Our first two weeks

Ok..since I have been such a huge slacker...this is going to be a long, recap type of post...but can you blame me??? update blog..snuggle cute baby..update blog..feed and snuggle baby...Charlotte always wins. Not really a hard choice. They are just so precious as newborns and I know from experience..they grow way too fast and that sweet time when they are so little is gone in the blink of an eye. So I am really trying to love on my sweet little baby as much as I can...and love on miss Kate too!
Sooo...here is a recap of our first two weeks..
Induction Day..House was clean, bags were packed..just sitting around waiting for a call from the hospital to come in. I of coarse couldn't sleep and woke bright and early at 6 am. By 10 am I finally called L&D to see what time they were going to let me come in. Their reply.."umm, can you be here in 30 min??? My reply..you bet! But seriously...could they not have given a little more of a heasds up! Its a good thing we were ready and my mom lives close. So..we said our goodbyes to Kate and off to the hospital we went to have a baby! Getting induced is great!! Once at the hospital, we were on a fast track to meeting miss Charlotte. Even more so than we had anticipated. We knew my labor would be fast...since it was a fast labor with Kate..but none of us..my doctor and nurse included, guessed that it would go sooo fast. I think my doctor was in shock when they called him back down for the delivery. Once we checked in to the hospital...we were holding our sweet girl 2 hrs later! Yep....total labor time 1 and 1/2 hrs! I almost didn't get my epidural in time! I am definately blessed with fast, uncomplicated labors!
Kate's first time meeting Charlotte.....did not go very well. After we were settled in our room, My mom brought Kate to the hospital to meet her little sister. Let's just say...she initally did not take to her new sister...or me..very well. She wanted nothing to do with Charlotte for the first 30 min and everytime Eric tried to put Kate in bed with me..or even near me...She would scream, kick her legs and cling to Eric for dear life. It broke my heart...I even made a point to not hold Charlotte when Kate first arrived so she didn't feel threatened or jealous. But I think the new atmosphere and seeing mommy in a hospital bed was enough to freak her out. Luckily, I had packed a present for Kate from baby sister. She loves stuffed animals, so I had found a really cute stuffed alligator for Charlotte to give Kate. That was enough to break the ice...and after cuddling her alligator for about 30 min...she started to think maybe baby sister wasn't so bad. And even crawled up in bed for a snuggle with me. The following 2 days in the hospital were rough as far as Kate was concerned..and the day her and Eric came to pick Charlotte and I up..she was ohhhh sooo naughty! I wanted to cry...who was this child...and how I going to manage her plus a newborn!?!? But as soon as we got home and she awoke from her nap, she was a different child. She was finally nice to me and interested in her new baby sister. The first two weeks have been pretty good...but Kate is still adjusting....definately more tantrums, whining and naughtyness than usual..so I am hoping that will improve. She does enjoy her new role of "mommy's helper" and is very good to help me whenever I ask.
Kate's opinion of breastfeeding....one morning, after being home several days..Kate was watching me breastfeed Charlotte quite intently. She looked at me and said.."mommy, what's she doing??" I very matter of factly..replied, "she is drinking milk from mommies boobies." She contemplated the idea for a few moments..then looked back at me and replied.."I don't like that" haha..I couldn't help but giggle. Now whenever Charlotte cries, Kate announces..."baby charlotte is hungry..she needs milk from mommies boobies"..haha..oh boy! At least she hasn't said it in public yet.
Kate having to share Nanny.... a much harder transition for Kate than having to share Mommy and Daddy. The first time my mom held Charlotte in the hospital while Kate was around...she immediately said.." Nanny..put that back....put that down in the crib...I hold you Nanny!" She has been better as time goes by...but still gets a little teritorial when my mom holds Charlotte for a prolonged period of time. Yesterday, my mom was snuggling on Charlotte and Kate had had enough. She told my mom to "give ger back to daddy and come play Nanny!"
The transition to two kiddos and recovery...hasn't been as hard as I anticipated. It has actually gone faily well. With the exception of Kate acting out more..and being on a whining kick..Everything else has gone pretty well.
And miss Charlotte....is an angel baby. She doesn't cry very often...and eats and sleeps pretty well. We have only had 2 really miserable nights so far...which isn't too bad for having a newborn. It's a good thing too...because getting only 1-2 hrs sleep for an entire night is pretty draining. Hopefully we will continue to have more good night than bad!
We have already had several little outings and are adjusting to our new life. We just LOVE our sweet baby girl and are enjoying our new expanded family! There is truely nothing better than having two beautiful, healthy children. We are so blessed!

Thank you to everyone who has helped us over the last couple weeks. We were spoiled with dinners, treats, gifts, and help with Kate. You all helped make our first couple of weeks a much easier and pleasant adjustment. Thank you, Thank you!

Here is some pics from our first two weeks..

Checking in...ready to meet our baby!


Finally here!
She weighed 7 lbs 4oz.. and was 20 inches long!




Kate meeting Charlotte. This pic was after about 30-45 min. She finally let us get Charlotte close to her.

Nanny with her girls

Getting ready to go home

Snuggling with my girls

First outing to Nannys house and the park

Introducing...

Charlotte

Our sweet baby girl is finally here! (I figured since she is now 2 wks old..it was about to start updating my blog)

The truth is...everytime I have thought about posting updates...I always decide I would much rather spend the time snuggling with my baby!!

Last outing as a one child family

Two nights before Charlotte was to arrive..we had tickets to see Chris Issak at an outdoor concert. We decided instead of getting a sitter for Kate..we would make it our last family outing as a one child family. We wanted to spend some fun family time with her before her sister arrived. She absolutely LOVED it, Im so glad we took her with!! My mom and Bob had tickets as well..which of coarse made it even better for Kate...she had so much fun dancing with Nanny! I was surprised that at 39 wks pregnant..I was comfortable sitting on a little lawn chair! Ha..Im sure I was quite the sight though. I probably had a striking resemblence to a beached whale.

We had a great night together and the weather was perfect!

My favorite memory from the night was when my mom and I had taken Kate up to the front to dance. My mom ran into a friend who got a kick out of watching her dance and asked her who her favorite person was...probably expecting her to reply "Nanny"..but Kate pointed straight to Chris Issak and said "that guy". Haha!! My 2yr old already has a crush!!


Thanks mom and Bob for getting there early to get us good seats..and for the yummy picnic dinner!




Ready to POP!


Dancing with Nanny

Last family pics with Charlotte in my tummy

Projects

Before Charlotte was born, we were in a mad dash to finish some projects. Our top priority...finishing Kates "big girl room" so we could move her out of the nursery. We had intended to do this months before Charlottes arrival..but of coarse..it ended up being days before she arrived. Luckily for us..Kates was soo excited about her new room that the transition was incredibly easy!

Kate loves doing projects with her daddy...especially anything that involves putting things together or using a screwdriver or hammer (with supervision of coarse). So when we started putting together her new furniture..she was in heaven. She was busy helping me put woodpegs in and helping Eric hammer. She was quite the little helper. I was impressed with myself too..Im not exactly "handy"...so when I assembled her nightstand and part of the bookshelf all by myself..I was quite proud!

The finished product...Kates new big girl room!!

Loving her new bed!

Charlottes room...not completely done..still need to hang things on the walls and add some finishing touches....and yes..there is two different fabrics on the armoir..just testing one of the fabrics out before making the new fabric panels. I was just happy to get her room mostly done before she arrived!

Getting Ready

This last week we have been going non-stop getting everything ready for our new baby girl. We are being induced on Thurs, Aug 12...unless I go into labor first! So with a date set..that really got us motivated to get things done. After a busy week...the clothes and baby stuff are washed and ready, bags are packed, baby and mommy necessities are bought, carpets have been cleaned, house is clean, lawn is mowed (thanks mom), and Kate's new 'big girl room is almost done (just a few last things to assemble..should be all done by tonight), and most of my to-dos have been checked off! I think we are finally ready for our little one to come...although we are really hoping she waits until Thurs. It would be nice to spend the next couple of days relaxing and catching up on some musch needed sleep before she comes! Can't wait to meet you sweet baby girl. We already love you soooo very much!

Baby ready toes

Is there anything better than a really good pedicure?!? My sweet friend Lacee took me for a pedicure so my toes and feet were pampered and baby ready!! I went with pink and white polka dots...perfect for our upcoming baby girl! Thanks sooooo much Lacee! My feet have never felt so good!

Catching some rays

Kate and I headed off to the pool with Lindsay and baby Harlow to catch some fun and sun. Can you tell we are trying to squeeze a lot in before our baby girl arrives..haha. Daddy even joined us a little later. I have never seen Kate enjoy the pool so much. She was going up and down the frog slide, running through the waterfalls, jumping and splashing. She was LOVING it! Even with blue lips and wrinkled hands..she did not want to get out! As for me...the water felt great on the big belly! But...I apparently forgot to put sunscreen on my legs...so I fried my left thigh! OUCH! Definatly makes sleeping harder since Im already limited to sleeping on my sides...and now with my left leg burned..that just leaves me to sleep on my right side...which equals one sore hip when I wake up!

Fresh Mountain Air

....My favorite!
Kate and I took another journey up the canyon last week with My Uncle Mike and Aunt Loretta. I usually try and get up hiking with them at least once a summer..especially when all the wildflowers are in bloom. Since I couldn't exactly "hike" at 37 weeks pregnant..we decided on a nice walk around the boardwalk by one of the local ski resorts. It was gorgeous..and the crisp, clean mountain air and sun was just what I needed. Although...I have to admit..I felt a little dizzy when we first got up there from the high altitude. Once my very pregnant body adjusted to the change..I was good to go! Kate had so much fun exploring and watching all the ground critters (squirrels & chipmunks). They were everywhere...and not shy in the least. I think they are used to being feed...so they were quite daring to check you out in hopes of a little food. Kate was a busy bee...wanting to climb on every rock, see every animal and jump in the lake (which we finally let her stick her feet in). Thanks Uncle Mike for helping me chase after her!! She loved exploring with you just the way I did when I was little. Uncle Mike was my hiking buddy when I was little...he would always take me up hiking and taught me all about the wildflowers. Snikers candy bars still remind me of our hikes...he always packed the little mini size ones in our lunch. It's so fun to continue our hikes, especially now that my little one can enjoy it too!
After our walk we settled down for a picnic lunch...but..Kate was soo fascinated by all the little critters...I could hardley get her to focus long enough to eat.
Thanks again Mike and Loretta..we had a blast!

Family Pics

So what do you do when your in the last few weeks of your pregnancy...and can't sleep?? Well..after laying in bed with my mind racing with thoughts of all the things I still need to do...I finally decided to just get up and do something productive. I might as well keep my blog as updated as possible before our little one arrives. We recently had some family/maternity pics taken by my new favorite photographer. She is Awesome! Visit her at Miles of Memories Here is some of my favorites....most of them are of Kate...being she is my favorite photo subject!