Addison Joy Grant, Three Weeks Old

Addison celebrated three weeks in the world yesterday. I cannot believe how much she changes everyday. Here is the latest and greatest....

• She sleeps well at night, in fact last night she slept from 8 PM to 8 AM and only woke up one time to eat! Beginning at 8 AM through 8 PM, she has fallen into a 3 hour schedule: Eat (30-45 min), play (15-45 min), nap (1.5-2 hrs) and then it repeats again 3 hours after it started. It's nice to have a routine down.
  
• Rolling onto her left side easily now
• Picks up her head lots and is able to control the bobbling fairly well
• Tries to be a lil inch worm and loves to scootch across the floor on her tummy by pushing on your hands with her feet
• Smiles...ON PURPOSE
• Listens and looks intently at me as I read her Bible to her (thanks to Stephen and Meagan for giving Addison her first Bible)
• Seems to want to be awake the MOMENT Daddy comes home. She is generally napping when he comes home and the minute he walks in...she wants to be up from her nap, I think she misses Daddy already :)
• Is really, really alert during play time---it amazes us

I apologize that I cannot edit the length of the two videos below, but somehow when I got the new windows, I lost my software. I will edit these things one day.....

Wait until about 45 seconds into the video....
I was trying to take video of her hitting the toys and then Piper decided to play too!! I can't wait until Addison is older and can play her her more!

Here we have the inch worm; she has some strong legs!


Off for coffee with a friend sporting a hat made by Grandma

Sporting hat made by Grandma while it is still cool enough outside to wear them!

Love these moments between Daddy and Addison more than any other!

The Golden Year

Unbelievable---I turned 27 yesterday. First, thank you to everyone for your kind birthday wishes and prizes!

Secondly, ever since I can remember I have always believed that 27 would be the ultimate best age ever of all times ever. I am not sure why 27 stuck out to me, but I have anticipated it since then. So far, 27 is looking pretty good; so good that Matthew has nicknamed it "The Golden Year". Although I must admit, 26 is going to be a difficult year to top. During 26 I married the love of my life and we had a beautiful baby girl together----does life get any better...really?

Matthew's Birthday prizes were so cute! He gave me one everyday for three days with the last gift coming on my birthday. Tuesday he gave me a book about teaching Addison baby sign language---I cannot wait to dive into it! Wednesday he handed me a HUGE gift bag (I could just about fit in it) full of newspaper with a Tom Hanks DVD at the bottom--"MONEY PIT". Many of you know I collect Tom Hanks movie, so this was added to the collection! Thursday I picked up my laptop to check emails and inside it was a gift certificate for a pedicure!!! He closed out the evening by making me cupcakes :) As always I must brag on Matthew---he is so thoughtful!!

Da cupcakes

And we still do the self portraits :)

Another fun prize I received in the mail was from Krista....she sent me homemade pink and green iced cookies! They were all decorated differently and I was so impressed they made it through the mail so beautifully!!! Oh and I cannot forget to mention, they are DELICIOUS!

Thank you again to everyone for your kind birthday wishes and prizes!!

Goodies made by Krista :)

Piper's New Do

Piper has not been for real groomed since Thanksgiving so check out her long awaited new hairdo :)

Having Sea Dreams

We started putting Addison (or ADDY for those of you who like the abbreviated version of her name) in her crib over the weekend and I remembered the "mobile" that my grandmother gave her (that is my Grannie Gambrell)--Baby Einsein's "Sea Dream Lullaby Soother". So, I decided to hang the "soother" equipped with lights and music on the side of the crib before laying Addison down for a nap. We were amused to watch an enthrolled Addison gaze into the lit up fish scene. She was absolutely FIXED on it!!!

First Trip to Church

Addison made her first trip to church today. She is good baby, but just as every newborn, she has a personal fussy period. This period is generally between 5 PM and 8 PM. When I say "fussy period" I mean...I whimper here and there...and cry for about 30 seconds here and there.

With that said....allow me to share-we go to church Saturdays from 6:15 PM to 7:30 PM. See the concern? :) Although we were concerned.....Addison did beautifully! We had one funny moment that I would like to share. At the beginning of the service, Addison just listened intently to the acoustic guitar and enjoyed greeting church members during fellowship time. So far so good....well RIGHT when the pastor started preaching (and when it was nice and quiet) I looked down and watched Addison scrap her hand down the front of her face really hard ultimately pulling out her pacifier. When the pacifier came out.....she jumped a mile high and let out the loudest scream ever!! The scream only lasted 1/2 a second, but it was a scream none the less. I think she thought someone else pulled that pacifier out and STOLE IT :) The lady next to us said "I didn't think a two-week old could scream like that...impressive".

Other than the pacifier startling...Addison enjoyed her first of many trips to church!!! Check out her lil church outfit below (our church is casual dress on Saturday nights).

Dressed and ready for church!

Dressed and ready for church!

This one was just cute so I thought I would share :) She is our sleeping beauty!

Flying Solo, Milestones and Breastfeeding Encouragement

Flying Solo: On Tuesday morning, all our families left town. All the extra hands and cooking was so helpful, so I was not sure how I would preform flying solo. I am happy to report----so far so good for this first time mom!! Since Addison is on a pretty good three hour schedule, by the time I feed her and we play for a little while, it's nap time and before I know it----its time to do it all again :) Friends at our church have been bringing dinners this week which has really helped with the transition from having a house full of help to flying it solo. We appreciate all the help from our family and friends!!!

Milestones This Week: Addison is intentionally smiling at things, but its hard to catch on camera. She loves to pick her head up during tummy time or while she is burping, but after about 15 minutes she gets frustrated with not being able to keep it up. I am starting to see a little of my personality in her because she is trying so hard to do things so fast (i.e. picking up her head). She is also pushing up on her legs a lot too! She sometimes even gets into a crawl stance and pushes forward like a little inch worm!!

The two week doctor's visit revealed she is in perfect health and gaining weight well (especially considering she is exclusively breastfed). Addison weighed in at 9 pounds 12 oz, so she is just about to pass the 10 pound mark. I anticipate her to reach 10 pounds within a week or so (her weight gain is about 1/2 oz per day). She is getting so heavy now that its getting difficult to hold her when I feed her.
Future/Current Breastfeeding Mommies: I just wanted to share a little encouragement regarding breastfeeding. I am no expert, but what I can do is share my experiences thus far. Although Addison latched on well (and correctly) right away, the first week to week and a half was very painful. I am only now feeling relief and it has been 2 weeks. Had Matthew not encouraged me every step of the way, I would have given up. For those of you just starting out or about to start---do not give up. It gets easier!! Give it 4 weeks, then decide if it is something you want to continue and tell your husbands to be your advocate :) I said it once and I will say it again...Breastfeeding is not just a choice----it is a commitment. It is a wonderful commitment that although is challenging at first will get easier and I have faith it will get even easier as time passes. The feedings WILL get shorter and both mommy and baby WILL learn how it all works :)

Do not get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a choice to formula feed but I wanted to offer some encouragement to those of you who just starting out or are trying to decide.

Check out a few photos of our little bundle of JOY.....

She is already a social girl---inviting people to play in her playpen!!

Sleeping beauty!

Yawns are the best

Lil flirty :)

A smirk, caught on camera!

Addison Joy Grant's Arrival Story

Here is the story of the arrival of our Blessing, Addison Joy Grant!

Wednesday March 31
6:45 AM: We checked in at the hospital, got settled in our room and I changed into my beautiful, faded and gargantuan gown :) In a matter of two hours I needed a new one because I spilled juice all over it---ha---I am such a clutz!!!

6:45 AM to 9:00 AM: Waited for the nurse and midwife to assess our birthing strategy.....we took the opportunity to take a nap.
9:00 AM: In the interest of attempting to cause labor to begin slowly and at a more natural pace, one of the midwives started me something called Cervidil.
9:00 AM to 9:00 PM: Waiting, waiting, waiting---a continuation of our entire pregnancy. Blessing, now Addison Joy, just wanted to take her time entering the world and make it a grand appearance.
10:00 PM: I was given a QUARTER of a pill to take which I was told was another step towards a more natural paced birth. I looked at the midwife and said "this tiny pea sized pill is going to put me into labor". I did not believe her. Well, within 2 hours, the strong contractions started!!

Thursday, April 1
10:00 PM 3/31 to 9:00 AM 4/1: We did not get any sleep that night because the contractions were very erratic, ranging from 1 minute apart to 15 minutes apart. The intensity never really increased, but the erratic nature of the contractions made it difficult to "cope" with them. Matthew was such a great support person! He sat by my bed all night holding my hand, talking me through the contractions. So I was not the only one who endured a sleepless night.
9:00 AM: The midwife decided that the only way we were going to get anywhere was to start finally start pitocin. She warned me that after a sleeplessness night and a likely long day ahead filled with contractions---an epidural might be necessary to ensure I had the energy to push.
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM: The contractions came in full force, but after coping with them all night, I learned how to get through them fairly easily. The two nurses (one was a nursing student) we had on Thursday were fabulous!!! They taught us some great positions to help ease the discomfort of the contractions as well as hopefully progress the labor!!! Once I realized that we would be lucky to deliver on Thursday, I caved in and upon the encouragement of all the medical staff-----I got an epidural.
2:00 PM: I got the epidural and IT DID NOT HURT AT ALL!!!!!!!! My biggest fear with the epidural was the catheter. I know that sounds weird since I am numb and should not be able to feel it, but I was modified (this fear reared its ugly head later on too). To ease all the minds of future mothers---you do not feel the catheter.
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM: NAP TIME!!!!!
5:15 PM: The nurse checked me and it was time to start pushing----AT LAST!!
5:15 PM to 9:16 PM: I pushed for a total of FOUR hours!!! After about 2 hours of pushing, they took out the catheter (which I did not feel) but shortly thereafter----the epidural wore off. I started to feel the full force of the contractions and Addison's progress. The nurses and midwife said I was pushing well, but something was keeping Addison from coming down with my contractions. After 3 hours of pushing, midwife Marla realized my bladder might be full and there was a small chance that could be preventing the progress. She said she was going to put the catheter back in. I had my one and only melt down when she said that because I knew I could feel EVERYTHING. As soon as she saw the terror in my eyes----she said I didnt have to :) Marla also asked after three hours if I wanted to throw in towel and have a c-section; to which I responded "will she fit?" "yes, she can fit---it will be tight but she can fit" Marla said. "Well, after three hours, I am not giving up now----WE, WE can all do this". So we continued!! I could not have asked for a better coach, Matthew did a FABULOUS job! He counted for me, held my hand, gave me water, massaged my back and anything else I needed. He was and IS amazing!!!

After four hours, Addison Joy Grant FINALLY made her appearance into the world. Come to find out, the cord was wrapped around her several times which made it difficult for her to come down as quickly as normal. She was born at 9:16 PM weighing in at 9 lbs, 7 oz and 22 inches long---AND with a HUGE cone head :) We were so relieved it was finally over!!!

I think this is one of my favorite picture so far (above)

Since the birth, Addison has really changed a lot. She weighs almost 10 pounds already and is already picking her head up---sometimes on her own!!! She is the BEST baby, sleeps well and (knock on wood) only cries when you really mess with her (like during a diaper change or dressing her). She is a little bit of a lazy nurser so that is sometimes a challenge for me, but we could not be more blessed with our "Blessing". Matthew continues to be such a strong supporter and he is the BEST daddy. He is a natural.

Thank you again for all your prayers and support as Addison made her arrival!!!

To all you soon to be mommy's out there: It was all worth it. All the pain, all the slow progress, the long recover ahead---everything. It was all worth it the moment Matthew said "It's a girl" and she was here, laying on my tummy.