Sister Love

Although Emily doesn't like to be put down usually, which I am just fine with right now, come morning time I can slip my arm out from underneith her and she'll stay asleep. This gives me a bit of time to get a few things done. This morning, as I brought in a new load of clothes to fold, I watched two of my three girls sleeping... so precious.

I continued to fold clothes, pump, finish ordering some photos online.... and heard a little cooing coming from behind me. I turn to look and see two beautiful little eyes staring at me ~ my heart skipped beats ~ "Good morning, beautiful!" returned a gorgeous little grin with glittery eyes. OMGoodness, I'm in love!

Katie woke up and got in the picture too :) Emily sure loves Katie....

You're up to your birth weight

Dear Emily -

Yesterday you had a checkup appointment with Heike. When she picked you up, you started smiling and talking to her. I missed it since I was in front of Heike, but Jennifer was up next to her and saw your face. I saw you talking, so sweet!

You had your heel poked for the second PKU test - you handed it so well and barely cried... although it helped to be nursing at the same time. Heike warmed your heal so well that you easily filled those five circles and had extra to spare.

You had spit up, so while Heike and I talked I changed your clothes, wiped you down, changed your diaper, and redressed you. It was nice to go over some questions that I had, and for her to look you over. I handed you to the assistant who was there at your birth, and who had felt around for you while you were inside growing. You seemed to know her also, and started talking to her also.

You're back up to your birth weight of 7lbs 2oz. It's nice to see your weight going on, helping to confirm that although I'm pumping for Baby G also, the system I'm following is leaving you with plenty to eat also. Yay!

Let's see, what else.... Heike said that you have breastmilk jaundice, and all is looking good and to just keep nursing. I did attach you while she was there so she could show me how to help extend your jaw to encourage a more comfortable attachment. It helped some. Your next appt. is July 1st at 10am, with Nicole. I can't wait for her to be able to meet you :D

Goodness, you're almost two weeks old... maybe I'll be able to finish and post your birth story tonight. What memories :)

A Fathers Love

This has to be one of my most favorite photos so far of Emily and her dad. This picture was taken two days ago when she was 10 days old, and although it followed the diaper change he gave her, it's just too precious to not post alone. He's holding her closer to him now, slowing his movements down, and overall just becoming much more relaxed and comfortable. It's so sweet to watch :) Although he radiated love before, it's even more so now! It seems to be growing each time he sees her... what a lucky little girl.

I am having so much fun coming up with a gift for his first Father's Day. I think I figure out just the perfect thing!

Many a firsts on this day of Wednesday, Day 10

My email was temporarily shut down a few days ago, which deleted my blogs. Much to my relief, once my email was fixed my blog also reappeared complete and whole. Hopefully that is a first that will NEVER end up being repeated!

A first - to leave your new little one in someone else's arms while you drive away from the property. Not the easiest feat! Jennifer came to watch Emily for me, and my other children, while I drove a few towns away to pick up a futon for Jonah. I was... childless. The drive was quiet. On my way home I found myself with mixed emotions, between, "I want my baby!!" to "OMG, it's peaceful... quiet... I'm CHILDLESS!! I like it!" LOL It's always wonderful to know that when you have to leave your children, especially such a new little one, they're in caring arms :)

On Wednesday Emily's dad brought the most wonderful woman to meet both me and Emily. I had been told about Patricia before, but I don't think any amount of explanation would have prepared me for who she really was. She is AMAZING! Strong, very opinionated, doesn't hesitate to speak her mind, wonderfully open minded, and just overall one of the most amazing woman I've ever met. Emily is very lucky to know her, as am I :)

Nothing seems to be as exciting of a first for a mom to watch a dad do, as.... change his first diaper. Emily's dad has always been excited to try anything and everything offered - before changing his first diaper I wanted to wait for her cord to fall off. Well, today was the day since it fell off that morning! I have never seen a father change his first diaper so tenderly, it was heart melting! Such comfort he gave with one arm, while tenderly wiping with the baby wipe in the other hand. To make matters even more fun for him, as he finished with one diaper and placed the other in place, she went to the bathroom again, LOL. He didn't cringe or wither, just went back to cleaning Emily back up all over again. AWW!!

Emily's dad went on to learn how to put an outfit on her also, he did GREAT!! Unfortunately the few pictures I took didn't turn out, but this was the end result:

As Jennifer went to leave, I asked where Emily's outfit went. The green one, one that she wore for the first time today.....

... she went on to explain how after I left, Emily had her first "blow out" diaper... up her back, down her legs, needless to say the outfit ended up in the laundry room :P Awww, I was so proud!

As pointed out above, Emily lost her cord Wednesday morning! Tuesday night it was being held on by a string, well come morning time it was off. What a cutie. There is still some drying up left to do of it, which should happen in the next couple of days.

Challenges Nursing

Out of all the babies I've nursed, I finally am nursing one that has posed a challenge. My nipples are blood blistered, and although I've ran across that before with each child in the beginning, usually by day four or so it doesn't hurt anymore. That's not the case this time. Day 8 and I'm still cringing and gripping when she goes to latch on. The pain lasts for a few seconds and then disappears, but will start coming back as she slows down her sucking which left me questioning her latch.

Jennifer's daughter, Kaitlynn, clenched in her early months when she nursed, causing a lot of pain also. She nursed Emily for a bit today so she could give me better advice as to what Emily was doing. She said that her mouth was a bit on the smaller side (and so darn cute!) leaving the nipple not being able to effectively make it as far in as it should be to get past her palate. This would explain why I felt the pinching from her tongue. Jen also said that she did clench, especially as she reaches the end of nursing and bites with her gums. She showed me where I could massage on the side of her jaw to encourage her to relax.

I also felt like she wasn't getting as much milk as she needed, this only confirmed my feelings. Although I don't doubt she'll grow out of this - as Kaitlynn has also - and I can continue to easily nurse her as I'd like to do for a long time (extended nursing, a few years if she wants to), for now I feel it's best to pump as well as nurse. I don't think it'll be as painful when the raw scabs go away, so it should be a good combination. Plus, her dad can feed her now also :)

What a sweet little one - she sure is gentle and relaxed :) With the ONLY challenge so far being nursing, I've been more then blessed!!

Day 7

Dear Emily -

Today you keep catch me by surprise. I look at you and I feel a moment of shock - you're here! Even when picking you up to nurse just a moment ago, I felt this overwhelming feeling of pride, love, gratefulness and thanks. You are beautiful (something I don't think I'll ever be able to say enough), and blessed in to our family to raise in this lifetime. Thank you, Emily.

Today I dressed you in another outfit that your dad bought you. You are so darn cute!! I am such a penny pincher, something I hope you'll gain the value of, but it's so nice to have some extra cute and new clothes to dress you in. Something that was bought just for you :)

So I gave in to something I swore I wasn't going to do, the pacifier. You have such a need to suck all the time, and if you weren't in my arms you felt agitated. It happened when I felt my chest needed a bit of a break from comfort nursing, and I really needed to take a shower while Alyssa held you. You gummed this plastic thing with the funniest look, but then seemed to enjoy it. It came in handy in the car, as well as when we were at your brothers parent/teacher conference.

Have I mentioned how CUTE you are enough?? Never :P

Sunday, Day 6

Dear Emily -

Do you see those beautiful flowers above? Your dad bought those for me yesterday - they're so beautiful! I wonder if you were able to smell their amazing smells today as we nursed, it was lovely. I haven't received too many flowers in my time, but they are without doubt the most gorgeous flowers I have ever received - or seen. Your dad said that Patricia suggested it to him - I very much look forward to meeting her one day, she sounds like an amazing lady. Inside the arrangement, there is a willow tree waiting to be planted.... and to wrap it all up, a beautiful card with brief but special words inside :) So, as I type this blog not only are you nursing but the air is filled with the most heavenly smell!

......

It was such a gorgeous day today, not a cloud in the sky! That all changed come later in the afternoon, but it was beautiful and vibrant until that point.

Kate had a horse play day show that I had planned to be at when it started at 10am this morning, but my schedule with you had it's own plans. You and I were awake at 7am nursing and singing, which you just loved, and while snuggled in your Moby Wrap we laid back down on the bed and fell asleep. Ahh. Although missing the 10am goal, the quiet morning was wonderful.... especially since I had a headache that was a bit on the uncomfortable side.

I ended up dressing you in a white onsie, and chose one of the outfits that your dad bought you yesterday. It's beautiful! You looked quite adorable in it, and while laying on my lap half asleep I was able to reach the camera and take a picture of you.

You enjoyed being out in the sun briefly today, which is good for the jaundice that you have going on. Not too long though, it was quite warm and the sun was very direct.

There's another baby who's going to be able to benefit from your mommy milk also - her name is Baby G - she's just shy of being two weeks older then you. Her mom has done such an amazing job pouring in the effort to keep her own milk going but she needs some help. She sounds like such a wonderful person, and was referred to me by another friend who pumped for her big sister. Although I was going to wait a few days to begin, I ended up starting today. While you slept, after eating, I did my first session.... and then again after arriving back from the show. So far we have 5oz for her. In my arms you're resting while I type this, beginning to wiggle that you're hungry. After you eat and are back asleep again, I'll pump again.

... and that's what we just did. While you nursed on one side, falling between sleep and wake while not wanting to let your nipple go, cradling you in my arms while wrapped in your wrap, I pumped on the other side. Now we're up to 6 1/2 oz. Not too bad for a first day - all while your tummy has stayed full and happy, and my shirt dry! My chest definitely feels much happier too. Pumping is hard works, time consuming and exhausting, but the rewards of knowing that you're helping out a mom and her baby... it's worth every single moment.

Through blessing our own family, we're able to help another also. How lucky we are, Emily :)