2-Week CheckUp

 

We took Rosie in for her 2 week check up this morning.  She was such a good girl.  Big sister came along to "help".  (This was a good appointment for big sister to join us - no shots!)  The doctor thought she was doing great and growing well.  What a blessing!!!! 

 

Rosie  has officially passed her big sister's birth weight (6 pounds 5 ounces), weighing 6 pounds 9 ounces!  She's starting to fill out the newborn clothes a little better these days, but is clearly not ready for 0-3 month.  The t-shirt I had her in yesterday looked like a dress.  She still feels so little in our arms, but she is a little more "sturdy" now!  I wonder if she will always be our little peanut???? 

 

Rosie is still eating 2 ounce bottles every 3-5 hours day/night.  She's getting up for bottles in the middle of the night around 1-2 am and again around 5-6 am).  Thinking she may be a morning girl, as she isn't always as eager to go back to sleep after her 5 am bottle as she is at 1 am.  We may need to start using that time to exercise.  HAHA!

 

 

so big!

little helper

let's go home

 

 

"Rosie"

"Rosie" is here!  Oh, and was she worth the wait.  She's just about 2 weeks old already.  Time flies when you're making bottles, changing diapers, and playing "defense" with a 3-year old!  :) 

Here are some things we know about Rosie:

• She has the cutest dimples - thanks to her daddy - although they are very hard to catch on camera!
• She looks a little like her sister, a lot like her daddy, and is as perfect as can be.
• Her sister is her #1 fan.
• She's a good eater!  She only lost 1.5 ounces in the hospital and had regained that and more after just a few days!
• She likes to be swaddled when she sleeps, just like her big sister did.
• She likes to have her hands by her face when she sleeps, again like her sister!
• She likes her Nuk, but doesn't need it (or want it) all of the time.
• She has dark hair, mostly in the back and a little on the sides and top.  It's soft and straight.
• She is still swimming in newborn clothes, although she probably weighs over 6 pounds by now.
• She seems to enjoy stroller rides, but is less of a fan of car rides. 
• She's been a good sleeper.  Day and night!
• Her mommy thinks she is absolutely, positively, perfectly adorable! 

Welcome Baby Girl!  (With our doctor!)

Proud big sister

Happy Birthday, Rosie!

Celebrating her arrival!!!!

So sweet and so tiny.  Our little peanut!

So glad to be home!  Look how she's changed!

One of her favorite places to be! 

Snuggle time

 

 

Enjoying a beautiful evening in the back yard!

Full of Surprises!

People keep asking us if Pinky is ready to be a big sister.  I'm never sure how to answer this question.  She's THREE.  Which I have learned means completely unpredictable for this child!  Sometimes, she surprises me . . . other times, shocked might be a better word for it.  So, is she ready?  I have no idea.  She thinks so!  Time will tell!

A good friend had a baby earlier this spring and she graciously allowed me to bring Pinky up to her hospital room to give Pinky a sense of what it was all about.  Pinky held the baby, rubbed her hair, and checked her out from head to toe.  She even let me hold her for a few minutes!  I thought the visit was an absolute success.  But then, as we were heading to the car, I said to Pinky, "wasn't the baby cute?"  To which Pinky quickly responded "Not as cute as me, right mom?"  For a good week after our visit, we had similar conversations that went like this:
Pinky:  See that bus, mom, isn't it cute?
Me: Yes, very cute! 
Pinky:  But not as cute as me, right mom!
Me: (Silently in my head)  Oh dear, what are we in for????

Fortunately, we have seen some "softening" in recent weeks that brings me hope that she is ready to be a big sister.  (Or as ready as she can be!)

A couple of weeks ago there was a baby shower at my school for all of the families having babies this year.  We received the cutest piggy bank filled with gifts from co-workers.  Leaving work with this generously filled pig, I was a little worried about big sister's response when she saw it.  Big sister, who has 2 piggy  banks of her own.  Big sister, who has to hug and kiss her piggy banks each time she "feeds" them.  What was she going to say/do when she saw this piggy bank with a tiarra and pink tutu that was NOT for her????

SURPRISE:  She went to her room, got down a piggy bank, opened it up, and got some money to share with her baby sister.  And then, she helped find the "best" home for it in "Rosie's" room!  My heart smiled like you can't imagine.

****

On Saturday, we were at a local book store picking out some gifts for upcoming birthdays and what-not.  We were having so much fun looking around the store together, something we don't get to do often.  We were looking at the books, the games, the toys, and then . . . .  We found a shelf of stuffed animals and I was pretty sure our time at the store was OVER for my little plush-toy fanatic. 

SURPRISE:  I offered her the opportunity to pick something out for "Rosie".   Something she could bring to the hospital when she comes to meet her.  She spent at least 10 minutes trying to decide which one Rosie would like better.  The puppy?  The turtle?  The monkey?  She settled on a floral print monkey, as soft as can be.  She snuggled with it the whole way home, and then, as asked, she took it to Rosie's room and put it in her crib, where it has been ever since.  (Except when she has to show someone what she got for Rosie!)  Sigh!  What a good girl! 

Waiting for Rosie!

 

****

Pinky has been very interested in watching my tummy grow.  (And at 35 weeks, it's getting pretty big she has informed me!)  She loves to rub my tummy, but now it is more about hugging and kissing Rosie.  Maybe this is just an excuse to get out of whatever she is supposed to be doing at the time . . . because she knows I won't say no to her initiations to show affection to her sister.  In the recent week or so, she has also been talking to her sister, which I think is adorable.  In church on Sunday, she was sitting on my lap rubbing my tummy and I hear her lean over and whisper to Rosie, "It's ok, Rosie, Mommy's got you.  Mommy's got you." 

My view looking down these days!

Oh, this girl is full of surprises.  She is so sweet and affectionate.  She completely warms my heart and makes me smile.  I pray she will always have that sweet, sensitive, caring disposition . . . along with her quick whit and sense of adventure!  And I pray that when little Rosie gets here, her big sister is ready for all of the changes that will be happening in our house.  (Of course, I'm also praying the same for mom and dad!)

#1 Sister 

Proof

Not that we need it . . . but every once in a while we have those moments when we think, "Yep, she's definitely my daughter!"  The other day we was one of those days.

Pinky and I were in the car, I'd just picked her up from school and we were nearing home.  We saw the high school track team out for a run.  From the back seat I hear Pinky say, "Hey mom, can we throw snowballs at those runners tomorrow?" 

Yep!  PROOF she IS her DADDY's daughter!!!  (Because we all know her mommy would NEVER think of something like that!)

We hadn't been home more than a few minutes.  My hubby and I were visiting about the day and clearly not paying attention to our little one.  She comes down the hall and peaks her head in the door holding up a big piece of unwrapped chocolate and says "I snooked some candy!"  Then pops the entire thing in her mouth.

Yep!  PROOF she IS her mommy's daughter!!! 

We put her in the corner, put the lock back on the treat cabinet, and fought laughter the entire time.  I'm sure she has seen me "snook" chocolate out of that same cupboard more than a hundred times . . . and this wasn't a first for her either.  I can't say I blame her, it was probably one of those days for her too.  The good news is, she still doesn't know to "hide" her little acts of mischief!  Lucky for us!!!!

That's OUR girl!  She "snooked" our hearts too!

Waiting for Spring

Yesterday, our morning devotion told us not to complain about anything, not even the weather . . . a couple of hours later, it started to snow.  It's still snowing today.  And we're in a winter storm watch for the weekend.  We made a conscious effort not to complain about the falling snow as others openly expressed their disgust.  And as we continue to bite our tongues, we find ourselves waiting for spring weather!

As I type this I am sitting at the hospital.  I've been here since 6:30 this morning.  I failed my 1 hour glucose test this week so this morning I was here bright and early to drink 10 ounces of fruit punch syrup and have my blood drawn 4 times in 3 hours.  I'm not worried about passing this time . . . I'm more worried about passing out . . . I'm starving!  (Nothing to eat or drink from midnight until my last blood draw.)  And as I wait, I occasionally feel little "Rosie" readjusting (or doing jumping jacks), and I know that she will be here soon . . . and all of this is worth it . . . We're waiting for spring for "Rosie"!

New beginnings, new life, a fresh start . . . we're waiting for all of that at our house!  And though you never want to wish time away, it's hard not to hold out for the brighter (warmer) days! 

Here are just a few of the things I am looking forward to this spring:

• Green grass
• Planting flowers in our flower beds and window boxes ("Pinky" has already been thinking about what color flowers she wants in her window box)
• Walks around the neighborhood
• Playing at the park 
• Riding bike (well, after "Rosie" is here of course)
• The Fargo Marathon (Hoping to "waddle" the 5K this year)
• Setting up the hammock in the back yard
• Fires in our fire pit
• S'mores
• Visiting with our neighbors (we all hybernate in the winter after all!)
• Blowing bubbles and getting out the sidewalk chalk
• Tulips and blossoming trees

It will all be here soon . . . and I can't wait!

*On a side note, as I am typing from a semi-quiet place I found on 3rd floor with lots of windows and a view of the city traffic (and snow).  No one has joined me in the 2 hours I have been here until now.  The lab tech who has been drawing my blood for the last 3 hours just sat down near me . . . with a big cup of water, a yogurt and string cheese.  I'm trying not to be rude, but I gotta tell you, I would love any or all of her snack!!!  (And I am pretty sure she knows it!) Right now, I'm trying not to focus on the fact that I am waiting for breakfast!  :)

Spring

Well, the calendar says spring, but looking outside, you'd never know it.  The first day of spring we woke up to -8!  Granted, it did warm up to an above 0 temperature, but still not the ideal way to say good-bye to winter.

At school, my students have started a poll to see who can guess which day the huge snow bank outside my office window will be melted.  I have to say, the kids are much more optimistic than I am.  Unless someone gets out a hair dryer for April Fools and really goes to town, I think it will be out there a while.

At home, we've been making the best of it as well.  Pinky's been waiting for it to get warm enough to build a snow man for quite a while.  Lately she decided that she should build a "snow duck" instead.  So, after 2 days of work, primarily from her daddy, she officially has her "snow duck" in the front yard. 

Clearly, being very helpful as the "snow duck" was under construction!

Duck profile!

Ta Da!

Taking a little time to ride her bike through some puddles between snowbanks!

Hot chocolate mustache!



Easter Egg hunt at church

"Stay"-Cation

I had February 25-March 1 off from work . . . an entire week.  Many of the families I work with (both students and teachers) had wonderful, warm, sunny vacations planned with their families.  I can't blame them.  Winter in ND . . . We all deserve a little time to "defrost" and catch some Vitamin D!

Our family, on the other hand, had no plans to travel.  In the last couple of months, we have spent a week visiting grandparents over the holidays.  We've spent 4 days in Colorado.  And we've spent 5 days in Florida.  What a blessing to have those times with family and to get the opportunity to travel.  But I am not going to lie:  A week at home sounded wonderful.  A little "stay"-cation. 

We scheduled a couple of play-dates and had a short, but manageable, "to-do" list.  But most of all, I was looking forward to spending a little 1:1 time with my Pinky-Pie . . . knowing the time I have to spend with just her is dwindling.  As much as I am looking forward to welcoming another little girl into the family, I will miss having days for just Pinky.

I didn't plan any wild adventures for the 2 of us.  We watched Mickey Mouse.  Read lots of books.  Painted fingernails, toenails, and a few pictures.  Made some yummy treats.  And worked on our "moves"!  Pinky also learned how to play Candyland, a game I think we will be playing a lot in the upcoming months! 

This morning when the alarm went off, I was not exactly ready to bounce out of bed and speed off to work.  But I have to say that for the most part, I felt rested, like I had crossed a few things off my to-do list, and most of all had made some fun memories with Pinky.  Can't think of a better way to spend a "stay"-cation!

Playing in the snow

1 of many games of Candyland

A little lesson in counting.  (She made it to 15!!!)

Mom's little helper!

Maybe just 1 more M&M before they go in the oven . . .

Playing in the snow with Daddy!

Did I mention we helped Auntie Carman pick out her wedding dress?
No pictures of the dress 'til August . . . but we got to ring the bell when she found "the one!"