Weight Gain, Tub Baths and Grandparents

We went to the doctor yesterday for a checkup, and Bethie has gained a good amount of weight. She is now 7 pounds 5 ounces and the doctor was hoping for 7 pounds 3.5 ounces, so she's doing wonderfully. She has a touch of thrush on her gums so we have some medicine for that, and other than that she is a very healthy little girl. The doctor was surprised at how alert she is for her age, which just proves that Bethie is a genius!

Bethie's umbilical cord finally fell off too, so she got to have her first tub bath last night. She wasn't really sure what to think of it, but she didn't cry, although she made some pretty funny faces that we enjoyed! Jeff's parents are also in town for the week so we've had fun visiting with them. It is hard on Bethie to be off her schedule, and harder on Jeff and I when she was up all night screaming since she slept all day, but we survived. She slept well last night which was a relief, since both Jeff and I were able to sleep for more than a few minutes at at time. She doesn't sleep well in her crib at night so she sleeps there during the day and with us at night. I don't know if that will continue once we get her one a good schedule, but for now that's the only way we can sleep.

Growth Spurts, Family Outings, and Floods

Bethie went through a growth spurt earlier this week. We could tell because suddenly she wanted to nurse constantly, and when we looked it up, she is at the right age for her first growth spurt. Of course, she still looks tiny to me, but the little princess is nearly two weeks old already! That sounds simultaneously so grown up and so little, but these last two weeks have been wonderful. Exhausting, as I'm writing this at 2:30 am, but wonderful, miraculous, and so worth it.

We had our first outing today that wasn't a doctor's visit. We went to Popeye's for dinner and then to get groceries. It doesn't sound like much, but it was great to get out of the house. Bethie slept through both errands, but she was still out in the fresh air.

Please, if you are a believer in prayer, say a few for our family and friends who are facing terrible flooding in Fargo. The weather is literally the worst the area has ever seen, and I do mean ever. Evacuation orders have gone out and sandbagging efforts are under way, but at this point, nothing else can be done but to wait and see what happens. It is truly scary, and prayers are appreciated.

*Sigh*

I adore this child. I cannot get enough of her. I hold her when she's awake, I rock her when she's asleep, and somehow, despite my determination to raise an Independent Child who sleeps alone, she ends up next to me in bed by 4 or so in the morning.

We're doing wonderfully with the every-two-hour feedings, and Bethie wakes up on her own 9 times out of ten now, right at the 2-hour mark. She eats and gets sleepy, and then Mama can just hold her and love her. :-) I am so grateful for this baby!

A Whole New Set of Worries

We brought Bethie in for her newborn screen yesterday morning and she had lost 15 ounces, which was 13% of her body weight and way too much. She wasn't eating enough, but because she is so laid back and calm, she didn't cry. She slept too much because she didn't have the energy to wake up until she was so hungry her little body made her! I got a good pump from the hospital though, and was surprised to find out that I actually make quite a lot of milk. I started pumping and feeding every 2 hours, and the difference in Bethie was dramatic. She wakes up now every 2 - 3 hours to eat, and while she is hungry she's not angry and screaming. Also, after feedings she is alert and awake the way she is supposed to be. She is also pooping again, since she wasn't the day before, and is such a happy little girl. Thank God for doctors!! She had a follow-up visit today, and the doctor said that her vitals are great, she looks good and healthy, and if we stay on her 2-hour schedule, she will be back to her birth weight in two weeks. The pumping has helped immeasurably, too. My milk has now fully come in, and neither Bethie nor I could be happier!

She is truly the most precious blessing and gift that God could have given us, and Jeff and I are in love. She is calm and happy and already starting to make faces and smile at us. She has such a cute little personality! She opens her mouth wide when she is hungry and looks for all the world like a baby bird, so now she is mama's Little Bird. I know there are a thousand more things I could say, but Little Bird needs to eat!

This is it. . .

I cannot believe that we're here already. I am of two minds on this - one part of me says that this has been SO long in coming that it's about time, but the other part of me wonders how we got here so fast. I had my pre-op hospital visit today, I have my little wrist band on, and Saturday morning at 8:00 it all starts. I have to get there at 8, the c-section is at 9:30, and apparently there will be a baby by 9:37 or so!

I started this blog last summer, and part of me never thought I'd be able to really do it. I either wouldn't keep it up or we wouldn't get pregnant, thereby having nothing to report. However, the blog is still here, and we are mere hours away from having our baby. Thank you so much to all of you who have followed along with us, laughed, prayed, and cried with us, and are now standing by to celebrate with us. Don't worry, we're not going anywhere!! It's just that the next time you come to check us out, there will be baby pictures and stats and probably complaints of incision pain. :-) I can't believe we're here, but we are, and I am so glad that you are all with us. Stay tuned to see the little miracle who is the product of all of those prayers, hopes, thoughts, and dreams, and thank you again, a thousand times over, for adding your voices to ours.

All our love,

Bobbie and Jeff

The Nursery!

The first picture is the view from the front door, and the second is the nursery! It's small, but pretty. :-) As you can see, we finished the nursery today, and we are very excited. We had a very small space with which to work, but we needed to fit the three pieces you see above, and they fit beautifully. There is a Diaper Genie on the left side of the changing table - and the table will pull out from the wall so that we don't hit Baby's head on the counter - and we have storage under the crib for blankets and sheets, and two drawers in the changing table for diapers, wipes, and lotion.

The Crib is Here!

Jeff's parents bought us a crib and a changing table for Bethie, and they arrived yesterday. Jeff put the crib together, and it is beautiful! We got it all made up and the mobile attached, and now we're just waiting for its occupant. :-)

I had my doctor's appointment today, and everything looks great. I've gained 2 pounds and Bethie's heartbeat is nice and strong. I go back again next Thursday, and then it's baby time! Jeff and I have a countdown on the wall, so it's 9 days til the C-section.