Ready to Jog

It has been a long winter, and some days we just have to go outside to keep our sanity.

Feet

The discovery of last week was feet. Since she spends so much time looking at them, I strapped on a couple little wrist rattles for her to enjoy. Ella watches them as though someone is putting on a great show for her. It will be another big day when she realizes that those flashy feet belong to

her. (Warning: most videos to follow for the next few years may only appeal to grandparents.)

Cousin Marykate

When Ella was 1 month old, her cousin Marykate (and Aunt Kari) came to visit from Virginia. They were mostly unaware of each other, but Ella did enjoy trying to suck on MK's hand while they hung out in the crib together. I'm looking forward to the day when they will consciously interact.

Between 1 and 2 weeks old

In case you thought she looked like she might always be pleasant:

Our Little Lady

Early Thursday morning, December 17th we became a family of 3. Ella Marie was 8 lbs 3 oz. (And now is only two ounces from birth weight - I look at her now and think, "more than that was in me?!) She is absolutely amazing.

Jon got sick early Friday morning, and had to go home so Ella and I wouldn't get sick too. We were so exhausted and pathetic when he left. The nurses we impressed with him doing what was best for us even though it was difficult (and commented on the tears in his eyes when he left), and kept asking me how he was doing at home. Thanks, Harold and Jeanne for spending the day with me. He felt better Saturday morning, and was allowed to come back (we think it may have been food poisoning). He is wearing a mask just to be safe. (Jon's a little embarrassed about being bare chested in this video. It is too cute not to share, and she loves the warmth, so he can deal with it.) Make sure your sound is turned on.

During our last sonogram, Ella's mouth and tongue were in constant motion. It is no surprise that we see a lot of that little tongue here on the outside. She does save it mostly to tell us when she is hungary, so it is useful. I could watch her all day.

We had our first check-up with her pediatrician (whom I love - never had a doctor I've thought much more than, "this will do" before. She was a perfect child the whole time. From the start she was awake and alert and good humored. This was about a 3 hour stretch, and she was only 6 days old, so this beat all expectations I had for her. I wish I could believe all outings will go so smoothly in the future. The best part of the visit was the news that she gained 4 ounces in two days (Jon thinks it's all gone to her chin - she's got chicken legs, but a hefty chin) so we don't have to wake her up every 3 hours to feed her. We're still pretty well on the schedule, but it is nice to go to bed with a little hope of sleeping for a few hours in a row. Also, since my milk has come in and she is such a good sucker, we can introduce an occasional bottle. Hallelujah! Jon may be able to feed her once during the night. What a great Christmas present for me from her doctor. I still want to wait a little while to be sure we're on the right track, but again, hope is a big thing for this tired mama.

It's About Time

Some reasons I know it is time for the baby to be here:

1) I just took my last Pepcid AC - it has served me well. I have been sleeping soundly without many heartburn issues for a few weeks now. I don't want to buy a new bottle because I know I won't use but a couple of them.

2) I've started ruining my maternity clothes. Two days in a row I've gotten oil on, first my favorite pants and now a shirt that I happen to really like. I won't have anything to wear if this continues. (I'm in the process of laundering, so maybe this one won't really count. Fingers crossed.)

We decided with our doctor today, that if we don't have the baby by Thursday, we will induce. It has not been an easy decision. I do not want to choose my baby's birthday; I do not want to labor entirely at the hospital; I do not want to force something to happen, that I know can happen naturally. I feel like I am cheating. What it comes down to: the baby is getting bigger and my placenta is starting to calcify. Reasons that will make delivery more difficult on me and the baby. The doctor says baby will do better this week than next. He doesn't say it has to be done this week - he recommends, but isn't insisting. It doesn't make sense to wait till she starts to show signs of distress. I am very torn, because I believe that in most cases, Mama and baby do what needs to be done, and things turn out fine (although likely more painfully.) I feel like I'm giving in to fear of delivering an enormous baby, and have a lack of faith. Personally, I feel pretty good, and wouldn't mind being pregnant for another 2 weeks, but I am having a lot of anxiety about her health and this decision. This is why I don't like being over-due - I'm starting to worry. I just really hope we're making the right decision. (Prayers for baby coming on her own before then!)

One Reason Jon is a Keeper. . .

. . .he doesn't just put the stuffed animals somewhere I'll see them, but he poses them too. He knows how to make me smile. (He refuses to cut my toenails, but he does just about everything else.)