Dear Anya, Happy ONE month!

Dear Anya,

I can't believe that at this time last month, we had just met you!  You bring so much joy to our life... so many smiles, good tears, and laughs!  You bring so much joy to your grandparents life...they love you SO SO SOOOO much.  Auntie Katie, Auntie Cindy and Uncle Tony love you as if you were their own child.  Anytime I ask any of them to take you and hold you for a minute, they never hesitate!  Even if it's only for a second...it's so cute!  They would do anything for you.  But guess who loves you the most???  Jesus!  It's hard for us to believe and even picture a love greater than what we have for you.  But He loves you even more than we ever could. 

This month has been a roller coaster ride for sure!  You are starting to sleep better at nightime, and we've even started a routine that is working for us.  Daddy has the first shift and mommy has the second until morning.  The past week you've only woken up once at 2am-3:30ish.  And then again at 6am for feedings.  Summertime is coming and the sky starts to brighten as dawn approaches early at 4:30. 

You become more and more beautiful everyday!  Mommy loves watching your deep blue eyes as they look around to explore the world around you.  We've seen much more of these beautiful eyes in the past 2 weeks.  We can't totally tell whose eyes you have yet.  Your little button nose is still so adorable and takes after daddy for sure!  We could watch your face for hours on end as you entertain us with your many different expressions...going from serious eyebrows, to full smiles-revealing your dimple on the left cheek, your Popeye grin, to your poop face (you'll be so easy to potty train!), to your sad curled lip.  We have memorized all of your noises, grunts, yawns (they are loud!), stretches, and cries & know what most of them mean!  You are so easy to read! 

Things that make you happy:
-sitting up to burp
-pats on your back
-paci!!!
-your swing and water noise it plays
-when Grandma H sings to you...you were humming with her!!!
-pooping on daddy's lap
-stretching
-being fed

Firsts this month:
-bottle given by daddy...you chugged it down & looked so content as you looked into daddy's eyes and closed into dreamland. 
-little giggle while dreaming....it's so cute!!!
-walk in the stroller
-medicine- you have acid reflux
-trip to church...we've made it every week since your birth!  You sleep the whole time! 

Funniest moment this month:
- When you pooped on daddy's lap while we were recording a video for cousin Henry and Meagan right after we told them you always poop while daddy holds you.

 Anya I love you so much!  I cry when I think about how fast time flies.  Please don't grow up too fast!!  For now I will cherish every snuggle and the fact that you can sleep in my arms as I blog, and laugh at every spit up stain. 

Love,
Mommy

Dear Anya, Happy 2 weeks!

It's hard to believe you are two weeks old today- time flies!!!  But at the same time it feels like I have known you forever! You are such a sweet baby & have definitely made our family more complete:-D Today was an important day for us as Daddy went back to work after a two week break! I took you to your two week dr. check up today.  You were too funny at the office.  When we arrived I had to do what you dislike the most- strip you down to get weighed.  You had an accident on the scale, right after mommy warned the nurse that you would because you were cold.  To my surprise you weigh 9 lbs 7.5 oz!  Wow girl, you are growing so fast! I was wondering how our first trip out just the two of us would go and it went GREAT!  You are such a good baby.  This week we noticed that you are able to hold up your head on your own when you get burped.  You also recognize mommy's voice and calm down when you hear it.  This week you have been opening your eyes a lot more than last week.  You seem to be able to stay awake a little longer too!  Nightimes are rough on occasion.  Sometimes I get lucky and you sleep 4-5 hour stretches, other nights when you are going through a growth spurt you need to be fed more often. 
We praise God that you are growing big and are healthy!

Wearing the outfit cousin Julie bought for you!

Sleep and cuddles with daddy

Snuggles with mommy

Getting burped

Holding up head on own

Tummy time with Charlie

Love, Mommy

Anya Violet's Birth Story

On Monday, May 2nd Anya was so active.  She is normally pretty active at night, starting around 7:00pm but this night was different.  Her movements were so startling that I couldn't fall asleep and they were causing me pain.  I was lying in bed when I realized I wouldn't be able to fall asleep because she was moving so much. At about 10:30 I decided to go into her nursery and rock in the glider chair to try to rock her to sleep.  As I rocked I reflected upon my day.  I realized I had spent little time in prayer that day, if any time at all, and even felt that I was acting as though I didn't need God.  I prayed and told God that I trusted Him with Anya's birthday.  I confessed that I think at times that I can do life on my own without His guidance and strength.  What a lie that is!  I told God how desperately I needed Him and how I can't do this on my own!  Getting right with God felt so good that night.  I needed it.  After rocking a little while longer I headed to bed, as her movements started to calm down. 

At 1:50am ish I woke up with bad heartburn (strange since it had been gone for like a week) so I took a tums and put my head back down on the pillow.  Then it happened out of nowhere....my water broke.  I smacked Josh and instantly yelled "JOSH!  My water broke!" It scared him out of a dead sleep.  He asked if I was sure it was my water breaking.  I told him I've never been more sure of anything in my life!  We got changed and made sure to grab some of our last minute items (somehow forgetting all of Josh's tolietries). I wanted to rush and get there asap.  Josh wanted us to take our time and make sure we had all we needed and were ready.  I called the dr and told them the news and we were out the door.  I made sure to capture as much as possible on video.  It was great!  Total clarity that it was time!  Indeed she was waiting for the tulips to bloom.  It was such a blessing with Josh being home when it happened, plus NO traffic to the hospital:-)
We checked into the hospital aroung 3am and walked to the delivery room.  I didn't want a wheelchair- anything to speed up contractions.  At this point I was having contractions, though nothing strong. 
We walked to the room, I changed into the gown and they started the monitors, IV, and got us the yoga ball.  Josh set up the laptop and started to play my favorite Christian radio station.  I made sure to stay active and used techniques from our lamaze class.  At 6 Dr. Salis came to check on me and reported that I was already 6 centimeters!  At 7 there was a shift change and I totally lucked out.  The nurse that would be assisting me during labor was the same nurse that helped me during my 28 week visit!
The doctor that was on call was Dr. Beall, whom I love because she's totally tough love.  When Dr. Beall checked my progress she said that I was probably 5 cm.  I was trying not be to discouraged, but was glad I made progress from the week prior.  At that point my contractions had not started to pick up, so Dr. Beall started me on Pitocin around 9am to speed this up.  Pitocin started at low increments to make it as natural as possible.  Around 11:00am I started "real labor".  Contractions were strong and coming at regular increments. It was amazing at how quickly time seemed to pass.  Josh was such a great coach...reminding me of what we learned in our Lamaze class.  He encouraged me to change positions (a benefit to not having an epidural).   I loved using the yoga ball!!  My father-in-law bought me a flower arrangement and I used the flowers as my focal point for some of the contractions, using my sense of touch on the petals to distract me from the pain.  My back started to really bother me once the contractions started tp pick up.  Josh used massage to help ease the pain... it didn't help too much though.  The nurse thought Anya was sunny-side up so she had me get on my knees on the bed and lean on the head part of the bed (bed was sitting upright.)  This was the most intense part of the labor and I could tell I was in transition because it didn't seem like I had a break inbetween contractions and my breathing was a lot faster.   Josh coached me to do the breathing techniques we learned "ah-hee, ah-hee, ah-hee, ah-hoo".  I remember in the midst of the pain telling myself it was natural and good pain I was feeling.  I told God I needed His strength because I couldn't do it on my own... I am too weak.  I studied some words printed on the frame of the bed.  Everytime a contraction would start, the most difficult part was getting through the first two rounds of breathing.  Josh would remind me to keep my body relaxed and that the contraction and pain would soon pass.  Once the peak of the contraction was over I remember being so happy a break was coming.  Josh would tell me to enjoy my break:-)  I remember getting a contraction where I felt like I needed to push.  I told Josh to tell the nurse.  He said let's wait until the next contraction.  When the next contraction came I felt the same urge so he went to get Michelle my nurse.  She checked my cervix and sure enough I was 10 cm and ready to push!!! I was so happy!!! It took me awhile to get actually understand when and how to push.  In the beginning of pushing I was using my legs and face too much.  The nurses and Josh reminded me to relax my face and legs as much as possible and wait to push until the peak of the contraction before I start to push.  Once I understood what I was supposed to do, pushing was so natural!  I could tell when I was making progress because abdomin would instinctivly push down with the contraction (if that makes sense).  After 1 1/2 hours of pushing I finally felt the burning ring of fire!  Most people dread the feeling and say its very painful.  I was super excited when I felt it because I knew that Anya was almost here!  The nurses, doctor, and Josh got into their scrubs and I knew she was coming!  The doctor was shocked to see how big she actually was.  Once Anya's head and one shoulder were out, Josh was able to catch her and place her on top of me!  She was precious!  It was so surreal.  We waited a little bit for the cord to stop pulsing and Josh cut the cord.  I tried nursing her right away and then she was taken to get weighed and washed.  I remember not even being able to focus my eyes because I was so worn out.  I felt like my eyes were crossed from all of the pushing!  Josh was next to her during this, meanwhile I was delivering the placenta and getting stitched up... told you she was a big baby!!  I was so happy that I was able to do a natural, no-pain/ no epidural delivery!  I felt like I accomplished something my body was designed to do!  I plan to do this with all of my babies.  It was very rewarding!!  \

Life's Greatest Blessing

On May 3 our lives changed forever.  Our precious daughter, Anya Violet was born.  She is totally healthy weighing 9lbs2 oz and 21 3/4 inches long at birth!!!  Praise God for this precious miracle!  Anya is such a beautiful, sweet baby.  She only cries when she is hungry (she loves to eat!) and when she is getting her diaper changed (she's getting better with diaper changes though).  This past week Anya has had many firsts... well obviously, she's only one week!  But here are some of her "first" highlights:
-first big smile at 4 days...this is a cute story.  She had fallen asleep in my arms and I was praying that God would give her sweet dreams.  Immediately after she gave the biggest smile.  I knew right then that God had answered my prayer, as she indeed was having a sweet dream.
-first doctor's appointment- she did great!  Weighing 8lbs 4oz.  She had to get her first vaccination and mommy cried right along with her.  I don't know which is worse...seeing the needle go into her little thigh or her facial expression.  It was terrible!!!  She had her 2nd appointment today for a weigh-in and color check since she was jaundice.  She now weighs 8lbs 9oz which is perfectly on track for regaining her birthweight.
-first sponge bath given by Grandma H and mommy
-first ride on her swing
-first walk in the stroller
-first visit to church

The Time Has Come...

No silly, not for the baby's arrival... I'll only be 40 weeks on Wednesday!

It's time to wash my cloth diapers!

This is something I have been so scared to do since my diapers arrived.  What if I ruin them?  Besides, I have some disposables to get me through the first few weeks anyways.  If you are a cloth diapering mommy yourself you know that cloth diapers are picky.  They need to be pampered with special detergents and specific washing routines even before use.  So today I decided that since my little flower hasn't arrived yet, I should just suck it up, research the best pre-wash method, and get it ready for when she does come.  There will be nothing cuter than seeing her newborn bottom in a soft pink diaper and all of the other colors!!!

I know that once my diapering routine is established I will look back on this post and laugh:-D

So here it goes... wish me luck!