Naptime, 2 week checkup, & The Pumpkin Patch...

Last week was our second week as a family of 4... Things have been going pretty well. Ivy is a great big sister and tries to "help" in any way that she can (and sometimes in ways that she can't!). Monday through Friday of last week both girls took naps at the same time - which gave me time to grab a little sleep too! Things aren't really happening like that this week.

Ivy and Emily napping on my bed

(Julie B. - you'll notice that Ivy "stole" Emily's blanket!!)

Emily turned 2 weeks old last Friday. She didn't have her 2 week checkup until Tuesday of this week. As of Tuesday she was 9 pounds, 10 ounces (90th %), 22 1/4 inches long (above 97th %). She also lost her belly button stump too!

The strawberry patch that is just 3 houses down from us has pumpkins this time of year. They just have them sitting out on pallets but then they also have lots of fun things to look at - old trucks and farm equipment, blow up Halloween things, etc. I decided to try a few Big Sister/Little Sister pics - you'll see how they turned out...

Here's Ivy during her nap after the fun at the pumpkin patch...

My Sweet Girls...

Quick update...

Just a few pictures of Emily... She is just over a week old - I can't believe how fast the time has flown by.

In her swing.

In the bassinet.

I've been a little worried about her weight - the pediatrician isn't concerned but I am. So I bought a scale at the local consignment store so we can track how much milk she is taking in.

FYI...She was 9 lbs, 9 oz. at birth. Was down to 8.14 when we left the hospital and was 8.11 at the pediatrician at 4 days old. In this picture she was up to 8.13 so hopefully we're on the right track.

Trying to hold up her head.

A little old lady...

Asleep on the boppy pillow.

The Baby is HERE!!

Emily Catherine Nuss was born Friday at 4:23 PM!! Below are a few pictures...

Here's a quick time line of how the delivery went:

9:00AM Checked-in and in the labor/delivery room

10:15AM OB broke my water, 3cm dilated (same as at 38 week doc appt) Pitocin started too

12:45PM only 4 1/2 cm dilated

1:30PM Epidural (YAY!!)

3:30PM 9 cm dialted! Baby facing my right side and still a little high.

4:05PM 10 cm dilated - laying on my side trying to get baby to rotate to correct position

4:15 started pushing

4:23 Emily arrives, face up!

More to come!!

38 weeks, Computer Games

I was 38 weeks on Friday! I'll be induced this coming Friday unless this baby decides to come on her own before then... Here's my 38 week belly pic...

Ivy has learned to use the mouse with our laptop. She can hold her little hand on it, move it around, click it to move things. It probably isn't a big deal, but I just think that's amazing for a 2.5 year old! Of course, families didn't have computers in their homes when I was this age. And now to think that at 2.5, Ivy is playing Sesame Street games on a computer the size of a notebook! Crazy!

Baby Update

Before I give the baby update, I have to mention preschool today... Today was the first day that instead of walking Ivy to her class, the teacher came to get Ivy from my van. I quickly reminded Ivy that Grandmama was picking her up, making sure the teacher heard me. I told the teacher that it was because I had a baby appointment. She said, "Good luck!" and Ivy turned to me, said "Good luck Mommy!" and blew me a kiss good-bye. She took the teacher's hand and never looked back. I was a little sad. I had a moment of "She doesn't need me!!" but then I realized that I've just done my job as a parent - I've encouraged her independence. She is really loving preschool and I'm so thankful for that.

Okay, Baby Update...

I had my ultrasound first. The ultrasound tech said, "It looks like you'd better be ready to deliver another big baby!" After the measurements she took (head, abdomen, thigh bone) the baby is measuring 9 pounds, 1 ounce.

Next came my regular weekly appointment with the OB. As she walked in she said "Looks like another big baby!" So she said she'd like to check my cervix and see where I am there and then discuss some options. She checked my cervix and I am 3 cm dilated! I was 1.5 last week so I've made some progress! I know 3 cm isn't much and I could stay like that for weeks but I figure that's 3 less I have to dilate on delivery day! Any progress is good at this point. So the doctor suggested that we go ahead and schedule an induction for Friday, September 24th. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that I'll go into labor on my own before then, but at least I have an end in sight!

Why???

Ivy has reached the "Why?" phase. I heard it coming a couple of days ago. It was late in the day, just before bed, I noticed she asked me "Why?" a couple of times. Then yesterday I was asked "Why" more often. And then today, it was asked after EVERYTHING! I wonder what tomorrow brings??

Well, I do know some of what tomorrow brings... It's "Wear Yellow" day at preschool tomorrow. I already set out Ivy's yellow shirt so I wouldn't forget! And I have a Baby appointment. I'm having an ultrasound to get an estimate of how big Baby Sister is. And then I meet with the doctor afterwards to discuss the ultrasound and then do the usual stuff like listen to the baby's heartbeat. My Mom is picking up Ivy from preschool so after my appointment, I'm going to run to the local outlet mall - there is a big kids consignment sale going on there so I want to check that out and see if there is anything I just can't live without! It'll be so much easier to go without a toddler! And to end the day, our church is having a fund-raising night at Chick-fil-a.