We have a reptile on our hands...

Nora...that is! She is shedding skin like its her job. Every time I changer her onsie or socks/mittens, etc. tons of skin goes flying off! Her face has been peeling lots lately, but it seems to be slowing down. Tomorrow we are giving her the first actual bath since its been almost a week since the doctor put silver nitrate on her belly button to dry it up since it was still bleeding. I'm hoping that helps with removing the dry/dead skin.

Another reptile-esque characteristic that she has is that she loves to be warm...like a snake next to a heat lamp! She could be sound asleep on one of our chests and we go to lay her down and instantly she wakes up and wants to be 'warm' again (or held) either way. Apparently you can't spoil an infant, but she might be spoiled because we hold her so often. (as she sleeps on my chest while I'm typing this post) She ends up getting tiny beads of sweat on her face-that's how warm she is.

On another note, she slept all night...well not through the night, in her bassinet for the first time the other evening. Last night was a different story-she was a little fussy so bouncey seat it was for half the night. We are slowly but surely getting used to our new schedules which include some early bed times. Tonight being one of them. It's funny because we people tell you that you won't get much sleep you think...aww thats just them over reacting...but coming from a 8+ hour per night sleeper it has been really hard to keep up on sleep. I try to take as many naps during the day as possible, but I still want to get things done around the house before Jake gets home too.

Completely random and has nothing to do with this post, but I emailed the lactation consultant becuase I felt like I was pumping ALOT...turns out I am and she said my body thinks I have twins!! Hilarious-no wonder our freezer is filling up with milk so fast! I think I'll be slowing down a bit with her tips and advice!

So Many Changes!

Nora had her second doctor appointment today-well it was actually just a weight check, but it was the first time I took her out of the house by myself and I was a little nervous. We made it to the appointment dressed and on time. Two things I wasn't sure if we were going to be able to do. Have I mentioned the least favorite part of my day?? If not, its putting a onsie on Nora...something about getting her head in a small hole and her arms in tight places that makes me sweat while doing it. Phew...it can be a workout!

Anyway, I struggled to get the car seat out of the car and almost had to call Jake-I never practiced before getting out on my own and in freezing cold weather with some kind of precipitation it was not a good thing. At the doctor Nora weighed 9 lbs. 4 oz.!! Wow! She's growing like a weed. That means she's up 11 oz. in 1 week. The nurse said they look for babies to gain 1/2 oz per day...meaning about 3.5 oz for a week....Nora blew that out of the water. My small, well actually big baby, is already growing so fast. Jake jokes that she might as well have come out walking and potty trained! No wonder this past week I've felt like a milk producing machine-the girl is hungry ALL.THE.TIME!

Another changed I've noticed is her hair color. It is already getting lighter especially in the front. When I look at the picture posted on our blog homepage and compare it to now-its a lot lighter. I know babies eye color isn't determined until about 6 mos (at least that's what I've heard), I think she is going to have blue eyes-or at least hazel like both Jake and mine.

We found out yesterday that John & Rachel are expecting again!! She's due in October-making her 12 weeks along. We are really excited that Nora will have a cousin that is close in age to grow up with-maybe it will be a girl since she'll already have a boy cousin (Hunter) close in age to play with.

One last thing..it felt so weird walking into Kohl's with a stroller tonight. Jake and I looked at each other like we are actually parents walking in with a stroller to a store...wild! Stolen from Rachael's blog-this is our "new normal".

Family time is short and sweet-so that's all for now.

Day #2 with out Daddy

We are half way through day #2 without Daddy and we are anxiously awaiting him getting home from work at 6:30! Glad to say that today is going much better than yesterday. I think I was tired and a little unsure of how the day was going to go because Jake has been an awesome support system for us since Nora was born. We couldnt ask for a better husband/daddy to have! On top of that, she only wanted to nurse on one side which meant frequent feedings and shorter nap times, we also had a few outfit changes due to crazy amounts of wet diapers-this girl knows how to fill a diaper whether its making it wet or dirty or both. Call me crazy, but I thought only little boys peed when their diapers were off...nope, little girls just dont spray pee everywhere!! Its like a water fountain pouring over her parts and happens just as you remove the dirty diaper. We thought we had an 'endless' supply of newborn diapers (since shes already ~9 lbs), but when we go through 2-4 for a diaper change depending on if its a dirty or wet and if shes goes when we are changing her...we are thinking this 'endless supply' is going to run out fast!

We are both in the 'feel bad' stage...He feels bad that I have to get up in the middle of the night to breastfeed-he wishes I could just sleep and I feel bad if he has to get up to change a diaper or help me if she's not happy especially when he has to work during the day.

Day #2 has resulted in a few 30-45 minute naps for me, a load of laundry done, longer feeding times and a sleeping baby...gotta go catch another short nap while shes sleeping!

Nora's First Week

The first week has been nothing out of the ordinary for what the first week should look like. Jake and I are adjusting slowly to having Nora around. The biggest adjustment is scheduling. We are no longer on our own schedules-we are on her schedule. It should get easier once we have a little experience, but the first few days we were zombies! Even today, it's been better and we have everything down much better than we did just a few days ago-the learning curve is steep!

We work together as a team and usually when I get frustrated or flustered, he is there to calm me down and take over for a minute and vice versa. After a few minutes its hard to be frustrated because she is so adorable and is OUR baby and we love her!

This week has come with many laughs...that's all you can do sometimes. One that happened today was our first experience with projectile poo. We wanted to take her temperature because she was acting different than normal so we got the thermometer stuck it in to take a rectal temperature and she shot poo on the wall, carpet, us, the changing table (also known as our hutch in the living room-for now) the changing pad. There it was yellow, seedy poo sprayed everywhere. We looked at each other like what are we going to do now. So we cleaned it up and tried to re-diaper...wrong idea she did it again-worse than the first time. Note to self-she hadn't pooed since 8 am this morning so it was bound to happen...next time we will check the dirty diaper records!

Here are some of her firsts:

• first walk outside in the stroller-Jake was mad that I wanted to push the stroller
• first doctor appointment: She was 8 lbs. 9 oz. (78%), 21 inches (90%-if this is right she grew an inch in 4 days! I think the measurement was off), head circumference was 14 inches (62%) Doctor said she looks healthy. They are planning on taking another X-ray of her clavicle in 3 weeks, but for now she isn't favoring it and it doesn't seem to bother her so we think its has already started healing
• first car ride-this is something she thoroughly enjoys-we play classical lullabies for her...Jake and I joke that it almost puts us to sleep!
• first diaper blow out
• first sponge bath & she didn't even cry

After nursing she gets sleepy and models for us! She's so comfy all scrunched up

First sponge bath!

She sleeps in her bouncer or swing because she likes to be moving-hopefully she will sleep in the bassinet soon, but for now it helps us sleep!

Ready to go to her first doctor visit & first time outside since coming home from the hospital. It's easy to get cabin fever!

Buckled in and ready to go!

Jake and Nora...and Jersey Girl- who popped in at the last minute..always has to be center of attention! She loves Nora, but is jealous that she gets a lot of attention.

Jake has already nick named her "Squeak-Ums" or "Squeak" because she makes a lot of squeaky noises out of no where, my favorite is after she sneezes she says "ohhhh" in the cutest way possible like she has just done a lot of work!

Pictures from the Hospital

Dear Nora, You met and saw a lot of people while you were at the hospital. Here are some pictures from your stay!

Mommy in her awesome hospital gown-before they pumped me full of fluids-see I still have ankles here! Mommy was 40 weeks + 6 days and ready to meet you.

After arriving at the hospital at 6 am, starting pitocin at 7 am, Mommy's water broke spontaneously. Mommy promptly asked for an epidural to help with pain. At 11 am Mommy was dilated to 5 cm. Here Mommy is at 1:30 pm and 10 cm-doctor said we were ready to push! Even though Mommy looks excited, she and Daddy were scared and not expecting you to come so early. After pushing for 25 minutes the Doctor said since you heart rate was dropping with each push that she needed to use the vacuum to get you out. After 2 attempts, the Doctor finally got your head out, but your shoulders were stuck. You ended up breaking your right clavicle, but the Doctor says you will be OK soon. After your shoulders, you came right out-with a short umbilical cord so Dr. Huffman cut your cord instead of Daddy.

Mar was Mommy's nurse and she wrote this nice note for you when you were born

You and Mommy after your first bath

Daddy with Dr. Huffman after delivering you

Gamma holding you for the first time. Uncle John & Aunt Rachel, Uncle Jason & Aunt Tab and Cousin Isabella, Uncle Joe and Uncle Jordan came to see you too!

Here you are with Grandma, Great Grandma and Grandpa Blacker. Uncle Anthony & Aunt Beth came by to see you on Monday

Christina & Brett stopped by for a while-Katie, Garrett, and Heather stopped by from LifeGroups, but we forgot to get a picture

Here you are with Carla, the lactation consultant. Mommy and Daddy call her the "boobie whisperer" or "baby whisperer" which ever came to mind first. She helped you to nurse for the first time and taught Mommy lots about helping you eat.

Here we are as a family, ready to go home for the first time. Mommy and Daddy were scared to death-the hospital didn't give us a manual on what to do with you!

Nora Sue Standeford 3.13.2011

Here she is! We welcomed our precious little girl into the world yesterday 3/13/2011 at 2:03 pm. She is a healthy, big baby weighing in at 8 lbs. 15 oz. and 20 inches long. She is doing great and is adorable-praise the Lord for his hand in everything.

One proud Daddy!

Our growing family of 3, just a few hours after delivery!

A Plan is in Place

Monday I had a doctor appointment where I found out I was "almost 3 cm", my blood pressure is still the same as pre-pregnancy, weight gain continues slowly, Nora's heart rate was 135, and everything was great for my due date appointment.

We discussed induction possibilities-my doctor, who is a liberal inductioner (lol, is that a word) offered to induce at 39.5 weeks which would have been on March 2nd. I deferred to my due date to see if she would come on her own. As my due date approached and came..she wasn't here! The latest my doctor will let me go is 41 weeks so an induction plan was set for 6 am on Sunday, March 13th.

This decision came with lots of thought as she offered to induce me on March 9th (yesterday). On Monday, I was feeling well and not in any more discomfort as I had been in so I opted to wait. On Tuesday night...sleep was minimal and I decided on Wednesday I would call my doctor to see if she could induce on Thursday since it had been my second night of exhaustion. I figured I can be exhausted with a baby rather than exhausted with one on the way and its all the same! Unfortunately, my doctor has today off so she couldn't schedule for induction today. She offered for tomorrow, I decline for a whole slew of reasons-primarily because the hospital doesn't have their Lactation Consultants working on the weekend & I need them to ease my slight anxiety of breastfeeding.

Today, I'm equally as tired as I have been the past few days, but I'm sticking to the plan of Sunday at 6 am. Unfortunately...Daylight Savings is Sunday so it's technically 5 am-Wow...that's early! I have 2 more days until it all goes down and we are looking forward to it more than ever! Next time I think I'll opt for the earlier induction-even if I'm feeling great because I learned how quickly comfort can decline.

On a brighter note, there is a HUGE consignment sale tomorrow and Saturday that I would like to go to and I wouldn't have been able to if I had had her yesterday or today! I'm looking for a jogging stroller so I can get back in the groove of something other than walking slower than all the old people at the Rec Center!

Car Update: The Rio is in working condition after repair by my awesome "mechanic" of a husband who fixed it for under $15

Computer Update: Geek squad called to tell us its ready for pick up. We ended up having it repaired since it was going to cost less than 1/2 the price of the computer with the external hard drive and data back up.

I think everything is settled and less stressful than last week-we are ready for our baby!

Waiting Patiently for Nora...

One of the maternity pictures taken by our friend! They turned out awesome, thanks Brett.

Its Official

After only a year and a half, our computer has died due to a failed hard drive. We're going to Best Buy to have them get everything off of it and buy an external hard drive. The search for an improved, longer lasting computer has started-although I'm so mad we have to spend the money for it...grrr. I knew there was a reason why we decided not to get another car right now. Any opinions for a new computer are greatly appreciated.

Quick Post...From Work

Our computer has died...it is currently with the Geek Squad getting diagnosed with the issue-it will either be a $200 fix or $1,000 fix to save the memory and buy a new computer.

The Rio "Goldie" has been at Chase Bank waiting to get towed back to the house after Jake hit a ginormous pot hole on his way to work Tuesday-the oil pan has a leak in it & is not drive able at this point. Did I mention we paid off the Audi? Just in time for the Rio to have problems.

On the bright side, I'm feeling great & 4 days away from my due date (3/7). I have a doctor appointment on Monday to assess & possibly schedule for induction sometime next week! I think Nora knows how hectic things are right now and is choosing to stay inside for a while longer until things calm down.

Jake made 125% payout on his bonus at work this month-super excited for him, but unfortunately due to ^the above circumstances, it will be used quickly for the computer or car. When it rains, it pours.

Jersey is now a trick dog! She has accomplished: sit & shake a few weeks ago, and in a few days mastered lay down and roll over. As soon as our computer is functioning-I'll post a video-it is hilarious! Jake is looking for new tricks to teach her. He tried 'playing dead', but she hunkered down when he said "bang, bang" as a starting point-maybe something from her past she still remembers-so that one is out the window.

I'm still at work, hence the blog from work & will be until I go into labor-something about a full time paycheck that keeps me coming back for more!

Staying positive & awaiting our precious little girl!