Two month recap

First trip to a restaurant - Red Robin

Four generations

First Mother's Day
Me and my girl

Ready for summer!

After her 2 month checkup and shots
8 lbs, 9 oz
22 inches

Hanging out during tummy time

What happens when Daddy dresses the baby

We have been busy the last couple of months!! As expected, there have been lots of firsts for Charla and for us as a family. Charla is such a sweet baby and a total joy 95% percent of the time (let's be honest - we all have our moments). In the first few weeks of her life I thought I'd never be able to leave the house and do "normal" things again. Instead I've developed a new normal and have found that I'm still able to do many of the things I did before I was a mom, they just may look a little different. We try to get out most days of the week and Charla is a great little shopping companion. She enjoys looking around the grocery store, Target, and Walmart and usually ends up falling asleep while we're shopping - which is great since it affords me a little more time to browse if I feel like it. In the past couple of weeks we've taken several day trips away from home and she has done amazingly well.

We are excited that summer is here and are looking forward to lots of evening walks, picnics and barbecues, and hopefully our first weekend away as a family. Happy Summer everyone!!

Easter photos

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend. Saturday afternoon was pretty nice here so we took Charla on her first walk. Is is silly to take three pictures just to commemorate the event?




She had three Easter outfits so I had to get a photo of her in each one (there are only two below - the third is her Easter dress from yesterday's post). Grandma bought her this "Baby's 1st Easter" outfit before she was born. I love it paired up with her green ruffled pants. Her face cracks me up in this one...I think she's excited about her Easter goodies!


I found this little Easter ensemble at Target a couple of weeks ago and thought it'd be too cute on her. Our little Easter bunny...


Here's the back...


And her true thoughts about the outfit and our photo shoot...

Baby Days

We are doing good - still adjusting to life as a family of three! Charla is gaining weight right on schedule and was up to 6 pounds, 7 ounces this past Tuesday. She sleeps pretty well at night - we get up every three hours or so. Every now and again she pulls a four hour shift and we are thrilled when that happens. Hopefully those will be occurring more and more often before much longer. :)

We are enjoying getting to know her and discovering a little bit more about her personality each day. She is a lot of work but keeps us laughing and smiling every day!

Here are some photos from the last two weeks:

Sleeping on Grandma

Gettin' Crafty

Yesterday I found some time and energy to do something creative. First off, I made a few cards. Remember when I used to do that? I haven't had a lot of time for cardmaking since last summer, but I am able to squeeze in a card here and there. My aunt is in the hospital recovering from surgery, so I made her a card to brighten her spirits. It's the same layout as this card but more feminine.


In the afternoon I decided to sew a large receiving blanket for the baby. We took a class on newborn care a couple of weeks ago and the class strongly encouraged swaddling for your baby in the first couple of months if they get fussy. The class also mentioned how quickly newborns outgrow receiving blankets, so we'll need something larger. I got some flannel and had the store cut it as long as it is wide so that I ended up with a square. Then I just hemmed up the edges with a zig-zag stitch and we're all ready for a snug, cozy baby!


This is technically the boy fabric that I selected, but I think it could work for a girl too. To me it's more "cute" than "boy." I wouldn't wrap a boy up in a pink blanket, but girls can wear a little blue sometimes can't they?

Finally, I wanted to mention a creative blog that I've recently discovered called Little Birdie Secrets. The blog features sewing, quilting, and other fun projects. Check it out here if you're interested.

I'm off to my doctor's appointment to see and hear Baby!

Quick Post

• All was well at my appointment today! Blood pressure was high-normal, but that last word is key - not too far off from NORMAL! Pray for the doctors as they decide if I should be allowed to go into labor on my own and possibly go past 40 weeks or if I should be induced right around 40 weeks (provided I haven't already gone into labor by that point).
  
• Our camcorder arrived today, so we are one step closer to being ready for Baby. It's a belated Christmas gift - A has spent the last few months researching the best one to buy. He doesn't take these kind of purchases lightly. :)
• I had a haircut and fresh highlights yesterday so I'm all ready to meet our baby and today I had a pedicure so my feet will be cute for labor and delivery. I doubt the baby cares about my feet, but my painted toes make me feel so much prettier!
  
  
  
• A and I have ZERO PLANS for this weekend which is awesome! I don't feel like doing much more than just hanging out around home anyway and I'm trying to relish every last moment that it's just the two of us (three of us if you count the kitty, which I do).
• My mom is coming Sunday afternoon for a couple of days to do some last cleaning and cooking for us. My bedrest has risen to a whole new level in combination with my lethargy. It's hard to get anything done, even in the time I don't have to be lying down so I'm very grateful for her help!
• Hope everyone has a blessed and fabulous weekend!

38 weeks = tired

(photo by Anne Geddes)

Today we are two weeks out from my due date. I cannot believe how close we are getting!

I don't know if it is the time change or being so pregnant (or maybe both) but the tiredness seems to have hit me big time this week. I got an email from a good friend wondering how I am doing and at the end of her email she wrote "GET YOUR SLEEP NOW – I MEAN IT!!!!" She's a mom of two little ones so I'm sure she knows what she's talking about. It made me laugh because this is the one thing I can and will do. I can't get through the day without a nap and some days it feels like I could easily take a couple.

Our little one has been moving around like crazy today. Wonder if that means anything... I never complain about feeling movement because it's the most reassuring thing in the world to me. A dancing baby is a happy baby! :)

My doctor's visit this week is on Friday, so if I don't post tomorrow, please keep me and baby in your prayers on Friday morning. It's the same deal as usual - ultrasound, non-stress test, and regular checkup on how the pregnancy is progressing (including my blood pressure of course). My prayer at this point is that baby is happy and doing fine and that my health will be good enough that they'll let me go into labor on my own.

Other than that I don't have much to report. I'm just taking it easy, trying to catch up on books and magazines, and rest as much as possible!

Post-weekend wrap-up

I realize it's Tuesday which might be a little late to be giving a post-weekend wrap-up, but it was kind of a busy weekend and completely wore me out! I spent most of yesterday resting, taking it easy on the couch, and doing as little as possible. Pregnancy can really tire a girl out!

Saturday was our third baby shower. The guests were mostly friends and family from A's side of the family. Upon arrival at the shower, there was a table set up with three games on it - guessing the number of newborn diapers in a gallon-sized jar, identifying various baby foods without the labels on them, and identifying various white powders from around the house (like baby powder, cornstarch, powdered sugar, etc) without smelling or touching them. Quite a challenge!



We got lots more wonderful gifts and it was fun to get those all unpacked. I did baby laundry that evening, plus got the crib mattress pad and some other soft items for the nursery all laundered and ready to go.

Sunday morning we went to church and then made a stop on the way home to stock up on some more things we'll need after the baby is born. Between a busy Saturday and the time change, I was exhausted and spent a couple hours off my feet before we met up with A's family for lunch. In the afternoon we picked up our crib and mattress and then came home and got that all set up. I love it and am so, so happy with the crib we selected!!! We also got the valance hung above the window. The room isn't finished yet, but it's looking more and more like a nursery!





Finally, one member of our household is very excited to have an extra hour of afternoon sunshine thanks to daylight savings time. Hope it's feeling like spring at your house too!