Friday, April 8, 2011

One Month

My favorite One Month picture.

It is really hard for me to believe that we already have a one month old!  So much as changed in just a month.
  • I regularly get up and hang out with a newborn an hour at a time in the middle of the night.
  • Getting in and out of the car takes planning.
  • Going anywhere takes forethought... What time do we need to be there?  Is there a place to feed her if I need to?  Do I need to bring a pumped bottle?  Will there be a place to change her?  Etc.
  • And a million more things I can't think of right now.  My brain cells have changes too.
We have also learned a lot about our little Julia.

Likes
  • Food
  • Sleep
  • Smiling
  • Big bows (she really loves them) ;)
  • Her wubbanub (a particular kind of pacifier)
  • This pink unicorn toy I set in front of her the other day
  • Her mobile
  • Cuddling
  • Riding in the car
Dislikes
  • Gas
  • Pooping
  • Waiting for food
  • Getting sleepy
  • Spitting up
  • Not wearing a bow with an outfit ;)
So you can see... life is pretty exciting here in the St Germain household!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Sisters, Sisters

Evan and I were a little concerned about how our big baby, Rue would take to the new little baby.  I am happy to report that they are getting along just fine.  It has been an adjustment for the Rue-meister.  We are not at her complete disposal anymore.  We were never concerned about her being aggressive with the baby.  The Ruedles is not the most graceful dog.  We've had to take away a few of the longer toys she likes to swing around because they are a hazard.  She's just really not that interested in Julia.  Here are a few of the sweet pictures we've taken over the last week of the girls bonding...





So sweet ;)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Our New Reality

Okay... so being home with a newborn isn't quite as boring as being home big and pregnant for weeks.  I'm actually more productive here with a baby than here without one.  Who wants to do laundry and dishes and house cleaning when they are nine months pregnant and carrying around all that extra weight?  Now I've only got got naptime to do all the things that need to be done.  It's kind of like waiting til the last minute to do science fair.  Laundry must get folded and put away and I've got t-minus 45 minutes before she eats again... go!  Here is a picture of a recent naptime.


Anyways, Julia's arrival has changed our our lives but it's hard to imagine life without her now.  For those who are interested I'm going to do a cliffs notes version of how she got here... you see when a husband and a wife decide they want to start a family... just kidding ;)

On Wednesday March 9th I awoke to consistent contractions starting at about 4:00 am.  Real fun, let me tall ya.  They weren't unbearable, but as the morning progressed they were getting stronger and closer together.  When Evan left for work he knew to have his phone ready.  After phone calls to Dolly and Mimi and Sarah and Dr. Thompson and walking the neighborhood again and again the contractions were close enough to go into labor and delivery testing... to make sure I was actually in labor.  We were in a tiny room in L&D from 2:00pm to 8:00pm waiting to see if I was actually going to progress.  Finally after my doctor left town, of course, I had progressed and was admitted.  Another doctor in the practice took over and monitored my labor and delivered Julia, all was well.  Once we were admitted, the real excitement began...
  •  8:30 They broke my water.  Contractions began... fo real... wow... really.  Moms and Dads arrived with gifts for Julia, dinner for Evan(thanks Mom and Dad), and birthing comforts for me (thanks Ann and Tony and Sarah). Much contracting, much pain, discovered that Ann was one of my nurse's professors at TWU... small world!
  • 10:30 Check-up... had minimal progression.  Lovely.  Still going strong without drugs but getting pretty tired.  Pain getting really bad... puked while my father in law is in the room... cute.
  • 1:15 Check-up... progressed to 5 cm.  Oh no... bring on the epidural.  All of that for 5 cm?  Uh uh.  
  • 1:30 Best thing that's ever happened to me... the EPIDURAL!  Also, got put on the lowest dosage of Pitocin.  Quality of life increases dramatically.  We all get a little rest.
  • 2:30 Julia's heart rate begins to drop a little.  I got taken off the Pitocin and put on oxygen.
  • 3:30 Check-up... 10 cm!!!  No way!  Evan, mom, get ready!  It's go time.
  • 3:45 Pushing begins.
  • 4:30 Baby Julia graces this world.  I delivered an 8 lb. 4 oz. baby.  Pretty awesome miracle.
 Here are my favorite pictures from the morning that changed our lives.

It is just amazing to me how much she has changed in the last few weeks.  I'll be posting more now that we've settled into our new reality.  Having Julia here is really a dream.  We thank God everyday for our wonderful new addition.