Wonder Weeks

Our sweet Lakelyn turned 6 weeks on Tuesday, April 21st. During her 5th week we had some issues where we were thinking she is getting to that stage where she is used to being held all the time and only wants to sleep if you are holding her. She also was fussier than normal and it seemed like she was hungrier and wanted to eat more often, but wouldn't take a full bottle or wouldn't eat very long at the breast either but would act like she was full. Basically, she was doing my head in! Before that we had a pretty regular schedule with her that went something like this:

6am- she would wake to eat and right back to sleep
9am- we would typically start our day with eating, diaper change and then some days we would play for a bit and then she'd go back to sleep or some days she would just be crazy and not go back to sleep until after the next feeding.
11:30am-12pm- eat and then nap
3pm- eat and then nap
6pm- wakes to eat and most days would stay awake and play a bit
7:30pm- bath time and would sometimes dose off around 8:30 other times would stay up
9pm- eats, diaper change, bedtime kisses and snuggles and then to sleep
11:30pm- diaper change then dreamfeed (feed her while she stays asleep)
3:00am- wakes to eat and a diaper change
then starts all over again...
NOTE: i didn't include every single diaper change. and these times are subject to her liking. Some days she'd sleep and eat all day and some days she wouldn't sleep at all no matter how hard i tried.

That Saturday she slept most of the day and i let Tyler wake up with her for all her feedings at night so i could get some rest. She slept until almost 4am and 7am. So he got lucky and got a pretty long stretch of sleep in there.
Sunday she slept most of the day again and around 9pm she woke up and ate and then stayed up almost until her 11:30 feeding. After she ate she woke up and wouldn't go back to sleep. Around 12:30 I thought maybe she was still hungry because she was still fussing and crying and sucking on her hands and sucking hard on her paci which she does when shes hungry. So i fed her until she fell asleep and then laid her down. She woke right back up after not even 5 minutes and she was crying hard. So i picker her back up and by 1:15 Tyler decided to bring her swing in there and we put her in that because that always works to get her to sleep. It did and by 1:30 she fell asleep. She slept until a little after 6am! She started making noise like she was getting hungry. So i stopped the swing and took her out and tried to feed her, but she didn't eat much and was still sleeping so i laid her in her rock and play and she slept until about 8am! I was so shocked and hopeful for great things to come!

I decided maybe she didn't like her rock and play anymore so Monday after we got home from work she ate at 3 and i put her in her crib to nap. It took us awhile, but she did eventually sleep for about 30-45 minutes in her crib before she started crying to get out. She just wanted to be cuddled and not put down to sleep. That night i decided to try her sleeping in her crib at night. So at 9 after she ate she was asleep so we laid her in her crib and of course she woke right up and it took us a few minutes until she fell back asleep. We watched her for a few minutes to make sure she stayed asleep and she didn't and then she got the hiccups (aka the devil in disguise) and she wont have it any other way except to be held while having them and i don't blame her. They suck. So i held her and she went to sleep and around 10 i put her back in her crib. 11:30 i fed her, she stayed asleep and i put her back to bed. She woke up around 2:30 and i figured she was hungry, but she didn't want to eat much. She just wanted to be out of the crib and fell right asleep in her rock and play. She slept until about 5:30-6 and woke to eat and went right back to sleep. Then she woke at 7:30-8 to eat and then again at 9 and then wanted to eat again at 10 which i finally gave her a bottle to make sure she got a full feeding instead of falling asleep at the boob. After that she did pretty well until about 4pm. From then she got really fussy, not wanting to be put down, wanting to eat the entire time, not sleeping. So I made her a bottle at 7 and we put some rice cereal in it. She ate a little more than half and acted full. She got her bath at 7:30, we cuddled and read a book which she cried through and i fed her the rest of the bottle and she went to sleep at 8. She woke up for a few minutes around 9 for me to hold her and went right back to sleep. I put her back down and she slept until about 5:15!! Then she ate and went right back to sleep until about 8.

After two nights of good sleep I was worried it was just her being very sleepy, but we continued with the rice cereal in her bottle and Wednesday night she slept from 11:30 until about 5:15 I believe again. Then Thursday night she ate at 10:30 and then slept until 4:30 and then back to sleep until 8-8:30! So the rice cereal must be helping her get a full belly which is good! However, she is still having some issues with fussiness and the not wanting to finish a bottle, but acts hungry kind of thing usually for a little in the morning and then sometime after 3pm. I don't mind cuddling with her during these times just as long as it doesn't start to affect her night time sleeping habits. I want her to be able to sleep on her own and not on or with one of us. I will also continue the rice cereal in hopes that it keeps her full and sleeping well at night!

I did my research which was really just checking my baby app emails and that is when i read about wonder weeks. Turns out week 5 (from a baby born at 40 weeks) is typically a wonder week. A wonder week is a developmental leap. Its like a growth spurt for the brain. Where they tend to learn new things and it can tend to freak them out sometimes. So it throws off everything. I guess most parents go through this they just don't realize it or pay it much attention. But its a real thing and usually doesn't last too long :)

Of course I have to post some pictures of this sweet girl!

rocking her camo for her daddy!

labor updates

Happy Friday everyone! I have some updates about how my labor actually went down ;)

When I wrote my birth story I was hoping that I would eventually remember more details from it since I was so in and out of it from the IV pain medicine. Well I remembered I was texting my photographer my updates about my labor and decided to go through the text messages to see how accurate I was with remembering the time of day and how much I was dilated and I seemed to be a bit off. Totally the pain meds they gave me are to blame. So I wanted to male a post with updates as far as that goes. However all the conversations I remembered are correct.

When I got to the hospital Monday morning at 6am march 9th the plan was to start cervidil. By the time I got to the room, hooked up to monitors and IVs and checked I was already having regular contractions on my own, but they weren't that strong so I didn't pay any attention to them. At my last appointment on Thursday march 5th I was still only 1cm dilated and not effaced. When she checked me I was 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced so Dr. Givens said we would just start with the pitocin and we would have a baby that day!

We did start the Pitocin at 9am

By 1:30 Dr reeves came in and broke my water and I was still at 2cm and the contractions were lasting about 3 minutes each. He also told me we would have a baby that afternoon or evening!

By 4pm the contractions were getting harder and they kept turning down the pitocin saying contractions were lasting too long.

I'm assuming around 4:30-5:00 is when I got the IV pain meds given to me which still was the biggest mistake! The nurse kind of talked me into it telling me I needed to wait until I was 3 preferably 4cm before getting the epidural because I wouldn't be able to get out of the bed and I could be there all night. I should have told her no to the pain meds and to give me the epidural anyway because by 6pm I got the epidural and was 3cm dilated, 80% effaced and she was -1

By 6:30 I was 4cm and by 7:45 I was almost 5cm and 90% effaced. around 6:30-7:00 is when the nurse told the family it would be a good time to go get dinner because it could be happening soon

By 8:30 contractions were 2 minutes apart and I was feeling pressure even with the epidural. She was sitting me up and turning me in all kind of positions to help speed things up or so we thought.

At this point my photographer decided it would probably be happening soon and even though I wasn't 7cm yet she went ahead and got ready and came to the hospital.

I don't have anymore updates from there because my photographer got to the hospital, but I know we joked about Lakelyn needing to be there before the bachelor started at 8pm or after it ended at 11pm. I don't believe they checked me during the bachelor and Tyler said he doesn't think they did either. If I'm not mistaking I think right after it went off I was checked and this is when she told me I was 7cm on one side and 8-9 cm on the other side. We were confused on this and then I remember the hospitalist doctor coming in sometimes after that and checking me and telling me I was at 7cm.

I did start to get nauseated after that and it lasted a very long time and I ended up needing nausea medicine which i knew should help with the nausea, but i also knew it would make me tired too which wouldn't help since i was still out of it from the pain meds and not eating all day. I remember not knowing what to do because they were telling me within 3 hours i should be having a baby since i was already at 7cm and i didn't want to be even more out of it than i was, but i eventually had to give in and get it because i was so nauseous i couldn't take it.

After that, I did end up making them turn off the tv and be quiet so i could get some sleep and i guess that was their hint to try to get some sleep too because i think it was around 2-3 AM Tyler's parents and sister went to their car to try to sleep, my grandma took my mom's car home (my mom decided to stay and help Tyler with me because i was starting with back labor and it was HORRIBLE, no position, amount of epidural meds, crying, heat, ice, massaging, NOTHING helped it- more on this in a second), Tyler's grandparents went home and the photographer decided to go home too. My back labor lasted what seemed like forever.. i really don't know how long it was, but my mom and Tyler tried EVERYTHING they could and the nurse just stood there like she didn't know what to do. I think this was also when she turned off my Pitocin. Eventually, my mom remembered about putting a pillow under my belly while i was laying on my side and that did get me to the point where i was comfortable enough to get some sleep.

My mom and Tyler finally got some sleep too, but apparently it wasn't much because 1) what they were trying to sleep on wasn't comfortable 2) i guess i had it freezing cold in there and 3) the nurse kept coming in and i kept moving which would wake them up to see if i was fine.

The next shift change was at 7am and i believe most of what i wrote previously about that point on is fairly accurate.

It is really upsetting that I cannot remember everything. I wish i would have written it down or had someone else do it. I tried texting myself when I got updates, but once the pain started I barely remembered to text the photographer. I told Tyler the other day that next time that no matter what state I'm in DO NOT let them give me anything unless its the epidural or if i'm being induced then Pitocin, but NOTHING ELSE!

She was completely worth every second and i would do it over and over again if i had to.. She's the most perfect blessing God could have given us and I'm so completely grateful for her and for God trusting us with his perfect child!

We love you so incredibly much Lakelyn Beth! You are our world, baby girl!

New Born Pictures

When Lakelyn was 10 days old we had some pictures done of her since we were unable to do the deliver/birth photos. I do not have many pictures of myself from when I was little so that makes me want to have pictures of her so when she is older she will have them to look back on. I have also realized that pictures are such a great investment since they are memories that are captured that you get to keep forever! The things you think of once you become a mom!

This might be my favorite!

That open mouth <3 i love that we captured who she really is here. 



<3

Those tiny feet!

I plan on doing more pictures when she is about 6 months. I also want to make sure I do professional pictures during Christmas every year, and around her birthday every year. I really want to find a good, reasonably priced photographer that I can use and stick with for years and years to come. Hopefully I can get some good suggestions from friends and family!

XOXO

My must haves for Month 1

When I decided to start this blog it was because of an idea I got from someone else. They basically have a blog to use to keep up with all the events of their children's lives and it makes it easier to look back and remember when. It is also something that would be great for the child to be able to look back on and see all of their accomplishments, pictures, events they may not remember and such. I loved the idea and while I am not a great writer at all and can be terrible at remembering things myself I am going to try my hardest to keep up with this blog so that Lakelyn and our future children will have pictures and memories they can look back on!

 

     rock and play // Johnson's Honey Apple lotion // Destin Diaper Rash Cream

       Soothie // Tommee Tippee Bib // Kalencom Diaper Bags // Honest Baby Shampoo

 

The rock and play is really a Godsend! It is like a bassinet, swing, bouncer all in one. It is super easy to fold and take with you, perfect for them to lay in while you are trying to shower or get stuff done around the house and great to keep right beside the bed at night while your sleeping. Lakelyn makes so much noise when she is trying to get out some gas or starts to wake up so its easy to just lift my head and peek at her to see if she is awake or not. We loved it so much that we actually went and bought a second one!

 

Johnsons Honey Apple lotion smells so amazing! I started out using the lavender one for bedtime because they say it helps soothe baby and helps them sleep, but I found that this one actually helps Lakelyn a lot more! I even use it on myself too sometimes. Since I had PUPPPs rash my skin was and still kind of is pretty dry and this works very well to soften my skin.

 

Diaper Rash cream is self explanatory I believe.. I haven't tried any other brands yet because this one has worked well for us, but I do have the butt paste too that was given to me at my baby shower.

 

Lakelyn will only take one kind of paci and its the soothie ones that they use in the hospital. I bought a pack of them and also the latch brand paci because they were shaped the same, but she wouldn't have it. So I will most likely be buying more of the soothie's soon since they get lost so easily!

 

I use a ton of receiving blankets, burp cloths, clothes or whatever I can find to wipe up spit up, spit, milk or pee so anything made of cotton basically works for that. I haven't used bibs too much since she is still so small and were kind of big on her and it was more work than help, but these tommee tippee bibs are awesome! They have that thick part around the neck to keep the milk or spit up from getting into the crease of their neck. I know its easy to miss that area and then rashes and what not start and I wipe her neck all the time and she hates it! So these are perfect for that!

 

I love my diaper bag. It has two side pockets that are big enough for her bottles, socks, hats, bows, junk. The inside is also big enough for all of my storage needs and the outside is laminated which makes it easy to wipe off and if its raining it doesn't get soaked! I do however wish it was a little big bigger because I also use it as my purse and having my wallet, camera, and change purse in there take up extra room and I also have a hand pump for emergencies so that also takes up a good chunk of space.

 

I have recently heard that there is an ingredient in the Jonhsons baby shampoo and body wash that causes cancer and normally I don't freak about stuff like this because lets face it, everything probably causes cancer, but when it comes to my child I take a little more precaution. I've heard a lot of great things about the Honest brand and was going to try it out. Any feedback would be great!

 

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Lakelyn is ONE month old!

I can NOT believe my baby girl is already one month old! It is just so crazy to me! I think the time went by so much faster considering we had to spend an entire week in the hospital! It completely threw off my entire plans for having Tyler get to be home with us and us getting to spend quality time together just us 3 for the week. We got home that Friday afternoon and Monday he had to go back to work AND it was his birthday! I was a hormonal basket case Sunday night about him going back to work. I was just not ready for him to leave us yet. I was not worried about anything going wrong or taking care of her on my own, I just did not want to be alone. I can't really explain the feeling. Only someone that has been there and felt what I'm trying to explain will be able to get that. I also had some crazy strong emotional feelings about her growing up so fast and that she was already a week old and this overwhelming since of love for this sweet, sweet blessing from God that it literally HURT and I CRIED so much. I just wanted to freeze time right where it was at. I still want to freeze time and I still get those overwhelming moments where I just want to cry because I know she is going to grow up in the blink of an eye and I just am not ready to handle that! I just want her to be little and to cuddle her and protect her and hold her in my arms forever!

Not even an hour after she was born!

Wednesday, March 11th we thought we would be going home :/

Friday, March 13th first nap in her rock and play at HOME! Within the first hour being home :)

On March 14th Lakelyn got her first bath and some pictures taken by mommy! I am obviously NOT a good photographer, but I try :) I do not have many pictures of me when I was little or at all actually so it is very important for me to have pictures of my children and our family. Pictures are moments in time you can capture and have forever. I have always though professional pictures are just too expensive, but now that I'm a mother I don't think you can put a price on memories of your babies!  Daddy actually took the bath pictures while I was washing her. She actually liked the bath for the most part. Once we were done washing her and about to take her out I guess she got cold and did not like that and started to cry then! Even now at one month old she loves the bath and makes all kind of faces when you pour water on her belly or legs. However, usually sometime between getting out of the bath and getting lotion down, diaper on and pjs on she tends to cry. 

On Monday, March 16th (daddy's birthday) she had her first doctors appointment with Dr. Kelly Rogers. This was a follow up for her jaundice and a regular after birth check up. When she was born she was 6 pounds 13 oz and 19 inches long. When we left the hospital she was down to 6 pounds 4 oz. Her jaundice was already gone and there were no signs of infection from my water being broken for 23 hours before we left the hospital. That was the reason we had to stay until Friday. When we left her appointment on Monday she was back to her birth weight already and doing awesome! Her color was great and she was a happy baby once we got her clothes back on :)

We had to go back in one week (when she was two weeks old) and at this point we had been hit with the thrush plague! It was not fun for us and you could tell her mouth bothered her. She was fussy, gassy and not wanting to eat much. She always sticks her tongue in and out her mouth, but she was doing it even more at this point. So we got a prescription for both of us for that, and was given the go ahead to try some gripe water for the gas. She was also up to 7 pounds 12 oz and 20.5 inches long! She was perfectly healthy and doing awesome! We were told we didn't need to be seen again until she was 2 months!

 At exactly one week old we celebrated Lakelyn's first holiday! St. Patrick's Day! While we didn't do much of anything other than eat and sleep, we did sit outside for a little bit since it was nice outside!

 sweet baby feet :)

 At 12 days old we had her newborn pictures done. These were done in place of our delivery pictures that I sadly did not get to have done like I wanted. I'm glad we got to do newborn pictures, but I will forever miss not getting delivery pictures done!

sneak peak- another post when I actually get her pictures back!

After only two weeks I had to go back to work at the plumbing shop. We just financially couldn't afford me to not make ANY money and we had bills to pay. Luckily, this is a family business and I am able to take her with me to work for a few hours and then come home. I am currently only working about 10 hours per week. So its not horrible, but I would obviously rather stay home with her. It is very hard to get up with her all night and morning, work, clean, cook, and everything else a wife and mom does when their baby is only a month old!

 

She sleeps with her arms above her head and her mouth open!



 

3 weeks old <3

 

 

We then celebrated her second holiday, Easter, and her first church service! We took her to see the Easter bunny at the mall on Friday, April 3rd. She of course slept threw it all, but she was adorable :) During her first church service she slept the entire time... well except for that quiet moment in the middle of the sermon when she let out an extremely loud fart that the entire section we were sitting in heard and made them turn and laugh. Its a good thing she is cute and little!

 

 

 April 8th while laying on her play mat looking around she started taking for the first time. She has been smiling and lifting her head since I gave birth to her, but she was actually smiling at all her toys and at me talking to her. It was the cutest thing ever!

 

 

Some of the things Lakelyn can do:

• lift head briefly when on stomach on a flat surface
• focus on a face
• respond to noise in some way, such as startling, crying, quieting.
• lift head 45 degrees when on stomach
• vocalize in ways other than crying (she's starting to coo and make "laugh" noises)
• smile in response to your smile
• smile spontaneously
• bringing both hands together
• her head is pretty steady, but does bobble some

 

Some things Lakelyn likes:

• Eating
• Laying on her belly on your chest
• Being patted on the back/ being burped
• Laying on her belly across your legs
• Playing on her play mat
• Mommy & Daddy
• Riding in the car
• Music or TV sounds
• Being kissed and cuddled
• Her swing
• Walks

 

Some things Lakelyn doesn't like:

• Hiccups
• Having to poop or pass gas
• Diaper changes aren't her favorite
• Car seat
• Getting cold after her bath
• When she spits out her paci, but really wants it
  

 

Some other pictures of our sweet Lakie Bug<3

The one time I've ever seen her sleeping with her mouth closed!

 

 First time in her bouncer.. she actually didn't care for it!

 

"Isn't she lovely. Isn't she wonderful. Isn't she precious less than one minute old. I never thought through love we'd be making one as lovely as she, but isn't she lovely made from love.
Isn't she pretty. Truly the angel's best. Boy, I'm so happy we have been heaven blessed. I can't believe what God has done through us he's given life to one, but isn't she lovely made from love"

 

We love you so incredibly much baby girl. You are our whole entire world! I am not sure how I ever lived this life before you <3