two months

 I seriously can not believe I already have a 2 month old little girl!  Where does the time go?!  She is getting SO big.  Definitely bittersweet.  Here are some fun facts about our Sweet Pea:

• She is growing a lot!!  She now weighs 10 lbs 12 oz!!  Gained 4 pounds since she was born.  
• She is 21 inches now.  Crazy to think that babies are born as big as she is at 2 months old. 
• She still wears newborn onsies!  Looks like she is going to get her height from her dad... Her legs are too long for her little footie jammies! (Certainly not a problem I've ever had)  She fits best in 0-3 month but wears mostly 3 month jammies.  They are a bit big, but she will grow into them before we know it.
• She wears size 1 diapers.
• She smiles, A LOT!  We love every single second of it.
• She has started making a lot of new noises... She is quite a chatty baby sometimes.  It is SO cute!
• She loves her hands, particularly chewing in them.  She doesn't like the pacifier, but her hands sure do the trick!
• She will sit and stare and have so much fun playing in her little "jungle" activity mat.  
• She makes faces at herself in the mirror.  She can stare at her self for a long time.  So cute!
• She still doesn't want to take the bottle... Hopefully one of these days, sooner rather than later, she will be okay with it.  This mama wants to be able to have a date night one day!
• She would rather sleep in her swing, rock n play or on my chest than anywhere else.  As much time as she wants to be held (an me not getting ANYTHING done...) I love every second.  I know this phase will be over in a blink of an eye, so I am trying to enjoy every sleepless moment.
• She is a decent sleeper.  She will sleep a 4-6 hour stretch, then a couple 2-3 hour stretches.  I can't complain!

I still can't believe another month has gone by.  I am sure before I know it she will be 6...9... 12 months!  Here are some pictures.  Soak in the cuteness!

a special day

I still remember it like it was yesterday.  I was waking up in a room filled with friends (very filled, I think we had 4 ladies and 2 beds...) in a slight tequila fog but so ready to start the day.  I looked over at the clock and it was probably no later than 7am.  Wow, too early!  I tried my best to go back to sleep, especially since I was the only one awake, but, to no avail.  I was up like a kid on Christmas morning, and with good reason.  It was my wedding day!

After stirring enough, my friends also started to wake up.  I got up, washed my face, downed another bottle of water and a couple Advil.  I felt fine, aside from the fog, and wanted to make sure that a hangover didn't sneak up on me later.  (I had had a number of margaritas followed by a shot, which turned into a triple shot of tequila the night prior... The latter was NOT a good idea.)  We threw on some acceptable sweatpants, I threw on my "Bride" hoodie, and headed downstairs to the restaurant for breakfast.

"Coffee?" the waiter asked.

"Yes." we all said basically in unison.  It was FAR too early to be up for a Sunday morning. Too early, and looking ahead at a very long day.  Coffee was absolutely necessary.

With coffee in hand we were better prepared to look at the menu.  I ordered one of my absolute favorite breakfast items.  Blueberry pancakes. Well, I thought they were going to be pancakes.  It turned out to be one gigantic pancake that was also the fluffiest pancake ever.  SOOOO good!  It was the perfect way to start my day.

After breakfast it was back up to our room.  We planned on having an after breakfast nap... That didn't happen.  Again, the whole Christmas morning feeling was inhibiting my ability to sleep! 

Given I couldn't sleep, I figured I would shower before everyone was trying to shower at the same time.  We spent the rest of the morning just hanging out, getting ready for the BIG day.  It was such a mellow morning, it was great.  My hairdresser arrived along with one of my bridesmaid's friends to do makeup.  While some of the girls got beautified, some of the others ran to the store for mimosa makings and bagels.  Because really, you need some champagne to celebrate such a special day!

Once we were all, pretty much, totally ready, the wedding photographer showed up!  It was so exciting, and really got my heart racing.  I was sooo ready to head to the venue and get the show on the road!  Mike and his lovely wife Gina were able to take some fun pictures of my friends and I as we finished getting ready.  Those moments were so great, that I wanted to make sure that they got captured.  Then they headed next door to get Paul and his guys too.  It was SO hard knowing that he was so close and I couldn't see him.  I was dying inside.  Mike, the photographer, took my dress to the venue to take some pictures and we were just behind him.  While the guys got dressed at the hotel, us girls had the privilege of getting ready at the winery.  They even brought us a platter of cheeses and little snacks to help us out.  So nice.

We were all finally ready to go... Next step was the guys arrival at the winery.  Then Paul and I were FINALLY going to get to see each other. We were doing the "first look".  I was so excited to see him and get some time together (and fabulous pictures) before the wedding ceremony.  Yes, it is a bit non-traditional, but I guess I am just a little non-traditional too.  Looking back, I was so glad we chose to do it this way.  Having that moment as bride and groom, in private (okay, with all of my friends looking on from behind windows and peeking through doors) was perfect.  It was a moment of calm before our day.  It was really the only time we had as just the two of us.  

"Turn around." was all that I said.  And he did.   

I loved these moments on our day.  They were so special.

The whole day was special.  The ceremony officiated by a close friend, being surrounded by family and friends... It really could not have been better!  The ceremony went perfect and the reception was beyond any of my dreams.  It was so romantical.  (Yes, I know that romantical is not a real word.)  The food was delicious.  The music was perfect.  It was really the most beautiful night.  We danced the night away, even Paul stayed out on the dance floor the WHOLE time too!  It was really the perfect wedding.

Some of the moments that will always make me laugh, make me smile, and make me remember the best day of my life.

 

 

 

One year ago doesn't seem like it was all the long ago.  It has been the most amazing wonderful year yet. Happy Anniversary to my amazing husband!  Here is to a lifetime more of fantastic memories!

one month

I can NOT believe it has already been ONE month since Peyton arrived!! 

Here are some fun facts (followed by even more fun pictures) of our Sweet P at one month:

• She weighs 8 lbs 10 oz (she was born 6 lbs 12 oz) and is 20 inches long!  She is growing like a weed already!
• She is still wearing her newborn diapers and even newborn clothes... Minus a few of the footie pajamas which her little legs are already too long for!  (Not a problem her mom has, ever. Maybe she will take her height from her dad.)
• I put her "coming home" outfit on her on her one month birthday to take pictures, and it is STILL too big!! 
• She absolutely loves to suck on her hands... Not a thumb, or finger, her entire hand.  She prefers it to the pacifier, she will get quite mad when I try and give it to her.
• She smiles, a lot.  Not sure if she knows what she is doing, but both Paul and I love it!
• She has already rolled over from her stomach to her back!  Such a strong little girl.  She is getting much better at controlling her head too... Although she still acts like quite the bobble head.
• She loves to snuggle, and would rather snuggle than sleep on her own...  It is a work in progress!
• Her swing is her favorite thing, and also a life saver for us.  She will sleep in that for hours!
• She makes the cutest noises, and makes a lot of noise at bed time.  I remind myself to enjoy every little moment, and every sweet noise, because they don't last long enough!
• She absolutely hates to be swaddled. She will even get mad if you simply cover her arms/hands.  She wants to be free! 

Little feet!  LOVE!

 

I just love this face!

We are still waiting to see what color her eyes will be.  For now, I love the slate blue!

She loves staring at her dad... And she is a little hair twirler too!

welcome love bug

All because two people fell in love...

Thanks again to Mike Steelman for some amazing pictures of Peyton!!

picture perfect

One of the reasons why I decided to skip professional maternity pictures was because I knew that I wanted to get some amazing professional pictures of our Sweet P once she had arrived.  I had no need to look for a great photographer since I already had one.  I got in contact with our wedding photographer, Mike Steelman, to handle the task of doing our newborn photo shoot.  He captured both our engagement and wedding pictures so perfectly, that there was no doubt that he would do the same for our baby.  And, let me tell you, I was NOT disappointed.  He came to our house and took pictures in the nursery.  He was SO patient.  Being he has 2 boys, he was over the moon about spending some time with baby girl.  At the end of the day, Peyton was a little star.  She had a THREE hour photo shoot!! Being that she was only 10 days old, I was more than impressed with how well she did. Here are a couple "teasers" from her session.

The Princess

Family

For those who want to see them all, here is the link to her pictures:

http://www.pictage.com/1239601

a baby story

On March 25th our lives as we knew them began to change forever.  That was the day that I was admitted to the hospital anxiously awaiting the impending arrival of our baby girl.  This is the story of how she came into our world.

At 3 o'clock we arrived, anxious to get settled and begin the process.  I was being induced. I was 38 weeks and 6 days.  My doctor was set to leave for a week long conference on Wednesday the 28th, and I did not want to risk her not being there for the birth or going over due and having to be induced anyhow.  Being that this was my first birth experience I was more likely to go over due... But being SO uncomfortable, what was the point in waiting up to 4 more weeks!?  I didn't see a good reason to wait, and neither did Paul.  We chose to be induced "early".

It wasn't until 5 o'clock that evening that I received my first medicine to help kick start labor.  They gave me a medicine that would help get my body ready for delivery but wouldn't necessarily cause contractions or any of that fun stuff.  This medicine was good for 12 HOURS.  It wouldn't be until the next morning that they would start me on Pitocin (the medicine to really induce labor) unless my body went into labor on its own.  Lovely.  So, after the first medicine, it was pretty much a waiting game... Not going anywhere fast, I figured I would enjoy my last meal, french toast, before the "fun" part started.

5am, March 26th came around, and I still wasn't going anywhere fast.  It seemed like I was going to live at the hospital.  I felt so bad for Paul.  He was stuck sleeping on a chair that pulled out into a "cot".  Let me just say, Paul is 6'1"... A little chair cot thing is no where near accommodating.  I at least got the hospital bed.  Comfortable?  Not so much... But at least there was a little wiggle room.

6am... Time to start the "good stuff".  My nurse (who on a side note, was wonderful... They all were!!) came in, hooked up my IV and got all my drips going.  I was officially on a "pit drip" and labor was going to start.  Or at least so I thought.  Let me tell ya, it takes a long time for all the medicine to make your body go into labor.  I suppose it isn't quite as bad as waiting for the unknown start of labor naturally at home. 

Throughout the day, my nurses would come in and check on me and up my dosage of Pitocin. Let me just say, working in the medical field, I knew that I was going to not have a "natural" birth, especially being induced.  Pitocin, from what I had been told and read about, was said to make contractions not only stronger but also closer together than "natural contractions".  I have a high pain tolerance, but I knew that there were medicines available to me to make the birth process easier.  Why wouldn't I want that?  I don't need the "I had a 100% natural labor" badge of honor.  I heard my hospital neighbor get that on my first night there... It sounded terrible.  I totally respect those that choose that option, but for me, I chose to make the birthing process a little easier.  I don't enjoy being in pain, and I know having people watch me be in pain and suffer is hard on them too.

Speaking of pain... It wasn't until I was between 4 and 5 cm that the pain really got to be very intense.  I was having crazy back labor.  No matter what I did, walking, birthing ball, all kinds of positions, nothing helped.  Not even a little bit.  Every contraction took my breath away.  It was at this point where I had one good contraction as I was sitting on the ball, breathless, that it just brought on the waterworks.  That is when I knew I was in big pain... And it wasn't going to get any easier. 

Paul was amazing.  He knew that I would try and push through the pain a little longer... I am not one to give in.  He went ahead and called my nurse for me and told her that I was going to need something to help ease the pain.  Not wanting to go straight to the epidural, she was able to give me an IV pain medicine to help me.  The only catch was that it only was going to last an hour.  So, an hour and 20 minutes or so later, I was ringing my nurse back in for more.  The pain was back, and it was worse, as to be expected.  We decided that it was time for the epidural.  She gave me one more dose of the IV medicine and called the anesthesiologist to come.

The epidural... I was expecting some awful pain.  This gigantic needle going into your spine?  Not so fun sounding.  Actually sounds very, very painful.  However, I did not feel a thing.  Not even kidding.  My IV that the nurse had given me in my wrist that morning definitely hurt more.  Thank goodness.  After that was all hooked up things really began to progress much faster. And even more importantly, I was able to really relax a little bit for the first time in HOURS.

At this point the day was very close to over... I was bummed.  It meant there was going to be another shift change, and my nurse (who it was her second shift with me) was going to be leaving soon.  She was awesome and I was a little sad that after a LOT of waiting that she wouldn't be there for little Peyton's arrival.  But, thankfully, the nurse taking over for her was equally as awesome.  

It's time!!  My nurse prepped me for the hard labor part of the process.  After a few pushes, she decided it was time to call in my doctor (since she said to give her a 30 minute heads up).  Then, it was more waiting.  Knowing that the process was so close to over and having to wait, again, was hard.  But I kept reminding myself that our daughter was almost here and that all the waiting would soon be worth it.  My doctor arrived and the room was transformed!  It was REALLY time now.  It was a lot less crowded than I expected, which was definitely a nice surprise.  My doctor told me it was time to push with the next contraction.  A few contractions and pushes later, Peyton was here!  Screaming and all, it was amazing.  

It was 1:05 am on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.  Our lives were forever changed.  She was a perfect 6lb 12oz, 17.5 inches with dark hair and slate blue eyes, she was here.  Finally.  She looked so beautiful. She was definitely her dad's daughter.  She looked just like him.  It is amazing how in a moment your life can be so immediately transformed.  

Welcome to our world Peyton Olivia.  You, dearest Sweet P, make our world filled with so much more love and happiness.  I can NOT wait to share so much of the world with you.  You are going to be the most loved little girl on earth. 

Sweet girl

Kisses from Dad

Kisses from Mom

The first picture of the 3 of us (I think...)

I LOVE this picture of P!

 

Me and my girl ready to go home!

bun in the oven

So a few weeks before baby, my friend Kristene and I got together to take some pictures of my pregnant belly.  That way, I could forever remember what it was like to be all big and pregnant.  We went to a local park and took pictures using a lot of fun props... Unfortunately, there was a camera malfunction.  We lost most of our pictures from the first shoot.  Luckily, little Peyton didn't make her arrival too early and we were able to get together for a reshoot.  Being that we were both pregnant, and it was hot... We did not use props the second time around and we didn't even go anywhere special.  Lucky for us, my parents have a great backyard that happened to look great.  So lush and green, it made for a great backdrop.  Even my fur baby, Foster,  got in on the action.  Overall, I am happy with the way that they turned out.  Here are some of the pictures from our sessions: