Happy Three Month, Brooke!

Brooke is 3 months old! Time is flying by and I can't believe she's already been here for a quarter of a year! The months are just zooming by. I feel she grows an inch every time I blink.

What are you up to this month?

• You are wearing size 0-3 month and 3 month clothes.
• You are still wearing a size 1 diaper and I think you will be in them for the next month or so...or at least I hope you will because we have two boxes of size 1 diapers in the closet!
• I don't know exactly how much you weigh but I'm pretty sure you're about 10 lbs. You are a petite little thing.
• You eat every 3 hours. And, this month we had a break thru in nursing. You are a nursing champ now! I am so glad I didn't throw in the towel early on. Thankfully, you will still take a bottle so we shouldn't have any issues when you start daycare in a few weeks.
• When you take a bottle you usually eat about 4-5 ozs.
• The Monday after your two month birthday, you moved to your crib. You now LOVE your bed, which makes me so happy!
• You are sleeping anywhere from 8-10 hours a night. And you LOVE to be swaddled!
• You had your first 'sick' visit to the doctor this month. When you woke up one morning your poor little eye was all goopey with eye junk. You were your happy, smiley self and seemed fine but I freaked and immediately called the doctor. Turns out it was just a clogged tear duct...no biggie! It was all clear within a day or so.
• You still are not a big fan of tummy time but we are working on rolling over...you are sooooo close!
• You love to kick your legs and arms...especially when I'm trying to change your diaper. This is very cute, except when you kick your feet into a poopy diaper! Yuck!
• You love the pink elephant toy...Ellie. She can always get a smile out of you.
• You are such a happy baby! When we were doing your 3 month photo session in your chair in your room you started to fall over a little bit...but you were still just throwing out the BIG smiles.
• You are spending less time in the swing and more time on your activity mat and sitting in the Bumbo. You also really like your bouncy seat now...you finally figured out that when you kick your legs it makes you bounce.
• You really love it when we whisper to you and you do NOT like sudden loud noises or when people talk loud while holding you. Your scared cry is just pitiful.
• People comment on how cute you are all the time...I don't blame them. You are pretty cute!
• Your 3 month birthday was spent with lots of family and friends...you were baptized on July 16th!

Brookie baby, you are the light of our lives and we love you so much sweet girl!

Happy Two Month, Brooke!

Brooke is two months old! I can't believe how fast the second month went. Brooke's little personality has just taken off this month and its so fun to watch her grow. I swear, every time I blink she grows. I take a lot of pictures of her, mostly on my iPhone because its so handy.

What are you up to this month?

• You are wearing size 1 diapers and size 0-3 months clothes. You can still wear a few of your newborn outfits but not many. The other night I put you in a newborn footed pj and you started crying...I quickly figured out it was because you were cramped in there and couldn't stretch out! Poor thing!
• You weighed 9 lb. 5 oz (19th percentile) at your doctor appointment and you measured 21.5 inches long (20th percentile). Your head circumference was 38 inches (31st percentile).I can't believe you've grown a whole inch right before my eyes. It's amazing how fast you are growing!
• You eat 4 oz's every 3 hours and we've made some progress with nursing. We went to see an occupational therapist and they gave us some more exercises to do and I think you're doing better. You usually nurse your first feeding of the day and then you get a bottle for all your other feedings.
• You're really starting to sleep for longer stretches at night. It's not uncommon for you to go 7 or 8 hours. This makes Mom & Dad super happy! :)
• You are still sleeping in your pack in play in our bedroom. I had anticipated that you would be in your crib by now...but I'm ok with having you so close. You have started taking naps in your crib without fussing too much now and I think you sleep better in your room once you finally fall asleep.

• We swaddle you at night and for naps. When you wake up you usually kick your legs and grunt until someone comes in and un-velco's the swaddle. Then as soon as your arms are free you will strreeeetch really big then flash a big gummy grin. I love that you wake up so happy (definitely get that from your Daddy).
• You are most content in the swing (unless someone is holding you) but the bouncy seat has grown on you. You sit in the bouncy seat while I take a shower some days and you just coo and kick your legs.


• You started using your activity mat this month although I think you get scared sometimes. You don't move much and when you do move your arms and knock the dangly things it scares you and you cry.
• You do NOT like tummy time. I think it is safe to say that you hate it.
• You have recently found your voice and you love to hear your self talk. The first time you squealed, you surprised yourself and got real still and looked around like "did I do that?"
• You smile ALL the time! I'm pretty sure if you keep up these smiles you'll get just about whatever you want. I say the silliest things and make the funniest faces just to get you to smile.
• Your have the most beautiful blue eyes.
• You have mastered the pouty face and it's absolutely pitiful. As soon as that little lower lip sticks out my heart melts.

Brooke, we love you more than we knew our hearts were capable of. It's an amazing love and every night I go to bed thinking I can't possibly love you any more than I already do; then morning comes and my heart has grown over night and I love you even more! You are the best thing that has ever happened to us!

Happy One Month, Brooke!

Brooke is one month old! It seems like this has been the fastest, yet slowest month ever. Some pictures of our sweet girl during her first month of life...

What are you up to this month?

• You are wearing newborn diapers and wear size newborn clothes. You're a skinny little thing! I actually had to pick up a few items from Target so you wouldn't have to repeat the same 3 outfits every few days.
• You weighed 8 lbs 2 ozs at your one month doctor's appointment (20% percentile). You measured right at 20.5 inches (26% percentile), which is how long you were at birth...but the nurse assured me that your length at birth was probably a little off since babies tend to be extra wiggly then. And your head circumference was 36 inches (24% percentile).
  
  
• You eat every 3 hours. We have had some troubles with nursing and went to see a lactation consultant, where she diagnosed you as having 'lazy mouth syndrome'.We were given some exercises to do and they've helped some...so we're working on that. In the mean time I am pumping around the clock so you canhave breast milk. It's a lot of work but it's definitely worth it!
• Since your tummy reminds youthat you are supposed to eat every 3 hours you typically wake up to eat during the night. Although there have been a few nights you had a 4 hour stretch. You are still sleeping in your pack-n-play in our room. Your pediatrician recommended that you sleep in our room for the first month. Maybe you'll move to your room by your 2 month check up.
  
  
• You are doing great with the eat, play, sleep cycle during the day so I hope you will follow the Babywise trend and transition to be a great night sleeper.
• We started working on taking naps in your crib, but you don't really like that idea just yet. You will be so sleepy with droopy eyes and as soon as I go to lay you down in your crib your eyes pop WIDE open. If you could talk I'm pretty sure you would say "Oh heck no, crazy lady! You are NOT going to lay me down in this bed!" So, for now, you take the majority of your naps in your swing.
  
  
• Speaking of swing, you LOVE your swing. However, you do not love the bouncy seat, but I think it will grow on you.
• You are a pretty easy baby, you only fuss when you're hungry, need a diaper change or are sleepy. Most of the time when you're fussy your paci helps calm you down.
• You are a very alert baby. Everyone always is impressed with how alert you are. But then again, you were very alert when you were born too. I suppose you're just taking everything in.
• You don't seem to like tummy time very much...unless its on someone's chest or on the Boppy. It hasn't seem to hinder your growing neck muscles since you're doing a great job holding your head up. Some days you're really strong and others more bobble-head-ish.

Brooke, we think you are the most beautiful baby and we love you so much we think our hearts might explode. You are so wonderful!

April 16, 2011

April 16, 2011 our lives changed forever. Brooke decided that was the day she wanted to see what life was like outside the womb. Here are a few pictures from the best day of our life...the day we became parents.

Our immediate family, patiently waiting. Everyone was excited to become a grandparent or aunt/uncle that day! Looking back on it, they were real troopers. They waiting 12+ hours in that waiting room (something I would change if I could go back...I later learned that the nurses said they weren't able to disclose any information to them so they had NO idea what was going on or any progress we were making. I felt so bad that they were in the dark all day).

After 20+ hours of unmedicated natural labor it was determined that Brooke was tired and her heart rate wasn't bouncing back after the contractions...so an OR was booked and I was prepped for a c-section.

Meeting the family!

It was the longest shortest day. The BEST day of our lives!

41 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 41 Weeks

Size of baby: Unfortunately, neither Babycenter nor The Bump delivers a '41 Week' email stating how big baby is...because she should have come by now!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 45 lbs. Yikes!

Maternity Clothes: Thankfully, I have been able to work from home every day this week...so I have been super comfy in pajamas. It's gotten a bit warmer lately so I've been rotating between my two short sleeve maternity shirts when I have to leave the house.

Gender: It's a GIRL! Brooke Henley Femiano!

Movement: Our little girl doesn't move nearly as much as she used to...I'm pretty sure its because she's run out of room in there. Time to come out!

Sleep: Who can sleep when they're a whole week overdue???? I think I'm afraid my water is going to break in the bed and then I'll have a huge mess to clean up.

What I miss: Nothing really comes to mind this week. I think I'm too anxious to miss anything.

Cravings: I haven't had many cravings this week. Although I have eaten my fair share of eggplant parmesan...trying to induce labor.

Symptoms: Swelling and just being a BIG ole pregnant girl.

Best Moment this week: We got to see our little girl on the ultrasound again this week. They said that my placenta is looking 'tired'...which hopefully will signal my body to get this baby out! Other than that they said that she looks good and we'll go back next week if she doesn't come on her own this weekend.

40 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 40 Weeks

Size of baby: Turtle is about the size of a small pumpkin. She weighs about 7.5 pounds and is about 20 inches long.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 45 lbs. Yikes!

Maternity Clothes: Thankfully, I have been able to work from home a few days this week...so on those days I've been sleeping, working and living in Mike's pajama pants (mine haven't fit for a very long time). When I absolutely have to go out in public, then I put on my favorite maternity jeans...even though they're a little tight in the thighs now.

Gender: It's a GIRL! Brooke Henley Femiano!

Movement: Our little girl doesn't move nearly as much as she used to...I'm pretty sure its because she's run out of room in there. Time to come out!

Sleep: Sleep has been hit or miss. I'm still waking up at 3am but it's not every night.

What I miss: Nothing really comes to mind this week. I think I'm too anxious to miss anything.

Cravings: I haven't had many cravings this week. Maybe the Zaxby's House Zalad with ranch? Yummy! Pringles are still super addicting, but when are they not?

Symptoms: Swelling and just being a BIG ole pregnant girl.

Best Moment this week: This week I reached my official due date of April 8th. It came and went and I was so disappointed that Brooke had not graced us with her presence outside the womb. The doctor said that they typically do not like for you to go too far past your due date and for that they wanted me to come in with two dates picked out to induce labor. I was NOT happy about that. I was very clear that I did not want to pick Brooke's birthday and that I wanted to give her every chance to come on her own. I am only comfortable inducing if there is a major risk to her health. But as for now, she's healthy and snug as a bug in there...so I'm going to let her stay there as long as she likes. The perk to going past my due date is that they want to closely monitor her progress...which means ultrasounds! So, this week we got to see our little Turtle for hopefully the last time via ultrasound. The ultrasound tech said that she appears to be on the smaller side, but since Mike and I aren't large people she said that was perfectly fine. They estimated her to be about 6 lbs 5 ozs...we'll see just how close their prediction is.

39 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 39 Weeks

Size of baby: Turtle is about the size of a mini watermelon. She weighs about 7 pounds and is about 20 inches long.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 41 lbs. although it feels like I've gained 100 lbs.

Maternity Clothes: I'm probably pushing the envelope on some of my work pants now. I'm down to 2 pairs of pants that I would consider appropriate and my maternity shirts are definitely getting shorter in the front.

Gender: It's a GIRL! Brooke Henley Femiano!

Movement: Some days she moves non-stop and other days I'm in a frenzy and pushing my stomach every few hours because I haven't felt her move as much. I'm pretty sure she's in her final position because her foot feels like a little knob.

Sleep: Dare I say it for fear of jinxing myself, but sleep this week has been pretty good all things considered. Still utilizing the 4 pillow, pillow wedge and the insomnia hours have gotten a tad bit better. I still wake up around 3 am but I'm able to fall back asleep pretty soon after, thank goodness!

What I miss: Nothing really comes to mind this week. I think I'm too anxious to miss anything.

Cravings: I've still been craving Pringles. One day this week I was standing in the living room with a can of Pringles...before I knew it I looked in the can and realized that I had eaten probably 3/4 of the can of chips. Oops!

Symptoms: The swelling has gone to a whole new level. One of the midwifes predicted that it would get worse before it got better (aka when the baby is born) and she was spot on. The swelling has traveled up my legs now to my knees. Also, I forgot to post my stats in the last week post regarding progress...at my 38 week appointment I was 1 cm dilated, 50% effaced and -2 station. This week I was 2 cm, 60% and -2...so it wasn't BIG news but progress is progress.

Best Moment this week: The best moment this week was the surprise date night Mike planned. Saturday night he told me to get ready because he was taking me out. He surprised me and took me to the famous Scalini's to get their 'labor inducing' eggplant parmesan. It was delicious but unfortunately did not put me into labor. It sure was nice to go on a date...might be our last date for a while!