Since I kept a log of weekly progress through my pregnancy, I wanted to do something similar with Ellie as she grows this first year. So I will be answering 10 questions each week for these first 8 weeks, and then once a month after that about life together and how Ellie is growing.
1 Week Old!
Weight: Birth - 8 lbs. 2 oz.
1st appt - 7 lbs. 4 oz.
2nd appt - 7 lbs. 8 oz.
Length: 20.5 in.
1. Eating? Whenever she wants really! She acts hungry a lot, but we are figuring it out together.
2. Sleeping? At the hospital, she spent the nights in the nursery, and the first nights at home were pretty rough with her waking every hour or so. We tried many different things and each night gets better!
3. Milestones? Slept 5 hours in a row one night, which was really awesome! We also had our first doctor's appointments, where at the first one on Tuesday, she was a little too underweight. But my milk came in that same day, so when we returned on Wednesday, she had gained four more ounces!
4. Activities and adventures? Though we stayed home a lot this week, we did venture out to our favorite store, Target, as well as the doctor's office twice. It was mostly a week of getting used to each other! Our first outing was to Sarah Doolittle's baby shower on Tuesday. I really needed some time with friends, and Chris took us and dropped us off. It was so wonderful to see everyone!
5. Favorite baby item this week? Our Boppy! I use it multiple times a day when nursing Ellie, and Chris has found a use for it: an armrest for video game playing! It is really the one thing we use the most and it is just a pillow.
6. Favorite moment this week? After she arrived, the rest of the time at the hospital we both really enjoyed. We just got to hang out with each other, and wait for people to come see us! Pretty easy! :)
7. Looking forward to this week? Her newborn pictures! I am also so nervous about them! Can't wait to have them done and see them!
8. Visitors? We have had a ton of visitors, but we are really enjoying it. While we were at the hospital, we had: Mimi and Papa, Brandon & Scott, Lola, Grandpa Tom, and Ashley, Danielle, Adam, and Mackenzie, Darin & Tai, Emily & Joel, Francesca, Joel & Emily, Lindsey & Lacey, Jennie, Scott, Hazel, & Jacob, Calypso & Ali, Dawn, Heather, and our nurses: Amy, Olivia, Courtney. Then at home this first week, we've had Grandpa & Grandma Cash, some NHS friends, Kendel, Cameron, Liz, Jessica, Shayna, and Harper, Joellen, Diann, Gretchen, & Joseph, Nanny Johnnie, Aunt Perla, & Aunt Jan.
9. One thing I've learned: That I know absolutely nothing. But I am excited to learn with Ellie, and hope to do so gracefully and with as little tears as possible.
10. My message to Ellie:
I cannot believe you are finally here! You are more beautiful than I could have ever imagined, and share features of both your Daddy and me. It is amazing what a perfect blend of us two you are! You have the longest fingers and toes, and sweet little furriness on your shoulders and back. I love you more than I could ever imagine, and can't wait to see what you will be like. We survived this first week at home, two doctors appointments, and some sleepless nights together. What I know for sure now is that I know nothing about what I am doing as your Mom, but that I love you and will always try to do my best as I take care of you.
2 Weeks Old!
Weight: 7 lbs. 14 oz.
Length: 22 in
2. Sleeping? Miss Ellie sleeps 2-3 hours at night usually, but has a few bumpy nights this week, where she won't go to sleep no matter what we try! ARGH!
3. Milestones? Her newborn photos were taken this week by the amazing Angel Porch with Art & Soul Photography! They are beautiful and I can't wait to see more! She lost her umbilical cord while taking newborn pictures, which made this momma tear up! She has also started smiling at us while awake, though they are rare, and makes little noises at us now too. She is the sweetest when she does these things. We also survived Chris's first trip out of town, with much help from our Mimi. We were relieved to have him home, but were in good hands while he was gone!
4. Activities and adventures? We ventured out several times as a family to Target, and now the mall and Farmer's Market. Each time we learn a little more about being a parent, and a little more about what our new normal looks like. We are people who like to be on the go, so we are trying to teach Ellie how to do the same. We also went "out" on a Saturday night: to celebrate Heather Howard's birthday on the patio at Fuzzy's! Mimi also took us to BJ's, which was so nice to get out!
5. Favorite baby item this week? We love swaddle blankets! We have several to choose from and this is one of the main things that we know helps our little one get to sleep.
6. Favorite moment this week? Getting her newborn pictures done was a big relief this week!
7. Looking forward to this week? The three day weekend, where we can plant our garden and spend time together!
8. Visitors?: Hmmm...Let's see...So many! Besides our Mimi, Lola, and Auntie Ashley, who visit regularly, we had Aunt Jayne and Sara from Kansas on Saturday, as well as Emily, Jennie, and Jacob. Chris's mentor, Steve, and wife, Mary, visited as well. Then we had food brought to us many times this week too! We had Martha Pangburn, Carrie & Brian Werkman, Roxanne Noles, Jamie Rentzel & her girls, and Auntie Francesca again!
9. One thing I've learned: To not predict or plan what I think she will do during the nighttime hours. :)
10. My message to Ellie:
These first two weeks have been trying and challenging, but I can't imagine life without you now! I love holding you and just staring at you, whether you're asleep or awake. You have such expressive hands and make such funny faces. Your eyes are still deep blue, but look like they're changing to hazel a little bit. This week you look so much like your Daddy, but starting to look like me too. I love you sweet girl!
3 Weeks Old!
2. Sleeping? Still working on the 2-3 hour time frame, and she's again had some rough nights. I do not even try to speculate what she will do each night, because I am always wrong!
3. Milestones? I'm not sure if this counts, but we started using her swing this week some, and though it's not a cure all, it does help keep us a little more sane! We also were able to get our garden planted and did lots of yard work while tiny girl slept! YAY! And she attended her first OKC Arts Festival with our sweet friend group, which is a yearly tradition.
4. Activities and adventures? We went to the Farmer's Market again, as well as Target and the mall, which went much better than the first times we went. She is getting used to her carseat, and I think likes the comfiness of it overall. We watch Rachel Ray and Ellen everyday together too!
5. Favorite baby item this week? Her pacifier...I think this girl just loves to have something to suck on to soothe her! She's a good eater, so I feel good about giving her one right now. We will see about the future!
6. Favorite moment this week? This weekend when we snuggled with her in our bed for just a little while. She was awake and happy, and her bright eyes searched our faces. She is so cute when she just looks at us and give us a sweet grin!
7. Looking forward to this week? I am looking forward to taking her to school on Monday to meet everyone, as well as the weekend with my sweet husband.
8. Visitors?: We had some repeat visitors this week, which is fine by me! We had Darin & Tai visit Saturday night, after sweet Cori & Andy Stephens brought us a delicious dinner. A friend from Tulsa, Eva, came and stayed with us Sunday night, and The Couches (David, Devin, and Addie) came over and brought us dinner. Our sweet friend, Melissa, brought us pasta made by her mom and hung out with us too!
9. One thing I've learned: Finally I've learned to sleep when she sleeps. A few nights this week I've gone to sleep earlier after her last feeding for the day, so I am getting a few more hours on those nights. What a difference that makes! I also have brought a book to bed with me to read during feedings. Then I stay awake better too! I still love watching her little face though too.
10. My message to Ellie:
We are learning so much together about how to do this motherhood thing, and I am so glad I have you to learn it with! I am thankful, this week especially, that I get stay home with you, and don't have to leave you with anyone else. I love that you are smiling at us with your big blue eyes, and that you are awake more and more. You were so beautiful when you were born, and though I didn't think it was possible, you are more and more beautiful each day. What a sweet girl! Let's keep learning together and getting good sleep every night! :)
And I hope to write about Ellie's birthday sometime soon too! Thank you, as always, for reading!
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