Visitors from Wisconsin

When Hadley was three weeks old (she is 3.5 months now!), my mom and sister flew up to visit, help us, and of course meet the newest member of the family.  I was still quite ill with a sinus infection and recovering from my c-section, but we still had a great time.  I really didn't realize how terrible I felt until I was back to my normal self (weeks after they left).  It was great for Annabel to have some attention that I was just not able to give her. 

Tech break

They were here during an extreme cold snap so we stayed indoors at our place most of their visit.  We did manage to go to Annie at the Movies for Mommies showing.  Chelsea took Annabel swimming while Mom and I watched, which I think was a highlight for Annabel.  They also shared some time together crafting and playing while mom and I got groceries and picked up Eric from work.  Annabel still talks about it, so I think it was really special for both Chelsea and Annabel to have some one-on-one time.  She also keeps talking about making rolled out cookies while wearing her apron Grandma made.    

All week Grandma tried to talk Annabel into watching Frozen, which Grandma had brought for a gift, but every time she suggested it, Annabel would look at her like it was a horrible idea and say "no, let's watch Cars."  On their last night, we just put Frozen in and we all watched it together.  We are late on the bandwagon, but the past two weeks, we've really gotten into the movie!  Although I haven't actually seen it in its entirety, but that's the story of my life these days.   

Grandma's baby rocking chair.

Pretending to be a baby in daddy's tummy.  Rosy cheeks from playing in frigid temps.

I particularly enjoyed their company and all the help with meals and housework, especially with Eric working a lot during his busy teaching semester.  It was tough having to do dishes after they left!!

We all look forward to seeing them and more family soon.  The next family we will see will be my parents when we meet them in Calgary and do some traveling in Banff, Alberta.

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Since their visit, we have been enjoying having Hadley a part of our family.  She continues to be a calm baby.  We were used to a baby whose screams could be heard by the man on the moon, so this is a nice change.  
Hadley is smiling and cooing and we are looking forward to her first giggle.  She's holding her head up pretty strong now and thinking about rolling.  She is so cuddly, forming her body right to ours.  

 We went ice skating downtown.  Annabel's first attempt.  Somewhere along the process of getting ready and going there, she must have thought we were going to the zoo because she kept looking for the animals at the ice rink.  It was a gorgeous day, so we decided to head to the zoo next.

Playing at this great play space at the police station.  We were there getting fingerprinted to send to the FBI, another part of our permanent residency process.  We joked that we may come back just to play!

Annabel seems to be enjoying being a big sister, playing with her and helping out if Hadley cries in the car "it's o-tay, Hattie Had, I know, I know." She has inevitably tried to pick her up a handful of times and needs reminders to be gentle and not to pester her cheeks, but overall it is going well.  She showed a little big sister protectiveness when Hadley had her first shots and Annabel looked sternly at the nurse and said "hey."  

Annabel's language has really exploded and she is full of very interesting questions like, "what are boogers for?" and "do you know how to toot?"  She often tells us her plan and then says "is that a good idea?"  She is doing excellent with potty training the past couple weeks, so I'm so glad we just let her fall into the habit rather than try any technique.  She also stopped sucking her thumb cold turkey (we told her how her teeth could stick out like Mater from Cars and apparently that was enough for her).  What a big girl!

Her sleeping has improved since my last post where she was staying up late and not napping.  Now, we seem to be in-between needing a nap or not.  She goes to bed fairly well at 8pm (with rocking and/or us laying with us and sleeps until 7:30 if she does not nap (but 1-8pm can show periods of tiredness/hyper/craziness). But, if she naps, then she is up until at least 9:30, usually 11.  The evenings are easier for Eric and I if we get a little break. 

Puppy at the children's museum.  She kept telling me she was a cow.

Annabel puts together some pretty awesome outfits.  Generally she is dressed way better than me.

I had dressed her in the boring gray shirt and striped pants, but Annabel thought the outfit needed a dress (made by my Aunt Pam) and dress shoes.

  

Reading her new favorite book The Book with No Pictures in her new big, big girl bed.  We are slowly transitioning our office/storage room into her new room and being creative as to wear to now put the storage stuff.  Eric put her bed up on the frame today, which he said makes it seems less like she is a roommate who was going to move out any day.

Easter Sunday

Annabel loves it when Eric holds "two babies."

Making her signature sound.

Welcome Hadley Emelia!

We are so thrilled to welcome our new daughter Hadley Emelia into our family!  She is so sweet and calm and we look forward to many happy moments with her.


She was born Monday January 12, 2012 via scheduled c-section at 4:14pm. She weighted 6lbs 7 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long.  Eric and I, and many family members, had once again guessed boy and larger than Annabel (she was 7 lbs, 7 oz), but we were wrong.  
  

The night before 

A scheduled c-section is an interesting experience in how you just show up at the hospital, wait around for your time and walk into the operating room.  It is truly amazing to see so many people in one room who are all there to help you have a baby.  Everything went smoothly; the spinal didn't hurt, and I was much more comfortable and interactive this time around.  And, hearing a baby cry for the first time was, once again, the most amazing sound in the world!!  

Check out the umbilical cord.  Amazing.

I really like the sincere look of excitement in the resident Dr. Craven's eyes.

We lucked out again and got a private room.  They try hard to get moms who are post c-section into private rooms, but it's not guaranteed.  I couldn't imagine sharing a room with others after such an event.  Annabel stayed late at day care until about 8 on that Monday.  We stayed two nights with Eric driving back and forth to help get Annabel settled for bed (which went really late both nights), and our friend Savannah stayed the night at our place.  Eric returned in the morning to get her off to day care.  I was alone a lot, but managed, and Eric was exhausted.  Annabel seemed to have mixed feelings about everything, but did great those couple days. 

The evening that Eric brought Annabel to the hospital to meet her new sister, she walked into the room apparently unsure why she was there, saw the baby and said, "baby came out?!"  She excitedly came near me and the baby and gave Hadley a plush Thomas and book that she had picked out as a gift for "tiny baby." 
   

Annabel really struggled for a few days and I felt like we needed to reconnect after being away from each other for a couple nights.  She seemed a bit saddened and it didn't help that she was carted off to day care right away for a few days, maybe feeling like she was being pushed away a bit.  

She has been sweet with Hadley, often saying, "I'm your big sister," "you're fine, you're fine," and "it's otay, baby."  Just recently she started singing her Tinkle, Tinkle Little Star when she cries.  She's getting more comfortable with her and occasionally is not the most gentle, but overall pretty good with her.  She called her Viola for a few days, as that is the most recent baby she had met. She has chosen Rosie as Hadley's engine name and Guido as her Cars name.  In general, Annabel has been thrown for a loop and has been more difficult.  She hasn't been going to bed very easily and decided that since she's not going to day care, it is a good time to drop naps (No!!!).  We are trying more outings, as we have been cooped up with my limitations and cold weather. Eric and Annabel have been playing outside, weather permitting, and that has helped somewhat. Even getting out of the house for Hadley's 1 month check-up (up to 9 lb, 2 oz) seemed to help.       
   

Can't get enough of the hands above the head.

Annabel was sleeping and we set Hadley on her, but cute none the less.

Annabel set this up one of the first days we were home.  So sweet.

Annabel stayed home with me quite a few days right away after Hadley's birth, where the plan had been to go to day care to allow me a bit less work at home and rest to recover.  She had some sort of pink eye that kept her home, then day care closed a few days due to providers' illness. It was really good for our hearts, but terrible for my recovery.  Eric worked every day minus the day she was born and the day after, so it was a challenge.  

Quickly after we got home from the hospital, Eric and I both came down with the worst sinus congestion/pressure and cough, from which we are finally recovered.  The infection stayed an entire month with us both needing to take antibiotics in the end because it would not go away. Extreme pain on the bridge of my nose and teeth pain, with decreased ability to taste.  It would fluctuate a bit, but it was miserable.  

I have barely left the house since Hadley's birth and the odd thing is, I hadn't feel stir crazy at all because I was barely functioning, so anything outside normal daily care wasn't even of interest. However, if this illness hadn't struck, I think my recovery would have been smooth. Pain has not been too bad and no surgical complications. 
   
The hardest part has been not being able to pick Annabel up.  I've had to a few times this week out of necessity at home, but I do not like the ache afterwards.  She has figured out that I can't lift her, so if she doesn't want to do something, she just parks herself on the floor and will not move.  This has forced us to stay home, as I cannot chase her or pick her up if needed.  She does, however, say in the cutest voice with a serious look, "I know you can't hold me."  Or, "can you hold me just a little bit?"  

My mom and sister were here in early February which as so wonderful and helpful. I know both girls miss them.  I'll tell more about their stay in a future post as soon as I can.      

Luckily, Hadley is a wonderful, calm baby so far.  She is definitely more of a sleeper so far than Annabel, so that is lucky now that our time is split between two kids.  She has the calmest cry; sounding like a little cat once in awhile.  She is calmed quite easily.  Overall, I've felt a lot less anxiety over taking care of an infant, which I'm sure reflects onto Hadley too.  

Thank you so much for all of the kind words of encouragement and prayers during Hadley's birth and after.  We have been so grateful for multiple friends in town who have brought us meals and baked goods.  We have never been the recipients of meals before, but does that ever make a HUGE difference.  We will definitely have to pay it forward some day. 
Our friends Carrie and Hamish, said it best in regards to Hadley's arrival with "the best thing ever" and "good job team."  Great reminder to enjoy every minute and that we are in this together.