I can't believe we are here....the first bites post. My freezer was almost cleared of the meals I spent last summer making when I began my baby food making. However, I somehow felt like it was still a long way off.
Cutie pie was R.E.A.D.Y.!!! In the week leading up to us caving on her getting real food she attempted to lick a pickle I was holding for Cupcake. Then she grabbed a pretzel off my plate one day at lunch and put it right to her mouth as if she was going to bite it. Then she's taken to pretend chewing while we ate. Soooo...it was time. She's been having the occasional breast milk slushie to get used to the spoon but her first real bite of food came on Saturday April 7th...just a few days before her 6th month birthday. Here's some visual recaps:
Pears puree was her first food:
She wasn't too sure about it...but kept opening her mouth for more!
Cupcake is such a big helper. She always wants to be the one to feed the baby. Cutie Pie was a great sport at the spoon shoving that took place in her first food experience. When it comes to her big sister she's fairly flexible...she loves her so.
From birth Cupcake had friends that were close in age that we were seeing regularly. When you are a new parent it's natural to find other new parents and get together well before your kids need "friends." Luckily Cupcake likes the "friends" we choose for her and many of those friendships are dear to us even today.
With Cutie Pie however, we haven't had as many "friends" for her. Really we've been lucky that a few of our friends with older kids have 2nd children that will be a great fit when Cutie Pie is a bit older. The closest "friend" she has now is 6 weeks younger than she is and lives about 4 minutes from our house. Dream! Right? We LOVE that even though we don't have as many play dates for her, she will have one friend who is close in age and proximity. They are sweet together and spent much of our Easter celebration sitting side by side, trying to hold hands.
Cutie Pie is a wiggle worm! While she sleeps best swaddled it's becoming the time to break that habit. She wiggles all around and sometimes ends up with her head where her feet were. I keep thinking if she rolls onto her stomach...even by accident she'll be stuck. So...we've started to swaddle with her arms out. Sadly she doesn't sleep as well. She does however still try to get her hands in her mouth like she has since we were taking her pictures in the womb!
Last night she fussed for a bit and realized we weren't coming in. So she kicked her feet up, stuck her hands in her mouth and hung out...for a couple of hours. Seriously? How did she not get sleepy? Today she's sleepy but in the meantime I clicked a picture with our video monitor.
I know...the picture is super blurry. I couldn't resist. I just love this little Cutie Pie and when you put her in glasses, she thinks she is a star. She seriously giggles and laughs non-stop. She is a happy baby in general but something about sunglasses make her feel glamorous. I can't blame her...shoes do the same thing for me. If she's having a fussy morning, I just strap on the sunglasses. In the house. Even if it's cloudy outside. Then we wait about 1 minute and bring on the joy. Full on joy.
With the ability to find instant joy in such a small thing, I'd say her future is bright, wouldn't you?
Cutie Pie is in LOVE with Daddy's birthday balloons. Each morning when we come downstairs she is frantic looking around until she spots them. Once she sees them, she smiles, relaxes a bit, but keeps an eye on her beloved helium friends. When Cupcake runs around with them in hand, Cutie Pie giggles with glee. I'm sure she thinks they are dancing for her.
One afternoon when Cupcake was taking a particularly long nap Cutie Pie and I were playing. I decided that she should have her own time with the balloons. I tied a tiny loop and placed it on her finger.
Gasp - horror - I know. Before you leave a comment with the lecture about strings, choking, helium balloons, and all the warnings I WAS RIGHT THERE THE WHOLE TIME! I know the risks. I'm not a fool. It was just a few minutes of fun. Glorious fun might I add.
At first, she was in awe. She just couldn't believe the balloons were that close to her:
Then she went nuts with joy! Kicking, flailing, grunting, and giggling all ensued. I only caught some of it on tape:
Shortly later Sissy woke up and the balloon loop was removed. She still watches those balloons from a distance and I'm not quite sure what will happen the day they no longer sail. But for now, I think she relishes in the moment, albeit brief, that they were hers....all hers.
It's been a hard days night, the baby's sleeping like a log....
The Hubs was going to check a few things with work after dinner one night and before he knew it she was out. And by out we mean she was sleeping, we took her up, checked her diaper, swaddled her, and put her in bed...she didn't wake. Out! Who can blame her...he's got a cozy snuggle about him!
There are lots of old wives tales that come with children from pregnancy to beyond. One that I have commonly been "told" about 2nd children is that they do not talk as much or as soon because the older child talks for them. It makes sense. Cupcake is soooo chatty that getting a word in will take some determination from Cutie Pie. But....like most wives tales...they may or may not be true. In this case, I'm pretty sure that Cutie Pie will be up to the task of getting her words in too. Here she is "talking" to the animals on her jumper. She also "talks" like this at dinner if the rest of us are talking and not giving her the attention she wants. I didn't think it was possible but I feel like even more talking, chatting, and general noise making surround me even more in a day. Ahhhh girls. :) Good thing the hubs is not a man of many words!
I've been on an unannounced blogging hiatus. I had to choose between getting my Christmas decorations down and kicking the new year off with good habits or blogging. Since I'm pretty sure you aren't seeing any Christmas trees re purposed for Valentines on Pintrest, you know what I choose. While I still can't go a day without finding a tiny piece of fake pine somewhere or a sprinkle that missed a cookie, Christmas is otherwise packed up. We're into 2012 and anticipate it being an epic year for the Crack Team. Isn't every year?
We spent New Years Eve morning at the zoo with our sweet friends. This picture makes us all smile as Cupcake just LOVE LOVE LOVES her bestie. Sadly the plague took over their home for 2012 and we have yet to see them. A few more days of sickies and I'm going over in a space suit with hardcore bleach and taking their germs head on in battle. Our poor friends need a break AND... We miss them!!! Cutie Pie should be nicknamed weed because she sure grows like one. What is it about numbero dos that makes time fly even faster. She loves this little dress from Aunt Kari and when she wears it she rubs the ruffles and smiles. I'm proud of her for embracing the girly-ness around here. She turned 3 months this week and as soon as I have sometime to get the pictures up, I will.
In the meantime, Happy 2012. I hope your year is off to a great start. Thanks for keeping our blog in your list of things to keep up with as another year kicks off.
Cupcake and Cutie Pie at the same age:Is it strange that the only similar picture of my girls thus far is one of them yawning? By similar I mean the same pose. I don't even think they look alike in these pictures though there are lots of times I do think they look the same. I guess with all our action and adventure comes some serious sleep too!
Cutie Pie is a sensitive sleeper. It is really hard to get her to sleep during the day without being held because any small noise wakes her...but at night when not a creature is stirring, she is a champ. Cupcake still takes an afternoon nap which is nice because I can often have them both napping at once...if only that didn't mean one was in my arms.
Better late than never! Here is Cutie Pie's birth story! I've had the draft since the week of her birth but it's been hectic! Here goes:
She is here! Our cutie pie is here! Yay!!
Here's the birth story for our newest team member:
Sunday morning we were headed to church and in the car I just couldn't wrap my head around getting out of the car, walking into the building, and then having to get back out after the service. I was uncomfortable and so we decided to head home. Cupcake was not thrilled that after getting dressed and ready for church we basically did a car ride and came home. Once home however we let her indulge in a treat, watching Annie. She and I snuggled on the couch and while I didn't feel better, I didn't feel worse.
Monday was uncomfortable as well but I had a feeling the end was near. So, Cupcake and I had a fun morning at home playing games, coloring, doing a little preschool-home school activity and having a tea party. We planned to meet Daddy for a special lunch, her favorite. We picked up Chic-fil-a and met in a park nearby. The weather was fabulous and it was a really sweet family lunch on a lovely Texas-fall day. While I was increasing uncomfortable I also had a surge of "make this count." By dinner that night I was so uncomfortable I was confident that we were not making it to our scheduled induction Thursday. The hubs could sense it too so neither of us slept well.
Tuesday morning I woke up and was so uncomfortable that I didn't know if I could make it to my 2pm specialist appointment (final diabetes check). I called my OB and they asked for me to come see them at 1pm and keep my specialist appointment too. The hubs realized that I was in no condition to drive so we called in our dear friends who arranged a whole plan of how to get Cupcake through the day without us depending on how long we were gone. We got through the morning, packed the final things in our hospital bags, and even warned Cupcake that when she woke up from nap we may be at the hospital. She cried, I cried, but we knew it was best to prepare her. I put her down for nap and tried my hardest not to cry more. I knew deep down that it would be my last time to put her down for nap without a 2nd around. I could have rocked her for hours yet I also felt the clock ticking.
We headed to the Dr. leaving Kristin (thanks again, K!) to be with Cupcake during nap. Once at the OB they determined I was a 3 and with contractions far apart and a smile on my face they said I wasn't really in labor...just in pre-labor. They told us to go up for my 2:00 appointment and come back to sit on the monitor so they could double check my contractions. So we went upstairs to the diabetes doc. I still have a whole post on the journey of gestational diabetes but I have to say that I really enjoyed the Dr and his staff. After they did all of their checks the Hubs and I were feeling a bit defeated that we'd be heading back home and that we weren't in labor. So I asked if the Doc could think of any reason to move my induction up. He was awesome at encouraging me to remember my values and goals. I had always wanted things to be as natural as possible and a part of my struggle in the unveiling of all the complications was that I was facing a 2nd induction. He encouraged us to hang on until Thursday on the small chance we'd still go into labor naturally. While I was defeated, he was right and I appreciate a doctor who will keep you on the track you value even when you are ready to give up.
So, back down to the OB we went. We walked fast....on the final tip of the diabetes Doc. When the hubs opened the door for me to the office a very painful contraction hit like a ton of bricks. Whew! When it passed we signed back in and eventually were called back. When they opened the door to take us back another one hit...equally hard. I got on the monitor and they quickly noticed my contractions were 5 minutes apart in rising intensity. A quick check to see that I was now a 4 and they said I should plan on going to the hospital sometime that evening either now or in a few hours. At first the idea of coming home for a bit to get a few more hugs in with Cupcake was super appealing. However, my ever brilliant hubs ultimately said that since we had all our stuff and had said our good byes once we should just go to the hospital. So off we went.
5:00pm - we checked into the hospital. The nurse assigned to us told us as she lead us to our room that she'd only be there until 7pm so she'd basically get us signed in and then be passing us off. She doesn't know the Crack Team. We like action and adventure. She showed us the room gave me a gown and was off to check on her other patients. By the time she got back I was in even more pain and contractions were getting closer. She hooked me up to the monitor and started asking all the check in questions. She drew blood for the initial blood work and by then my pain level on a scale of 1-10 had gone from a 5 (check in) to an 8. She realized that I would want the epidural sooner than she had imagined so tried her hardest to hurry the process along. In the next hour the pain increased with each contraction and they were coming faster and faster.
At this point the men from the boys are separated. There are those Dads who would watch tv, play on the internet, or sit on the side of the bed and be there without really being there. Luckily there are no boys around here...just a MAN. A strong man who takes his role as coach VERY seriously. He rubbed my legs as I got the shakes. He held my hand when contractions came. He provided a focal point as each contraction peaked. He did the breathing exercises so I'd stay on track. As the contractions increased in intensity his coaching increased in encouragement and keeping me aware of what he was seeing on the monitor. He answered questions for me as the nurse was rushing through the process and ultimately he was the PERFECT coach. Perfect because on top of all these things, he coached me...in ONE HOUR...from a 4ish to a 7 dilation. While that was crazy painful...it is also a blessing to be over the hump and progressing at a super fast pace.
The anesthesiologist came in and got the epidural in fairly fast. GLORY! Seriously! Once the epidural hit I felt some relief. Thank goodness too because I was going to need to regain some energy for the final pushes. I was in no rush at that point....I was feeling good! But, we're the Crack Team...remember? Action. Adventure. Yes! The on-call Doctor came in around 8:15 to introduce herself. She was a great substitute for my own OB whom I love. She checked and I was a 10 but my water had not broken and the baby was still pretty high. So she broke my water to see if that would progress things. The hubs, a former Chemistry major, joked with her about her shoes saying he'd have never been allowed to wear those in lab. She laughed, talked chem shop with him, and then around 8:30 headed off to change her shoes.
The nurse and nurse in training (nothing like having extra people and a newbie to boot on hand while in labor) decided I should push through a few contractions to see if we could get the baby to drop down a little. After pushing through several contractions they were asking me to stop pushing. The baby had dropped faster than they expected (just like Cupcake's birth). The hubs could see her head of hair and the nurses were frantically calling the OB and infant catch nurse in. Action Adventure! The OB literally ran in (thank goodness she had put on the appropriate shoes) and threw on her coat in time to see Cutie Pie basically fall out and into her arms. The nurse was thankful everyone had made it in time, the trainee was emotional (guess the whole child birth thing is still new to the 20 yr old nurse in training!), the Dr. was amazed at how smooth the whole process was and the hubs and I were....TOTALLY IN LOVE!!!
Weighing in at 6 pounds 15 ounces, Cutie Pie was in my arms by 8:55. Talk about action and adventure!
While they were still cleaning up the OB asked if we wanted to see the placenta. Of course we couldn't resist! It was beautiful. It was a bloody, vein-y, balloon ball of beauty! Seriously! We loved getting to see the sack that moments prior was the life source of our baby girl. There were so many veins and the sack was so big. It was amazing to see and seriously made us marvel at The Creator. The human body is truly amazing.
Daddy and Cutie Pie were soon off to the nursery for a bath and the dreaded first heel stick. I was ordered to rest and eventually be moved to postpartum. I could barely relax! I was energized and charged on new baby love. After the craziest, hottest, most exhausting pregnancy I had the fastest and easiest delivery.
So, why is 11 an odd I can love?
Cupcake - born March 11 Cutie Pie - born October 11
While I normally am not a fan of odd numbers....11 is now doubly dear. We love you Cutie Pie. Welcome to the Crack Team. Your entrance to the world shows you were perfectly placed in our family. Get ready for a life of action and adventure.
The picture roll. I'm hooked up and ready:
The first meeting! Soooo in love with my Cutie Pie:
Daddy cuts the cord:
Strong from the start, Cutie pie did not like the nurse suctioning out her mouth so she took matters, and the bulb into her own hands, literally:
Thank you Dr. Collins for a great delivery experience!
After bath, all cleaned up, with a bow, and ready for snuggles with Mom:
It happened today. I was sad, emotional, and trying to make a note of something I found to be incredibly noteworthy. When I told the Hubs about it his response was "that dead thing?" Any guesses?
Today Cutie Pie lost her umbilical cord stump. Sure, it was a dead thing. But it wasn't always. Less than three weeks ago it was her life source. Not only was it her life source it was her connection to me. A day after she was born, I was in the bathroom of our hospital room and I realized that there was no movement in me anymore. The child that had relentlessly kicked my insides for months had permanently removed her residence. In that moment I was sad. Of course I love seeing her, kissing her, holding her, and seeing her Daddy and sister do the same. But part of me missed how close I carried her for so long. Yet when I changed her diaper each time, I'd see that tiny albeit dead thing still clinging to her belly button and it comforted me. It was proof that not too long ago she was all mine tucked inside for only me to fully experience. Crazy? Selfish? Maternal? Probably all of those. But today when I went to change her diaper the last of the "dead thing" laid there ready to be tossed in the trash. What is left is a precious pink belly button. Maybe you all think I'm nuts but maybe there is a Mom out there who understands my sentiment in the last piece of me connected to her and it's passing. She is her own person now. She'll never remember her first residence and yet I'll forever remember it...and even if I temporarily forgot I could always take a peak at my belly because Cutie Pie left a few marks on my tummy that Cupcake did not.
Goodbye dead thing. When you were a live thing you were indispensable for me and for her. Thank you for doing your job well. Sorry I'm tossing you in the trash with dirty diapers. Seems a little underwhelming for such an amazing part of the new life in this house.
Snuggles AND pumpkin seeds...not to be confused as Snuggling pumpkin seeds. In fact, a certain 2 year old prefers to not even touch pumpkin seeds. The hubs and I were certain that getting dirty and digging out some seeds would be a super fun activity for our ever curious 2 year old. It was a perfect Texas-fall Saturday morning with cooler temps and a nice breeze. We picked out the perfect pumpkin and brought it home.
Next, we cut the top off and opened it up to reveal the wonder that is cleaning out the insides. Look closely at this picture. Cupcake is in my lap guiding my hand with hers. Keeping her hand clean while I do the cleaning out. Who would have guessed that pumpkin seeds would be repulsive?! Guess it is kinda gross for a princess!
Later that day when everyone had enough of the pumpkin which meant we got the seeds cleaned out and then gave up, Daddy and Cutie Pie snuggled on the couch while visions of jack-o-lanterns danced in their heads.
I guess half done projects, naps when we can grab them, and random posts like snuggles and pumpkin seeds are our new normal. Can you still hang with the Crack team?
The hubs and I are incredibly blessed to have helpful and loving family on both sides. We have felt supported and encouraged at each turning milestone from marriage, to home buying, to having children, and the list goes on.
For Gigi and Papa, Cutie Pie was not their first rodeo in the grandchild department. In fact, she was number 4! Just three short Christmases ago their annual letter had some sob sentence to the effect of "one day we'll finally get to be Grandparents." 3 years later and they are running in 3 different directions while holding the 4th. Be careful what you wish for!
Of course this also meant that it was the 4th time for them to roll into town to help with a new baby. Although "roll" isn't exactly accurate of the chaos that ensued when Cutie Pie trumped her induction date. They came, they cooked, they cleaned, they played, they answered countless "why" questions of my curious 2 yr old, they took Cupcake for treats, they got up early, they stayed up late, and they did it all with smiles on their faces and endless patience. Whew! I'm not sure how we would have survived the first week without them.
Here are Cutie Pie's first pictures with her well seasoned Gigi and Papa. She isn't quite old enough for her first Callie picture but they were introduced as well and I'll say that 4 babies later Callie, the empathetic chocolate lab, is much more tolerant of infants crying and all the smells they produce. By tolerant, she really just stuck to her first baby and best bud, Cupcake.
A few days after coming home from the hospital it was time for Cutie Pie's first bath at home. Really, with the umbilical cord stub still attached it's mostly a sponge bath. We were prepared for big cries since Cupcake wasn't thrilled with her first bath but Cutie Pie didn't seem to mind. She just went with the flow and seemed to enjoy the process.
I love this little snuggle bunny towel and the fresh smells of a clean baby!
I'm sure soon enough these sisters will be splashing around together in the tub. Given the typhoon that cupcake can already manage herself I'm thinking we should invest in water proof everything for the bathroom's sake.
We're soaking in these first precious moments and the days sure fly by. We'll get back to phone calls and texts one day but for now we're just enjoying the sweet newborn moments that we won't get back!
Sweet bambina #2 made her entrance to the world last Tuesday evening at 8:55pm. I was not induced...she came on her own....early. I'll get the longer birth story up someday, hopefully soon but didn't want to keep putting off blogging for writing the longer story. So many of you have called or emailed asking for more details so I will get to it...but we've been busy with our tiny bundle of joy.
Our cutie pie was petite, especially for a gestational diabetes baby, weighing in at 6 pounds, 15 ounces. She is an inch taller than cupcake was at birth and while these pictures are a little decieving she looks more and more like her big sister every day. She is a sweet baby who wants to be cuddled as often as possible. She loves hearing voices and will follow a toy with her eyes if you'll play with her. Cupcake loves this! Speaking of Cupcake is doing a great job in her big sister role. I've been so proud of her as she's learning to play gentle and learning that sometime Mommy has to help the baby first.
I'll post more soon but for now here's a look at some pictures from the hospital:
Just back from the nursery with Dad having had her first bath I was THRILLED to see that the nurse agrees on my bow theory. Start them early:
First thing the next morning Cupcake and Gigi came for a visit. It had not even been 24 hours since I had seen Cupcake last but I had missed her SOOOOO much! She came in saying "WOW" and when she peaked in the little baby bed she told her sister "I like your toy" (the bulb). She took a little walk with Daddy to the nursery to see the other babies too like we did on the hospital (She calls it Hos-i-pul) tour. She quickly confirmed when she returned that "her baby was the cutest baby in the whole world!"
Gigi and her girls! You may remember this sweet blanket from Cupcake's birth too. It kept their Daddy warm when he came home from the hospital and now has kept both of our girls warm too. It was made by Daddy's paternal grandmother.
This is my favorite picture so far. Cupcake loves to hold and squeeze her baby. This was one of the first big hugs. I pray they'll be hugging on each other like this for life!
Cupcake is such a big helper. She always wants to be the one to feed the baby. Cutie Pie was a great sport at the spoon shoving that took place in her first food experience. When it comes to her big sister she's fairly flexible...she loves her so.
