My Baby Girl is ONE MONTH OLD!!!

Sigh.... Cue tears... and smiles... and absolute awe.  Slow down, baby girl... you are growing way too fast!

We *tried* taking some pictures in Kennedy's Adirondak chair with big sister Lucy... but Kennedy was NOT having it, lol. 

She was much happier just lounging on the bed.  So here is my happy one month old baby girl.

And now... we are on our way to Pittsburgh for a long weekend, some visits with Kevin's friends and family, and the wedding of two fun friends.  This will be Kennedy's first long car rid, Lucy will be with us also.  I foresee lots of fun in our future.  Here we go!!!

Kennedy's 4 Week Check In

My baby girl is almost a month old (or is a month old, depending on how you look at it... but I'm going with almost).  I know I say it every week, but I really can't believe how fast the time is flying.

How cute is this little tush??

 How Big Is Baby?

• No official weight, but she has to be 10 pounds by now.  Grow, baby, grow!!
• She has outgrown a few of her newborn size onesies and one NB dress... sad sad day.
• Still in size 1 diapers... and we have also started using cloth diapers part time.  She is in size small or one size for cloth.

Development & Milestones

• Kennedy tracks wonderfully now... it's really exciting to know she is actually looking at me and watching me when we interact now.  So cool
• She has been enjoying lots of tummy time and like to scooch on daddy's chest.  This little girl has some strong legs, just like her daddy.
• She has also been working really hard on her smiles.  Absolutely love them!! 

Diet/Nursing

• Kennedy continues to be a rock star with breast feeding.  She eats every 2-3 hours during the day and every 3-4 at night.
• We introduced the bottle a few weeks ago and continue to give her one bottle feeding per day.  Hopefully. this will make the transition to daycare a little more smooth for her when I go back to work.

Sleep

• Kevin and I are still working on our bed time routine, but things are getting better.  We *try* to get K into the bath around 7 then lotion (which she HATES), nurse, sing some lullabyes and hopefully get her to sleep by 8.  This almost never happens as planned, but it is a work in progress.  Lately we have been able to get her in the bath by 7:30-7:45 and get her to sleep by 9.  We have managed, for the most part (knock on wood) to avoid her witching hour.  Hopefully this week will be even better.

PP Mommy Check In

Loving my $12 dress!!!

• Physically I am doing great!  I still haven't gone for a run yet.  No real reason... now I'm just plain being lazy.  :P  I have been doing lots of ab work and stretching, which is always tough for me to get motivated to do... but feels great once I am done.
• I have been a bit weepy/emotional lately... I blame the hormones.  It's never a sad cry... as a matter of fact usually a happy cry, but crying nonetheless- which is weird for me.  Lately it has been the book "Guess How Much I Love You" which Kevin reads to Kennedy every night (and I cry every night when he reads it, lol).  It's such a sweet book and gets me all teary eyed.
• Oh- I almost forgot- Kevin and I have a wedding to attend next week and I have been holding onto a dress that I was hell bent on wearing.  I bought the dress last year and it fit perfect... when I got pregnant, I kept it as my motivation to lose the baby weight quickly.  Well, it fits great... except for my humongous nursing boobs.  :/  This has never been an issue for me.  I was stressing out over how I was going to find (and afford) another dress to wear.  Well... I managed to score a gorgeous dress on clearance for... wait for it... wait for it... $12!!!!  It fits great and will contain the ladies no problem.  Totally made my week!
• Right now I weigh about 136lbs.  
• *For reference, my highest pregnancy weight was 162, my pre-pregnancy weight was 130 and my goal weight is 125*

How Is Daddy?

• Kevin is doing great!  He was supposed to start back to work this week, but managed to swing an extra week off... and boy am I glad to have him around for another week!  I am very very lucky!  We decided to start using cloth diapers this week and he has been a champ with them!  He is excited to learn and help and do anything he can to make Kennedy comfortable and mama happy.  I've got the best husband ever!

Any appointments, visitors or outings?  Anything else new?

Kennedy rocking some cloth

• Kennedy enjoyed her first trip to the NY State Fair this past Thursday.  Our little family of 3 ventured out on opening day (are we nuts?) and had a great time!  Kennedy snoozed in her stroller through the majority of the trip, but Kevin and I really enjoyed eating all of the delicious fair food.  We didn't go through any of the animal buildings (Kennedy hasn't had any shots yet and I was a bit nervous)... but I can't wait to take her through next year when she will be really alert and interested in the animals.  All in all a great day!
• Like I mentioned briefly above, we started using cloth diapers this week.  I did tons and tons of research (there is SO MUCH information out there) and spent hours bargain hunting to try to get the best deals... and finally just dove in head first.  So far, we are only using cloth when we are at home and during the day time, until we build up a good stash, feel completely comfortable with it and actually feel like we know what we're doing... but it's a start.  We are hoping to be able to do cloth full time by the end of September.  So far, so good though! 

  Love/Hate: 

Kennedy loving her Hip Bums cloth diaper

• Love:  My new cloth diapers... in particular the ones from Hip Bum, a locally owned business.  Such a shame that these cute things are made to be pooped and peeed on.
• Hate:  ???

Any upcoming developments, milestones?  What's next?

• Next appointment isn't until her 2 month check up.... how awesome is that?  
• I have a post partum checkup in early September.

Picture Time!!

 

The GREAT NY State Fair is here!!

Finally!!!  ::happy dance::

It's no secret that I'm kind of a big fan of the fair.  Every year, we complain that it's hot, crowded, stinky, over priced, full of "as seen on TV" crap and terribly greasy food... but every year we go and we really love it! 

Every year, also, I set out on a mission to enjoy a humongous piece of roasted corn (aka "Crack Corn" because I swear they put crack in their butter) and 3 new fried things.  This year was no exception.

mmm.... crack corn... times 2!!

Me enjoying my amazing crack corn.  God I love fair corn.  What makes it soooo darn good?

deep fried pizza

I only tried one new fried thing so far... but we are going back to the fair this week and, rest assured, I will complete my mission then.  But, so far... my first fried thing was fried pizza.  It was... well... it wasn't very good.  Way too much fried batter stuff and not enough pizza.  It has potential though.

mmm... wine slushie

I also enjoyed (of course) a delicious wine slushie from Montezuma wineries.  Love my wine slushies!!  

This one was layered Diamond and Fat Frog.  Sooooo amazing!!

Kevin with his pepperoni lollipop

 Kevin found himself a pepperoni pop.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is a giant pepperoni lollipop.  

mmm... bacon bomb

mmm... frozen cheesecake

He also found something called the "Bacon Bomb"... which was pulled pork, hot and sweet sausage, cheddar cheese- all wrapped in a bacon blanket and smoked, then sliced and served on a roll.  I had a bite or two and, I have to agree, it was pretty fantastic.  Kevin was a happy man!

Last, but not least, frozen cheesecake on a stick... from the dairy building (which, by the way, the chocolate milk in the dairy building- for 25 cents- is the absolute best chocolate milk in the whole entire world).  This, also, was yummy!!

butter sculpture... yep... that's all butter

I'm never a fan of fair rides... the idea of hanging upside down from a contraption that I saw driving down the thruway last week just doesn't sit well with me... and since we had Kennedy with us, there was no riding of rusty clunky fair rides anyway.  We also skipped the animal buildings because K hasn't had her shots yet and I wasn't sure if it was a good idea or not, so why risk it.  I am pretty excited, though, to take her next year when she will be alert and really interested in all of the animals!  That's going to be awesome!

sand sculpture... still in progress

 We did wander through the Center of Progress building and all of the cheesy "As seen on TV" displays as well as the health building (No VA booth this year... what gives/) and a few other buildings/displays.  We managed to avoid buying anything unnecessary (food doesn't count.  Fair food is absolutely necessary) as well as any cranky meltdowns from Miss K.  

A few things I learned about fair going with a newborn... 

• People, in general, are idiots and will walk into, in front of, over and through a stroller.
• Grab a map and scope out where all of the cooling tents are.  It is hot hot HOT and these little tents of chilly air conditioned goodness are a god send for mama and baby.  Also a great place to nurse, if necessary.
• Invest in a battery operated fan for the stroller.  We found one at Babies R Us that clips onto the stroller.  Well worth every penny to keep my baby girl comfortable.
• Bring extra batteries for said fan.  :/

All in all a great day!!  Can't wait to go back next week!!!

Kennedy's 3 Week Check In

3 weeks... 3 whole weeks... wow.

How Big Is Baby?

• My little chunka butt has got to be close to 10 pounds.  She is getting SO big and growing way too fast!
• Still in NB clothes, but able to wear 0-3 month dresses
• Upgraded to size 1 diapers.  :(

Development & Milestones

• Kennedy has begun tracking with her eyes.  She also smiles and coos from time to time.  I LOVE her big goofy drooly smiles.
• Kennedy's umbilical cord fell off yesterday.  Now we can start tub baths.  :)

Diet/Nursing

• Baby girl is nursing very well.  She eats every 2-3 hours during the day and every 3-4 at night.

Sleep

• Kevin and I are working on establishing a bedtime routine that we can stick to for Kennedy.  We have been trying to put K to bed at 8... but after bath and feeding it ends up being closer to 9 or 10.  Kennedy's witching hour seems to be from 10-midnight.  She will grump and cry and scream and there is little we can do to soothe her.  Once she tires herself out, she usually sleeps really well.  Tonight we are going to try to start bedtime at 7 and see how it goes.  Hopefully we can get her to sleep before her "witching hour" and we can just skip that whole ordeal.

PP Mommy Check In

• This week I am just plain exhausted.  Kevin and I decided to hold a garage sale this weekend so we have been up at or before 7am every day... and not falling asleep until after midnight.  Add in Kennedy's feedings and diaper changes throughout the night and you've got one sleepy mama.
• I am ready to RUN (after a nice long nap, of course).  I can't wait for my first run... I'm thinking tomorrow morning... eeeek!!!
• Right now I weigh about 138lbs.  
• *For reference, my highest pregnancy weight was 162, my pre-pregnancy weight was 130 and my goal weight is 125*

How Is Daddy?

• As I type this, Kevin is getting Kennedy all decked out in her Steelers gear to watch her first game.  I am most definitely NOT a Steelers fan... but he is just so excited about watching the game with his baby girl that I can't help but be excited too.

Any appointments, visitors or outings?  Anything else new?

• Well... this whole "witching hour" is definitely new and not very welcome.
• Kennedy got to go to her Daddy's softball game on Friday night, a first for her.  Kevin was very excited to take her out and show her off... and the team was pretty excited to meet her.  She slept during the game in her ring sling and did fabulously until the ride home (screamfest!).  All in all, a great day!

  Love/Hate: 

• Love:  Pandora radio station "Rockabye Baby"... this is lullabye/instrumental covers of rock songs (Aerosmith, Journey, etc)... We play this at night when we put Kennedy to bed.  It;s soothing to her and I like it because I actually know the songs, lol.
• Hate:  The fact that my newborn thinks bedtime is midnight.  Ugh!

Any upcoming developments, milestones?  What's next?

• Next appointment isn't until her 2 month check up.... how awesome is that?  
• I have a post partum checkup in early September.

Picture Time!!

For the record, I am working on my Picasa collage making skills.  Hopefully next week's pictures will be a little better.  Lol 

Wrapped Around His Finger

There is something so amazing about the bond between a father and his daughter.  Seeing my baby girl sleeping on my husband's chest just takes my breath away and melts my heart.  There really are no words to describe how special this is.  And since words are failing me, I will share some pictures from last night... Enjoy!

Have to show some Lucy love!

My awesome family!  Life is so good!

Kennedy's 2 Week Check In

2 weeks and counting.  Kennedy is growing so fast, right before my very eyes.  I can't believe that 2 weeks ago, at this time, I was pushing and pushing with all my might.  I didn't know if my little one was a "he" or a "she" and I didn't know the depth of love that a mother could feel.  I also didn't yet know just how many diapers I would go through on a daily basis or how little sleep I could actually function on.  Now, I am a nursing, diaper changing zombie mommy... but I have never been happier or more in love with such a teeny tiny little being.  Wow... life happens so fast.

How Big Is Baby?

• I would guess we are close to 9 1/2 lbs.  At our appointment last Tuesday, Kennedy was 9lb 1oz and she has been a nursing machine... so yeah... 9 1/2 would be my guess.

Development & Milestones

• Kennedy picks her head up and holds it up for several seconds to minutes at a time.  She is so so strong and it really blows my mind.  She is smiling more and more, both while asleep and while awake now.  She makes eye contact and stares at mommy, daddy or Lucy for long stretches.  I wish I knew what was going through her mind as she stares and smiles.

Diet/Nursing

• Baby girl is still nursing very well and mommy is getting used to nursing and pumping.  We also introduced the bottle since I will be going back to work in a few weeks.  Kennedy is just like her mommy and daddy... she doesn't care where the food comes from... food is food and she is happy to eat.  This is such a relief since some breast fed babies do not take to the bottle right away when it comes time to transition.  I am still primarily breastfeeding, but we use the bottle maybe once a day or once every other day, to make sure she is comfortable with it as well.

Sleep

• We discussed days/night with the pediatrician at our appointment and she gave us some strategies to help get things switched around.  We have been waking Kennedy about every 2 hours during the day to nurse and trying to keep her stimulated during the day (going for walks outside, enjoying some time on her play mat, tummy time, etc).  We do her bath right before bed and, even if Kevin and I stay up, we keep the lights off or low and play soft music to encourage her to sleep.  We have been blessed on a few occasions with 3 hour stretches of sleep.  Here's to hoping those 3 hour stretches continue and maybe even lengthen to 4!!  Oh my... 4 hours of sleep in a row... that just sounds like heaven.

PP Mommy Check In

• I feel great!  Aside from the sleep deprivation of course... which in all honesty really isn't too terrible.  Kevin is still on leave so I can nap during the day or he can give a bottle for a feeding at night if I get desperate.  I haven't really cashed in on these luxuries yet... maybe I should before he goes back to work.  
• We have been going for walks daily, which feels great... and I have started easing back into working out.  Abs went well, but I am anxious to go full-on CrossFit crazy and start running again.  I'm thinking maybe one more week of taking it easy, then game on.
• Right now I weigh about 140lbs.  
• *For reference, my highest pregnancy weight was 162, my pre-pregnancy weight was 130 and my goal weight is 125*

How Is Daddy?

• I really can't say enough about Kevin.  He has been absolutely amazing.  He wakes up every night and offers to burp or change diapers, since he can't exactly nurse.  He has been keeping the house clean and cooking dinner, spoiling me every chance he gets.  I am so so very lucky.  He is an amazing, caring, generous father.  I can't wait to see Kennedy smile at him and really interact with him.

Any appointments, visitors or outings?  Anything else new?

• We had our 1 week follow up with the pediatrician on Tuesday.  Baby girl weighed in ay 9lbs 1 oz.... Holy cannoli!!  I can't believe how big she is getting.  We had some concerns about some yellowish discharge from one of K's eyes.  This began on Monday afternoon and had gotten pretty yucky by Tuesday morning (good thing we already had an appointment with the pediatrician!).  The pedi told us that it was likely a blocked tear duct and nothing of concern.  We applied a warm wet washcloth to her eyelid several times a day and it cleared right up.  Phew!!  Otherwise, everything else checked out great... our little girl continues to grow healthy and strong!
• My mom left on Monday to go back to Florida.  Mike was supposed to leave Monday also, but he missed his flight.  The plane actually flew over our car while we were pulling into the airport... not awesome.  Luckily he was able to catch a flight out of Syracuse Tuesday morning... which he did make on time.  So now... it's just Kevin and I with our two girls (yes, Lucy counts)... time to really get used to our new little family.  Eeeeek!!
• This afternoon we took Kennedy to church and I tried out my new ring sling for the first time.  I loved it and I think Kennedy loved it to!!  I am really digging baby wearing and plan to use my sling a lot more (although Kevin LOVES to push her in the stroller, so I will have to fight him for it).  She seemed very comfortable and slept peacefully throughout the mass.  It was very comfortable for me to wear and kind of kept strangers hands off of her.  Bonus!

  Love/Hate: 

• Love:  My custom ring sling from Sleeping Baby Productions.  I can't rave enough about this thing.  It's beautiful, comfortable, functional, perfect! 

• Hate:  Hmm... not really sure.  I'll come back to this one.

Any upcoming developments, milestones?  What's next?

• Next appointment isn't until her 2 month check up.... how awesome is that?  
• I have a post partum checkup in early September.

Picture Time!!

Coming soon...

I miss it.

So I had a mini cry fest last night (ok ok... ugly cry for a little bit) and said something I never ever thought I would say... 

"I miss being pregnant"
 

Yep. I do.
 

I never ever thought I would feel this way. I felt like absolute dog crap for the first half of this pregnancy and (as grateful as I was to be growing a baby) I couldn't wait to get the whole labor thing over with and just hold my little one in my arms. Now that she's here... I kind of miss the excitement, the anticipation, the "is it a boy or a girl" and the "s/he's all mine" feeling.

I felt similarly after I got engaged and after my wedding. I wanted nothing more than to be engaged... then once I had the ring on my finger I missed the "is he ever going to ask" and "I wonder if today is the day and how he is going to do it"... then I counted down the days to my wedding and just couldn't wait to be a "Mrs"... but once it was over and life settled down, I remember getting teary eyed that our big day had passed... it was over, done, never to be enjoyed again.  I wanted to turn back the clock and savor the anticipation, feel those butterflies again as I walked down the aisle, make our first dance last just a few minutes longer, enjoy our last dance one last time.

I love being married and I love being a mom, I wouldn't change my life for anything in this world... but part of me really wants to go back and re-live the days/weeks/months leading up to those life changing events (even the labor part... now I KNOW I'm nuts). People told me in the first trimester (when I was unbelievably sick and miserable) that I would miss this... I thought they were nuts.  But now I would give anything (well not anything, but close) to go back in time, slow it down and soak it all in. It really went by way too fast.

The perfect song for this moment......

Kennedy's 1 Week Check In

My baby is one week old... 7 days.  I can't believe it.  It seems like she is already growing and changing and time is already flying too fast.  Slow down baby girl!!!

How Big Is Baby?

• I am terrible with weight guessing, but my best guess is that little miss chunk muffin is pushing 9lbs. 

Development & Milestones

• Kennedy is starting to smile in her sleep... which is the most precious thing ever.  She grabs fingers tightly and likes to lift her head up off my chest/shoulder when I am holding her.  Such a strong girl already!

Diet/Nursing

• Kennedy is nursing like a champ!  We are so so very lucky that she has a great latch and nurses well throughout the day and night.

Sleep

• What is this thing you call sleep?  Ha!!  Well... baby girl does sleep pretty good... I really shouldn't complain.  She will sleep about 3 hours during the day, but only about 2 at night.  It seems that she has her days/nights confused.  We will definitely be discussing this with the pediatrician on Tuesday.  But until then, even 2 hours is better than nothing, right?

PP Mommy Check In

• I am feeling pretty darn good.  Still bleeding, which is normal... but man I can't wait to ditch the diaper sized pads.  Recovery is going great and I really only have discomfort when I cough, sneeze or laugh too hard... otherwise I feel fine.  We have been walking machines since we got home, so between that and nursing I am hoping to watch the pounds drop quickly.  
• Right now I weigh about 143lbs. 
• *For reference, my highest pregnancy weight was 162, my pre-pregnancy weight was 130 and my goal weight is 125*

How Is Daddy?

• Kevin is doing wonderfully.  He is really settling into his role as a daddy and it is so amazing to watch him learn, grow and play with Kennedy.  I am so very blessed to have a husband who is so excited to be a father and be involved in every aspect of parenting that he can.  He gets up with me in the middle of the night, I nurse then pass her off to Kevin for a diaper change so I can get back to sleep as soon as possible.  He LOVES to push her around in the stroller and wants to show her off to everybody we meet.  And Kennedy has him wrapped around her little finger already.

Any appointments, visitors or outings?  Anything else new?

• We had our first office visit with the pediatrician on Tuesday.  Kennedy weighed in at 8lbs 9oz... just 1oz under her birth weight and up 4oz from when we left the hospital at 8lbs 5oz.  Normally it takes babies up to 2 weeks to make it back to their birth weight, so we are very impressed with her weight gain... this makes me feel so good about nursing her.  Now I know we are getting it right!  Everything else checked out great... we have a happy, healthy little girl!  So incredibly blessed!  (I should add that on our check out paperwork, there was a CPT code for "Abnormal weight gain"... I cracked right up.  Obviously we don't want our daughter to be overweight but... umm... she's was just a few days old.  Give me a break!!)
• This week has been a very busy week with lots of visitors coming and going.  Kevin's parents came to visit from Monday-Wednesday.  They power cleaned our house, stocked our fridge and cooked us tons of yummy food (can we say angels??).  They were so excited to meet Kennedy and it was tough for them to leave.  Then my brother flew in on Tuesday... we are so so excited to have him here with us.  Mike just LOVES Kennedy and it is so cool to see this tough guy just melt when he cuddles this tiny baby.  My mom flew in on Thursday... watching her meet her granddaughter for the first time was just priceless.  She has also been a huge help and we are so lucky to have her here.  Mom and Mike will both be leaving on Monday... I'm not sure when Mike will be able to come visit again, but my Mom will be back soon for Kennedy's christening.
• We took Kennedy on a drive to Ithaca (about an hour and a half away) to pick up my mom from the airport.  She did great in the car!  We also attempted our first public nursing experience, well sort of.  I nursed her in the bathroom at the mall.  It was awkward and disgusting, but we did it!!  I don't know that I will be doing that again though.  I have a nursing cover so I think next time I will just try to discreetly nurse her under the cover.  We'll see.
• We also went to the local Farmer's Market yesterday and then the mall.  The Farmer's Market was awesome, as usual and the mall was... well the mall.  Kevin learned an important lesson about taking the stroller on the escalator and despite me almost killing him for not listening to me (word to the wise... never ever EVER attempt to go down an escalator with a stroller facing forward... DUH!!!)... everyone made it out unscathed.
• This morning we took Kennedy to her first mass along with Mike and my mom.  We got there really really late, but it was still a good service.  I really need to work on getting out of the house on time.  It's really tough with a newborn because I have very little control (ok ZERO control) over when they need to eat, need to be changed, etc.  I'm learning...

  Love/Hate:

• Love:  Earth Mama Angel Baby New Mama Bottom Spray.  Umm... feels heavenly on my tender lady bits.  This stuff is a god send and I wish I had it with me in the hospital.  Oh well... better late than never, right?
• Hate:  Diaper size pads... ugh.  So awkward and uncomfortable.  Also not a fan of the disposable nursing pads- of any kind.  They feel plasticy and sticky.  I only have a few sets of washable pads, so I will be ordering some more from Amazon soon.

Any upcoming developments, milestones?  What's next?

• Next appointment is Tuesday.  I'm excited for another weight check in.

Picture time!!!