper, so Pop set up a little photo studio and got some really sweet pictures of you! I can't wait to see some of them!!

Later in the afternoon, you kind of started coughing some. Mommy and Daddy have both had a bad cough, so I was afraid you were going to end up with one, too. We decided to take you on home after dinner so we could get a good night's sleep and see if you got any worse.

December 12, 2009: You slept like a dream last night, only waking up every 4-5 hours as you've been doing for several nights now! Mommy loves that she only has to get up once or twice a night with you!! However, you did continue to cough a little through the night. RSV is really running rampant here, so I took you straight to the doctor this morning to make sure you were ok. They said that you don't have RSV (YAY!!), but just a little cold. We're going to use some saline drops in your nose, and just keep you comfy until you're all better. We hope it won't take long! Daddy went to the doctor today for the same thing, and he got some medicine and some nose drops, too!

Lila Jane!!!

You guys... I totally had a baby. I'm not even kidding! So, kid...this post's for (and about) YOU!!

Lila Jane, you are 17 days old today! And...you're the bestest baby in the whole wide world! Here's what's been going on with you for the last 2 1/2 weeks.

Day 1: You were born on November 23. It was a big, exciting, and scary day for mom and dad! We went to the hospital at 5:30 in the morning and got all checked in and ready. I was nervous about having a c-section, but I knew I was in good hands at Baptist East. The procedure started at 7:30, and you were born at 8:11! It all went super-fast! Daddy was nervous, but he did a great job of keeping us both calm. When you were born, I was so excited to see and hear you! You really didn't look anything like I expected, but you were absolutely gorgeous! Dad went with you and the nurses to take pictures as they cleaned you up and measured you, then he brought you over so that I could see and kiss you. I was so excited and emotional, but I kept telling myself NOT to cry because then you would be all blurry, and I wanted to savor every moment of meeting you. I certainly did, too! While Dr. Price finished up her work on me, Daddy took you out to meet Mim and Pop. They were also SO excited to meet you!!

Once Mommy was all patched up, they took us to the recovery room and I got to snuggle you for a little while. Our wonderful nurse, Gretchen, gave Mommy some really great drugs, and took good care of us both until our room was ready. We were all excited to get to our nice room and be able to have a bit of calm together time. Did I say calm? Ha!! Hospitals are never calm. Between nurses and visitors and lactation consultants, the whole day was a whirlwind! I was still very very groggy from all of the drugs, and I was just trying to keep up with all that was going on. We survived your Birthday quite well, overall, but when bedtime came, we were very nervous to go to sleep with you in our room. We were so tired that we were scared we might fall asleep and not hear you if you needed us, so we decided to let you have a night in the nursery. When the nurses brought you to us in the middle of the night to eat, they told us you had jaundice. Mommy and Daddy were sad to hear that you were sick, but very pleased that the nurses noticed so quickly so that they could help you get better. They gave you a special bed with bright blue lights on your back and tummy. You had to wear special little soft sunglasses so that the bright lights wouldn't hurt your eyes. We called you our little glo-worm because off all those blue lights! What an exciting first day you had!!!

Day 2: The doctor came to see you and check on you today. They said your jaundice was pretty bad, so they decided you should stay in the nursery all the time. Mommy was still really sore, but I went down to the nursery to see you and feed you a couple times. It was really hard for me to be away from you so much, but I knew they were taking good care of you. Lots of friends came to see us, but we were so busy learning to eat and getting well that we didn't even get to see all of them. You started making lots of good poops, though, so we knew the blue lights were working and you were getting better!

Day 3: Since you were starting to get well, the doctor decided you were allowed to come back to Mommy's room just to eat, but you had to keep your special glowing blue blanket on you even in our room. It was really hard to change your diapers and snuggle you up to nurse with that big bulky blanket and the big cord that was attached to it, but we managed just fine. Breastfeeding was still really challenging while we both learned what we were doing, but you were starting to catch on just fine. We were feeding you little bottles, too, just to make sure you were getting plenty to eat so that your jaundice would go away.

Day 4: Happy 1st Thanksgiving, Lila Jane! Today we have a lot to be thankful for because your jaundice is getting better, and we all get to go home from the hospital!! We were worried that you would have to bring your blue glo-blanket home with you, but we ended up not needing it. We came home a bit after lunch time, and started unpacking all of your things. For a little bitty baby, you sure had a lot of stuff! Mim and Pop came over and brought us a big pot of taco chili. We had a great afternoon and evening just playing with you and loving all over you!! That night, we had no idea what to do with you! Every time we tried to put you in bed, you would cry and we would get all nervous. We finally tried putting you in your bouncy seat, and you were able to get settled and sleep for a little while. We were all very tired!

Day 5: Today was a busy day! We took you to the doctor's office today to check your billirubin (jaundice) levels. The doctors wanted to make sure you were still on the right track. We found out that you had lost over a pound since you'd been born, but apparently that's pretty normal. Your billirubin was still high, but the doctors weren't very worried. You also got to take your first shopping trip today! We had to go to Babyology to get some new bras for Mommy. When my milk came in, it REALLY came in!

Tonight we went to Aunt Carrie and Uncle Andy's house for Thanksgiving dinner!! Aunt Carrie did an awesome job of cooking the whole dinner for us. We sure had a LOT to be thankful for as we all took turns snuggling you and loving on you. Even Cooper and Collin were SO excited to get to play with you and kiss all over you!

Day 6: We took another trip to the Doctor today for another check on your billirubin. It had gone WAY down! Even the doctors were surprised at how great you were doing! We also met with the nice lactation nurse. Who knew it was so difficult to feed babies?!?!

Day 7: Mommy was sick today! I've had a cough for a couple weeks, but it just kept getting worse. Every time I cough, it feels like my belly is going to rip back open?! I finally went to the doctor because I really want to get well and keep you from getting my yucky germs. The nice doctor at the Immediate Care Center said that I had a virus, and gave me some medicine for my cough. He laughed when he told me to try not to breathe on you, and to try and get plenty of rest!

Days 8-11: We've been really busy! We've visited Mim and Pop's house, the doctor's office, and the pharmacy. You're doing better and better with breastfeeding, and I'm so proud of you! We spent Thursday (day 11) visiting with all of Mommy's friends at work while Daddy and our friend Scott did some work at home. All of the ladies at work just LOVE you, and they can't wait for you to start to school.

Day 12: (Friday, Dec. 4) You scared us today! When I bathed you in the morning, your belly button was kind of loose and bloody. I made Daddy call the doctor's office to see if it was ok. They told us that you were fine, but to watch it and make sure it didn't get bloodier. Well, later today, your umbilical cord stump fell off. I was very excited that it was gone, but it was really sticky and gooey with blood. We called the doctor again, and they weren't worried. They said just to let it dry out and it would be fine. They were right! By the next day, it was all clean and looked great!

Day 13 and 14: This is the last weekend we get to spend with Daddy at home with us. We spent the time going out to eat and really trying to relax a bit. It's hard to relax when you're having so much fun being busy! We're really excited that we're starting figure out a schedule for you, and you're sleeping really well at night! You only wake up when you're hungry, then go right back to sleep after I feed you!

Day 14: Daddy went back to work today, and we missed him SO much! We stayed home and got lots of cleaning and work done. It's hard to keep up with laundry and dishes when there's a certain little baby who keeps pooping on everything and a Mommy who keeps using up lots of dishes to pump and feed her baby!

Day 15: After alllll day at home yesterday, Mommy was already starting to go a little stir-crazy! We decided to have a girls' day out today, and we headed to Wal-Mart and Target! You were a perfect angel, and slept the whole time!!

Day 16: (Wednesday, Dec. 9) Mim and Pop had been out of town, but they came back last night! Mim came to our house today and helped us get LOTS of jobs done! We even went shopping again and ran lots of errands. It's starting to get really cold out, so we were glad to get a lot done. We don't want to have to drag you out in the cold any more than we have to!

Day 17: (Thursday, Dec. 10) You had another check up at the doctor today, and it went really well! You've gained 2 ounces a day for the last 5 days!! The goal was for you to gain just one ounce a day, so we were really excited! The doctor is really worried about your bottom, though. (So is Mommy!!!) You've had a pretty bad diaper rash that started in the hospital. We've been treating it with a prescription, but it's just not getting better very fast. The doctor has more tricks up his sleeve, though! We're going to try a new cream (Barbasol shave cream!), and Mommy is going to try a dairy free diet for a couple weeks to see if that might be what's giving you so many poops. I'm pretty sure you don't realize yet how important CHEESE is to Mommy's diet, but I'm going to just say that I must love you a VERY VERY AWFULLY LOT to give up cheese for you, Cupcake!! A Christmas without cream cheese might be more traumatic than a Christmas without a Christmas tree!!


I really can't believe you're already 2 1/2 weeks old! While I'm SO very proud of you for eating and growing and thriving as you are, I really do wish time would slow down just a bit. At night when I get up to feed you, I do miss the sleep, but I really just try to remember that this phase is only going to last a very short while. In a blink, I'll be up in the middle of the night waiting for you to come home from dates and parties. I'll look back and cherish even more these sweet baby times I have with you.

I love you Baby-cakes!!