"Newborn"

Our little E is doing so well! She is such a good baby...very easygoing and so fun to have around. Right now she sleeps most of the day (in her crib) so we don't get to see her very much, but the Babywise training is already starting to pay off! She's on a great schedule and most nights has at least one 4 hour stretch of sleep if not two.

She lost her umbilical cord stump at 2 weeks exactly, and is already stretching the newborn clothes.

One of my favorite things is that she is starting to "talk". She has very alert "waketimes" after eating and is experimenting with her voice. She says "ahh ahh" and also makes funny squeaky noises. :)

I love her head. It's so perfectly round and smooth and velvety soft since her "hair" is more of a peach fuzz. And her little cheeks are so squishy and kissable! I have to kiss them at least 100 times a day! 

Oh mom!

We are lovin' life with this sweet girl!

The Playhouse

Over a year ago T started working on this playhouse. We were originally planning to put it in Peanut's room for a bed, but we realized it was going to take up most of the small room so the project got shuffled to the side. A couple of months ago we decided the basement would be a good place for it so he's been working on it in his spare time...as if he has any of that. Haha :) 

It's been ready but we decided to wait until E was born to put it up so the girls would have something fun and new to play with in the basement.

T had three little helpers to put it together. :)

The plans called for it to be all one piece but he changed it a bit so we can take it apart and move it later if we want.

E took a little break in the bassinet that T built for K when she was a baby.

The girls were so excited to have it together! They turned it into a restaurant on bottom and a place to play dolls on top. :)

E and I came down to check out their restaurant before bed.

Peanut wanted a picture with her.

Noni made the girls' day when she said she would sleep down there with them. K slept on the top. We had to have some bedtime snuggles.

Thanks for the fun new playhouse Daddy!

Smiles!

 Baby E started smiling just a few days after she was born. She smiles A LOT! And I don't think it is just gas because it is when we talk to her.  I was talking to her and she just kept smiling at me so I just kept snapping pictures. :)

Love this little cutie pie!

Funny Friday

Doctor's Visit

 Noni and Papa took the girls home on Sunday to spend one night, and the next day T and I took E to her first doctor's appt. 

Just chillin' while Mommy gets ready.

Our regular doctor was out of town so we took her to one of the other doctor's in the practice. 

She looked so little on the table. :)

Down a little from her birth weight, but not too bad.

The main reason we took her in was because at the hospital they wanted us to get her bilirubin levels re-checked. She was pretty yellow for a few days, but no more so than Peanut was at first and we never did anything for her. E was eating great and having plenty of wet and dirty diapers so we opted not to have her poked again. The doctor also thought she would be fine without it, and a few days later the yellow did start fading. Apparently any sort of trauma (the vacuum bruising) causes more yellowing.

T and I went out to lunch since we were already out and about. She slept the whole time. :)

I'd say it was a successful first outing!

First Days

Yay! I'm born!

Our first days were spent getting lots of baby snuggles!

Grandma and Grandpa came over after church and finally got to hold E. Peanut was making them laugh. :)

Bug remembered me pumping bottles for Peanut and begged me to make one for E so she could feed her.

Peanut's turn.

Boo was at dance class when they fed her so I made her a bottle the next day too.

Noni has been a HUGE help! Such a blessing! Cleaning, doing laundry, making meals, dishes, and most of all helping with the girls. SOOO nice to have her here!

The favorite thing to do is pick out E's clothes. They've been taking turns every day. Boo wanted a picture of the bird on the booty of the pants she picked out.

She loves to suck on her fist!

Sleepy little owl!

BIG sister!

 

I think we have another thumb sucker on our hands!

We are doing surprisingly well! I know a lot of people have been praying for us, and I can definitely feel it! This is the fastest I've ever recovered from a birth...I was hardly even sore and didn't even have to take any pain killers past the first couple of days. The fibroid pain was gone within 24 hours of delivery and I haven't felt so much as a twinge from it.

The only thing holding us back from a blissful transition is feeding. It's always difficult for me to get started nursing. This time has been better but still pretty painful. It's already getting better though so that is a major improvement over any other time. It usually takes a good 6 weeks to get the hang of it, but it seems like we are on track for it to be a lot less this time.

E has also settled into a schedule faster than any of our others. The first 5 days she woke three times a night to eat and then went right back to sleep each time. On day 6 she only woke up two times and has ever since. She sleeps great at night! During the day I have to wake her up at every feeding to keep her on a 3 hour schedule...and even then she is only getting 7 feedings a day instead of the recommended 8, but she is doing great! 

The girls have done great with the transition as well. E has fit into our family perfectly! The newborn stage is always hard with broken sleep and heightened emotions, but I would say that we are doing great this time around! Thanks so much for the prayers!