Dear Isabella,
Last Tuesday you had your two month "birthday" and so on Thursday you had your two month old doctor's appointments. You grew a lot! You're eleven pounds, 12.5 ounces and 22.75 inches long! You're still in the 75th percentile for weight and between 50-75th percentile for height.
You also had your first shots that day. Poor little girl. You had two shots, one in each thigh. You were happily wiggling on the exam table and I made Daddy be the one to hold you down, and I just stood in the corner. You had no idea what was coming of course. The way you cried was so awful! Different than any other cry before - a shocked, scared, painful cry. But you're such a good girl - you stopped crying almost right after Daddy picked you up when the nurse was finished. And your cute little bottom lip stuck out. I bet that pouty face won't be so cute when you get to be two or three years old, but for now, it's precious!
Later that night you were so unhappy! You had a little bit of a fever and I think your legs were sore where you got the shots, so every time you moved your legs it made it worse. But of course you didn't understand that and you don't have that much control over your muscles still anyway, so it was so awful for you. I took you to Grandma's house so I would have some help, because Daddy had to go to work. We gave you baby Tylenol and I wrapped you in your swaddle super tight to try and keep your legs from moving too much. After a bottle and some rocking, you finally fell asleep. By the time you woke up for your middle of the night bottle, you seemed to be doing a lot better, and by morning you were back to your cheerful self. But, boy, hearing your terrified painful cries was awful!
You're getting bigger and stronger every day! Which makes it harder when you're wiggling and playing when you're supposed to be having your bottle. But when you're playing it's fun. We got you some new toys that should be good for you to practice grabbing stuff, and a stuffed rattling bug that hangs from your carseat handle. It's soft so it's not dangerous if it comes loose in an accident. You love it! Yesterday in the morning I put you in your carseat while I made your bottles for the day, and you were smiling at it, and talking to it, and staring at it for almost an hour!
Each day with you is a new adventure. I love you!
Love,
Mommy
Monday, June 13, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
TWO months old already?!
Dear Isabella,
Tomorrow you'll be two months old! Can you believe it? Neither can I. You are growing up so fast! There are little changes even day to day.
You sleep for longer, you're eating FIVE ounces at each bottle, and you are SO much more aware of your surroundings! Little milestones are so exciting for your Daddy and me. You can see farther and focus longer, so you watch as we move around the room. You coo and talk to people - and to the animals on your swing! You reach out to bat at the toys hanging from your bouncer. You love tummy time on the boppy - sometimes that's your favorite place to take a nap. Yesterday your Daddy SWORE that while we were in the car you actually picked up your own pacifier out of your lap. I bet it was by mistake, but it's still the first time you actually grabbed something and held on long enough to pick it up. And you've been finding your own fist to suck on lately too. It will be nice when you're able to pick up your pacifier and put it in your own mouth - I think we do that about a hundred times a day for you!
Every morning when I unwrap you from your swaddle, first your right arm gets unwrapped and it goes right up over your head like it was springloaded! Then I unwrap your left arm and that one goes flying up too! Then you arch your back and scrunch your face and moan a little as you streeeeeettttchhh... And then you rub your face a little and squirm around stretching some more. No matter how tired I am it makes me smile. It's one of my favorite parts of our day together.
You've had a lot of visitors this month! In fact, it's like we should have called it Grandparent's Month. First, we finally got everything hooked up for you to talk to your grandma in Mexico - and Abuela was so happy to see you! You also got to see her new puppy, Perlita. Hopefully one day we can get a puppy for you too. We also want you to video chat with Abuela a lot so she can talk to you in Spanish. A lot of the dresses you've been wearing are dresses she sent you. They are all so cute! Abuela has really great baby fashion sense!
Also, Great Grandma - my mom's mom - came all the way to Hawaii from Wisconsin to meet you! You gave her a whole lot of smiles while she was here. She even stayed over at our house to see a little of our "normal" evening life (admittedly not so exciting - bottle, nap, bath, bottle, swaddle, and goodnight!).
Finally, you got to meet some of your Hilo family. Grandpa and Lola and Aunty Cayla came for the weekend to see you. You smiled at Grandpa A LOT and on Sunday you were talking and talking and talking - more than I'd ever heard you talk in one "session" before!
Your Aunty Sari is in town for our 10 year high school reunion next week, so you met her on Saturday too. She said you're so precious, she might just want a baby of her own! Wow!
You sure had fun meeting everyone but I think it was an overwhelming weekend for you. You also have your first cold right now so those two things have made you over-tired and just sort of uncomfortable. Your little eyes are all red and watery, and I can hear the congestion in your chest when you breathe, poor little girl. But you're such a trooper. You'll be better in no time!
Oh Bella. I'm so in love with you. When I look at you I still can't believe how perfect you are. Your Daddy and I are so blessed. Now that life is sort of getting into a rhythm it's easier to really savor the little moments with you. And I'm trying to savor each little one as much as possible! I really have to video tape your morning stretch. I kept meaning to record video of you having your bottle because your little gulping, sucking, contented sighing noises, with your expressive eyes and eyebrows were so cute! But now you're focusing on your environment so much that you hardly do that anymore. When we're trying to capture your little habits, we can't procrastinate even one week.
Your two month check-ups are on Thursday. I can't wait to see how tall you got and how much you weigh. You're also going to get your first set of shots. I hope I don't cry!
I love you, Sweet Pea, and I'm so proud of you.
Love always,
Mommy
Tomorrow you'll be two months old! Can you believe it? Neither can I. You are growing up so fast! There are little changes even day to day.
You sleep for longer, you're eating FIVE ounces at each bottle, and you are SO much more aware of your surroundings! Little milestones are so exciting for your Daddy and me. You can see farther and focus longer, so you watch as we move around the room. You coo and talk to people - and to the animals on your swing! You reach out to bat at the toys hanging from your bouncer. You love tummy time on the boppy - sometimes that's your favorite place to take a nap. Yesterday your Daddy SWORE that while we were in the car you actually picked up your own pacifier out of your lap. I bet it was by mistake, but it's still the first time you actually grabbed something and held on long enough to pick it up. And you've been finding your own fist to suck on lately too. It will be nice when you're able to pick up your pacifier and put it in your own mouth - I think we do that about a hundred times a day for you!
Every morning when I unwrap you from your swaddle, first your right arm gets unwrapped and it goes right up over your head like it was springloaded! Then I unwrap your left arm and that one goes flying up too! Then you arch your back and scrunch your face and moan a little as you streeeeeettttchhh... And then you rub your face a little and squirm around stretching some more. No matter how tired I am it makes me smile. It's one of my favorite parts of our day together.
You've had a lot of visitors this month! In fact, it's like we should have called it Grandparent's Month. First, we finally got everything hooked up for you to talk to your grandma in Mexico - and Abuela was so happy to see you! You also got to see her new puppy, Perlita. Hopefully one day we can get a puppy for you too. We also want you to video chat with Abuela a lot so she can talk to you in Spanish. A lot of the dresses you've been wearing are dresses she sent you. They are all so cute! Abuela has really great baby fashion sense!
Also, Great Grandma - my mom's mom - came all the way to Hawaii from Wisconsin to meet you! You gave her a whole lot of smiles while she was here. She even stayed over at our house to see a little of our "normal" evening life (admittedly not so exciting - bottle, nap, bath, bottle, swaddle, and goodnight!).
Finally, you got to meet some of your Hilo family. Grandpa and Lola and Aunty Cayla came for the weekend to see you. You smiled at Grandpa A LOT and on Sunday you were talking and talking and talking - more than I'd ever heard you talk in one "session" before!
Your Aunty Sari is in town for our 10 year high school reunion next week, so you met her on Saturday too. She said you're so precious, she might just want a baby of her own! Wow!
You sure had fun meeting everyone but I think it was an overwhelming weekend for you. You also have your first cold right now so those two things have made you over-tired and just sort of uncomfortable. Your little eyes are all red and watery, and I can hear the congestion in your chest when you breathe, poor little girl. But you're such a trooper. You'll be better in no time!
Oh Bella. I'm so in love with you. When I look at you I still can't believe how perfect you are. Your Daddy and I are so blessed. Now that life is sort of getting into a rhythm it's easier to really savor the little moments with you. And I'm trying to savor each little one as much as possible! I really have to video tape your morning stretch. I kept meaning to record video of you having your bottle because your little gulping, sucking, contented sighing noises, with your expressive eyes and eyebrows were so cute! But now you're focusing on your environment so much that you hardly do that anymore. When we're trying to capture your little habits, we can't procrastinate even one week.
Your two month check-ups are on Thursday. I can't wait to see how tall you got and how much you weigh. You're also going to get your first set of shots. I hope I don't cry!
I love you, Sweet Pea, and I'm so proud of you.
Love always,
Mommy
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Growing so fast!
Dear Isabella,
You are growing into a little person with a distinct personality so quickly! You're "talking" more, and your little voice is so charming. Hilo Grandpa calls you several times a week to hear your voice and to talk to you - maybe by the time he visits in a couple weeks you'll know his voice.
Just this morning I saw you reaching out towards the things you were looking at - you're still uncoordinated and can't quite aim your hand correctly, but it's still a sign you're learning all about your world!
You've been getting into more of a routine, too. In the mornings, we get up right around when Daddy goes to work and have a bottle, and then we have a little time in the swing. Then you have a short nap, about an hour, until we play some more or have a bath. Then after you have a snack we go out, either to Daddy's office or the mall or to run errands. In the afternoon, after you have a bottle, you have some tummy time and usually you fall asleep for another nap. When you wake up, you have another bottle and about an hour or two later you're asleep again. Sometime in the middle of the night you wake up and have another bottle, and usually you go back to sleep pretty quickly. Depending on the timing, you wake up somewhere around six and Daddy and I struggle to put you back to sleep just one more time to get a couple more hours rest. And then we do it all again!
We finally ordered your announcements yesterday. Not that Facebook and email haven't told the world you're here yet! The photos came out great - Uncle Kevin and Uncle Dean took the pictures for us for free. Thanks Shot55 Photography! We took the pictures on Mother's Day, and then went to Grandma's house for a nice lunch and to spend some time together as a family. It was pretty relaxing for our first Mother's Day. Next year we'll try and go out for an actual Mother's Day brunch!
You're smiling so often, now too! You have a great big smile, and sometimes you even look a little mischievous. Are you going to be a sneaky trouble maker? Your smile actually reminds me of my cousin Carly - when she was a baby she would smile with her whole face, and a wide open mouth!
You are also very serious sometimes, just quietly looking around, studying your surroundings. I think you'll probably be a very smart person, and very curious about everything. There are still times when you struggle to stay awake - as if you just don't want to miss out on anything!
Uhoh! You're awake from your nap - time to play!
Love,
Mommy
You are growing into a little person with a distinct personality so quickly! You're "talking" more, and your little voice is so charming. Hilo Grandpa calls you several times a week to hear your voice and to talk to you - maybe by the time he visits in a couple weeks you'll know his voice.
Just this morning I saw you reaching out towards the things you were looking at - you're still uncoordinated and can't quite aim your hand correctly, but it's still a sign you're learning all about your world!
You've been getting into more of a routine, too. In the mornings, we get up right around when Daddy goes to work and have a bottle, and then we have a little time in the swing. Then you have a short nap, about an hour, until we play some more or have a bath. Then after you have a snack we go out, either to Daddy's office or the mall or to run errands. In the afternoon, after you have a bottle, you have some tummy time and usually you fall asleep for another nap. When you wake up, you have another bottle and about an hour or two later you're asleep again. Sometime in the middle of the night you wake up and have another bottle, and usually you go back to sleep pretty quickly. Depending on the timing, you wake up somewhere around six and Daddy and I struggle to put you back to sleep just one more time to get a couple more hours rest. And then we do it all again!
We finally ordered your announcements yesterday. Not that Facebook and email haven't told the world you're here yet! The photos came out great - Uncle Kevin and Uncle Dean took the pictures for us for free. Thanks Shot55 Photography! We took the pictures on Mother's Day, and then went to Grandma's house for a nice lunch and to spend some time together as a family. It was pretty relaxing for our first Mother's Day. Next year we'll try and go out for an actual Mother's Day brunch!
You're smiling so often, now too! You have a great big smile, and sometimes you even look a little mischievous. Are you going to be a sneaky trouble maker? Your smile actually reminds me of my cousin Carly - when she was a baby she would smile with her whole face, and a wide open mouth!
You are also very serious sometimes, just quietly looking around, studying your surroundings. I think you'll probably be a very smart person, and very curious about everything. There are still times when you struggle to stay awake - as if you just don't want to miss out on anything!
Uhoh! You're awake from your nap - time to play!
Love,
Mommy
Friday, May 6, 2011
Graduations!
Dear Isabella,
As I write this, you are sleeping next to me in your bassinet, swaddled (but of course your right arm has managed to wiggle out) and beautiful. I can't believe that tomorrow you will be one month old! You are graduating from "newborn" to "infant."
In fact you've had a lot of milestones this week. The final bit of your umbilical cord stump (finally!) fell off this morning. So tonight we gave you your first real bath - before this we couldn't get that stump wet (more on that in a bit). You also graduated from diaper size "N" to "1." And in the past two weeks you went from eating 2.5 ounces per feeding every two hours, to eating 4 ounces per feeding every three-ish hours. I think you had a growth spurt in the past few days because you look and feel a lot bigger (and heavier!), and you were certainly extra hungry! Oh, and with all those changes you also have outgrown all your "Newborn" sized onesies - on to the "0-3 Month" size. You're getting big so fast!
And finally, we are getting into an eat-change-sleep routine that more or less works and is fairly predictable. In fact, this week we started a pretty good all-day routine of waking hours, going out hours (even if it's just to visit Daddy at work - it's good for us to get out of the house a little every day), and night time sleep schedule. Life is getting a little easier with this routine and predictability - even if Daddy and I are still very tired all the time!
The only thing that has sort of been a challenge this week is that you're having trouble going "number two" lately. Last week Thursday you hadn't pooped all day until at night you suddenly had a diaper overflowing (literally)! And Friday was the same thing. Saturday we caught it before it got all over you, but that was just by chance. And then on Sunday you had nothing! So I called the doctor on Monday and they told us how to "help" you go. Poor little thing. This whole week we've had to help you. At first it felt so weird to do that to you, but like your Daddy said, we're just helping you feel better. We have a pediatrician appointment on Tuesday so hopefully they'll give us a new solution. Though I hope they don't advise us to change your formula - finally it seems like your gas/spitting up problems have settled down.
Because of those diaper blow outs we had to bathe you even though you still had a little bit of an umbilical stump. They weren't "full" baths with a tub of water, but we had to use running water to get you clean - a sponge bath would not have done the trick! You still aren't sure about how you like the bath. You seem to relax when the water runs over you, but you certainly don't like your head getting wet! Tonight when I washed your hair you cried so hard, and real tears were actually running. I could tell it stressed your Daddy out to see you so unhappy. But you're so cute in your hooded towel afterwards!
We also saw Aunty Maki this week, and baby Mana and Uncle Jin. We walked to meet them in Waikiki to give them some formula that we had that you can't use. It was so cute to see you and Mana "meet" each other - even though both of you weren't really aware of it. Oh gosh, sweetie, Mana was born in January so she's three months older than you, but you two are almost the same size! Mana was born at just over five pounds though, so you had a 3 pound head start! Haha.
Yesterday we also visited other people in Waikiki. We stopped by P.F. Chang's and saw Uncle Adam and Uncle Shane. They both said you are super cute! Uncle Adam has a little baby too, Cole, and I still remember the day he came into Starbucks and told us his wife was pregnant! He was so happy and already proud. Just like your Daddy was when he told his friends. Uncle Shane doesn't have any babies for you to play with, but he said he's going to teach you all about life. (I'm not really sure what that means!)
Finally, we also walked all the way to the Hilton to visit some people at my work. You met your Aunty Yukari who was so excited to meet you! She made one of your diaper cakes for our baby shower (in fact it's her size "1" diapers we're using now). While I was pregnant with you she used to talk to you a lot. She loved you from the start! You also met Uncle Bobby, Uncle Tim, and Aunty Lori. When we got there, Aunty Yukari carried you for a little while and then Aunty Lori carried you the rest of the time. They both said you're so pretty. Aunty Lori kept joking that she wanted to take you home with her. She has a teenage daughter, a little boy, and another little baby boy who is turning one year old soon. We had to go after a little while because you were starting to get too hot - and hungry.
You're starting to pay more attention to what's going on around you - probably partly because you're starting to be able to see a little farther. You love your swing at home and at Grandma and Grandpa's house. You have a book there that's called "How Do I Feel" and it has pictures of kids with different emotions - you like to look at that too. You still love to sleep on top of me or Daddy - and most afternoons that's how you have one of your naps. Now that you're able to sleep in your bassinet and you aren't so insistent on sleeping on top of us, it's really nice to have you do that for a little while every day. It feels nice to see you so relaxed and content - and to know that it's because you're close to us and feel safe with us.
You're growing so fast, Bean! Pretty soon you'll be too big for your bassinet and you'll have to sleep in your own room. I can't believe how much you've already grown and matured - when I look at pictures of you when you were just days old, I am so amazed! You are prettier and prettier every day, even though every day I don't think you can get any prettier than you already are! Sometimes I look at you and I am still blown away that you're ours. That we made you. You're my daughter. I don't know if I'll ever stop being in awe of that.
What will the next couple of weeks bring us? More milestones, more growing, maybe some new challenges (I don't think that will ever change! It's part of being a parent!) and definitely some more great experiences.
Congratulations on your One Month Birthday, my Isabella. I am so proud of you every moment, and I love you so much!
Love,
Mommy
As I write this, you are sleeping next to me in your bassinet, swaddled (but of course your right arm has managed to wiggle out) and beautiful. I can't believe that tomorrow you will be one month old! You are graduating from "newborn" to "infant."
In fact you've had a lot of milestones this week. The final bit of your umbilical cord stump (finally!) fell off this morning. So tonight we gave you your first real bath - before this we couldn't get that stump wet (more on that in a bit). You also graduated from diaper size "N" to "1." And in the past two weeks you went from eating 2.5 ounces per feeding every two hours, to eating 4 ounces per feeding every three-ish hours. I think you had a growth spurt in the past few days because you look and feel a lot bigger (and heavier!), and you were certainly extra hungry! Oh, and with all those changes you also have outgrown all your "Newborn" sized onesies - on to the "0-3 Month" size. You're getting big so fast!
And finally, we are getting into an eat-change-sleep routine that more or less works and is fairly predictable. In fact, this week we started a pretty good all-day routine of waking hours, going out hours (even if it's just to visit Daddy at work - it's good for us to get out of the house a little every day), and night time sleep schedule. Life is getting a little easier with this routine and predictability - even if Daddy and I are still very tired all the time!
The only thing that has sort of been a challenge this week is that you're having trouble going "number two" lately. Last week Thursday you hadn't pooped all day until at night you suddenly had a diaper overflowing (literally)! And Friday was the same thing. Saturday we caught it before it got all over you, but that was just by chance. And then on Sunday you had nothing! So I called the doctor on Monday and they told us how to "help" you go. Poor little thing. This whole week we've had to help you. At first it felt so weird to do that to you, but like your Daddy said, we're just helping you feel better. We have a pediatrician appointment on Tuesday so hopefully they'll give us a new solution. Though I hope they don't advise us to change your formula - finally it seems like your gas/spitting up problems have settled down.
Because of those diaper blow outs we had to bathe you even though you still had a little bit of an umbilical stump. They weren't "full" baths with a tub of water, but we had to use running water to get you clean - a sponge bath would not have done the trick! You still aren't sure about how you like the bath. You seem to relax when the water runs over you, but you certainly don't like your head getting wet! Tonight when I washed your hair you cried so hard, and real tears were actually running. I could tell it stressed your Daddy out to see you so unhappy. But you're so cute in your hooded towel afterwards!
We also saw Aunty Maki this week, and baby Mana and Uncle Jin. We walked to meet them in Waikiki to give them some formula that we had that you can't use. It was so cute to see you and Mana "meet" each other - even though both of you weren't really aware of it. Oh gosh, sweetie, Mana was born in January so she's three months older than you, but you two are almost the same size! Mana was born at just over five pounds though, so you had a 3 pound head start! Haha.
Yesterday we also visited other people in Waikiki. We stopped by P.F. Chang's and saw Uncle Adam and Uncle Shane. They both said you are super cute! Uncle Adam has a little baby too, Cole, and I still remember the day he came into Starbucks and told us his wife was pregnant! He was so happy and already proud. Just like your Daddy was when he told his friends. Uncle Shane doesn't have any babies for you to play with, but he said he's going to teach you all about life. (I'm not really sure what that means!)
Finally, we also walked all the way to the Hilton to visit some people at my work. You met your Aunty Yukari who was so excited to meet you! She made one of your diaper cakes for our baby shower (in fact it's her size "1" diapers we're using now). While I was pregnant with you she used to talk to you a lot. She loved you from the start! You also met Uncle Bobby, Uncle Tim, and Aunty Lori. When we got there, Aunty Yukari carried you for a little while and then Aunty Lori carried you the rest of the time. They both said you're so pretty. Aunty Lori kept joking that she wanted to take you home with her. She has a teenage daughter, a little boy, and another little baby boy who is turning one year old soon. We had to go after a little while because you were starting to get too hot - and hungry.
You're starting to pay more attention to what's going on around you - probably partly because you're starting to be able to see a little farther. You love your swing at home and at Grandma and Grandpa's house. You have a book there that's called "How Do I Feel" and it has pictures of kids with different emotions - you like to look at that too. You still love to sleep on top of me or Daddy - and most afternoons that's how you have one of your naps. Now that you're able to sleep in your bassinet and you aren't so insistent on sleeping on top of us, it's really nice to have you do that for a little while every day. It feels nice to see you so relaxed and content - and to know that it's because you're close to us and feel safe with us.
You're growing so fast, Bean! Pretty soon you'll be too big for your bassinet and you'll have to sleep in your own room. I can't believe how much you've already grown and matured - when I look at pictures of you when you were just days old, I am so amazed! You are prettier and prettier every day, even though every day I don't think you can get any prettier than you already are! Sometimes I look at you and I am still blown away that you're ours. That we made you. You're my daughter. I don't know if I'll ever stop being in awe of that.
What will the next couple of weeks bring us? More milestones, more growing, maybe some new challenges (I don't think that will ever change! It's part of being a parent!) and definitely some more great experiences.
Congratulations on your One Month Birthday, my Isabella. I am so proud of you every moment, and I love you so much!
Love,
Mommy
Thursday, April 28, 2011
3 Weeks Old Today
Dear Isabella,
My goodness, sweetie, life with you sure is a roller coaster. We are still trying to figure out if you are colicky or just a really needy baby, but every night about 9:30pm you start to cry, and many nights you are just inconsolable until about 1 or 2am. Other nights we can get you to quiet down and doze off a little but no deep sleep and definitely no putting you down in the cradle or anywhere else - you want to be held by a human! And your crazy little arms need to be restrained by swaddling you or else they go all over the place and wake you up and upset you. Changing your formula and the bottle we use has seemed to help your tummy troubles, mostly. Hopefully we continue to make progress because everyone is so tired - me, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa Nick!
It feels like time is flying by but it also feels like you're much older than 3 weeks. It seems like ages and ages ago that I was still pregnant with you. Before I forget I want to tell you about some of the nicer things from when I was pregnant. A lot of my pregnancy was really really tough, and pretty unpleasant. I spent a lot of time on this blog talking about all the hard things. I didn't take the time to write down a lot of the wonderful things, especially towards the very very end. Feeling you move inside of me was the most amazing thing I've ever felt in my life. Knowing you were there, all the time, and when I felt you move, knowing that meant you were happy and healthy - that was priceless. Sometimes I'd be having a conversation with someone - often a customer - and you would start to wiggle around. I always felt like we were having our own secret conversation at the same time.
On my last day of work, your Daddy went walking around the block with me. I was so uncomfortable and anxious for you to arrive and I had heard that walking would encourage you to come faster. It was a really hot day, and our neighborhood doesn't have sidewalks or much shade. But your Daddy walked with me around the block (I couldn't handle much further than that!) and helped me feel better. That was the Friday before you were born.
On the Monday before you were born, your Grandma went to Ala Moana with me for the same reason - I just wanted to walk around the mall. We went looking for shoes for her, but mainly the reason was just to walk from Sears to Macy's and back. Man, oh man, walking made my pelvis and back hurt so much! But I was determined to walk as much as possible so that you would come faster!
Your Grandma and Daddy took really good care of us the whole time I was pregnant with you, but especially right before you were born. Everyone was so excited to meet you and also they felt so sorry for me being so uncomfortable. Even Orange seemed to sense that something was about to happen. He cuddled with me a lot in the nights when I was by myself.
The Saturday before you were born, your Daddy and I had lunch with a bunch of our greatest friends. Aunty Pi'ilani, Aunty Amber, Uncle Shaun and Uncle Jeremy met us at Wahoo Fish Tacos for lunch. Aunty Amber and Uncle Shaun brought little Camdyn, who was so excited to meet you! Uncle Jeremy kept telling us how much he hoped you would come a little early, since he was scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan on April 10th. We had a really nice afternoon with all of them, talking and catching up. Aunty Amber used to work with your Daddy at Senor Frog's, and Aunty Pi'i and Uncle Jeremy used to hang out with me when I would go and spend time at Daddy's work. We all have a lot of really fun memories together. And now that you're here, we'll be making a lot more memories together too!
I was supposed to spend time with your Aunty Christina while I was on maternity leave also - she was going to go with me to this ceramics place to paint some pottery, to keep me distracted from being sore and itchy. We were supposed to go on the Friday of the week you were born - but I had to text her and say, let's reschedule because here she comes!
You're so loved, little Bean, and so am I. We are so lucky to have so many wonderful people in our lives that love and care for us. And I love you more than you'll ever know!
Happy three week birthday my girl. Let's see what the next week has in store for us...
Love you,
Mommy
My goodness, sweetie, life with you sure is a roller coaster. We are still trying to figure out if you are colicky or just a really needy baby, but every night about 9:30pm you start to cry, and many nights you are just inconsolable until about 1 or 2am. Other nights we can get you to quiet down and doze off a little but no deep sleep and definitely no putting you down in the cradle or anywhere else - you want to be held by a human! And your crazy little arms need to be restrained by swaddling you or else they go all over the place and wake you up and upset you. Changing your formula and the bottle we use has seemed to help your tummy troubles, mostly. Hopefully we continue to make progress because everyone is so tired - me, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa Nick!
It feels like time is flying by but it also feels like you're much older than 3 weeks. It seems like ages and ages ago that I was still pregnant with you. Before I forget I want to tell you about some of the nicer things from when I was pregnant. A lot of my pregnancy was really really tough, and pretty unpleasant. I spent a lot of time on this blog talking about all the hard things. I didn't take the time to write down a lot of the wonderful things, especially towards the very very end. Feeling you move inside of me was the most amazing thing I've ever felt in my life. Knowing you were there, all the time, and when I felt you move, knowing that meant you were happy and healthy - that was priceless. Sometimes I'd be having a conversation with someone - often a customer - and you would start to wiggle around. I always felt like we were having our own secret conversation at the same time.
On my last day of work, your Daddy went walking around the block with me. I was so uncomfortable and anxious for you to arrive and I had heard that walking would encourage you to come faster. It was a really hot day, and our neighborhood doesn't have sidewalks or much shade. But your Daddy walked with me around the block (I couldn't handle much further than that!) and helped me feel better. That was the Friday before you were born.
On the Monday before you were born, your Grandma went to Ala Moana with me for the same reason - I just wanted to walk around the mall. We went looking for shoes for her, but mainly the reason was just to walk from Sears to Macy's and back. Man, oh man, walking made my pelvis and back hurt so much! But I was determined to walk as much as possible so that you would come faster!
Your Grandma and Daddy took really good care of us the whole time I was pregnant with you, but especially right before you were born. Everyone was so excited to meet you and also they felt so sorry for me being so uncomfortable. Even Orange seemed to sense that something was about to happen. He cuddled with me a lot in the nights when I was by myself.
The Saturday before you were born, your Daddy and I had lunch with a bunch of our greatest friends. Aunty Pi'ilani, Aunty Amber, Uncle Shaun and Uncle Jeremy met us at Wahoo Fish Tacos for lunch. Aunty Amber and Uncle Shaun brought little Camdyn, who was so excited to meet you! Uncle Jeremy kept telling us how much he hoped you would come a little early, since he was scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan on April 10th. We had a really nice afternoon with all of them, talking and catching up. Aunty Amber used to work with your Daddy at Senor Frog's, and Aunty Pi'i and Uncle Jeremy used to hang out with me when I would go and spend time at Daddy's work. We all have a lot of really fun memories together. And now that you're here, we'll be making a lot more memories together too!
I was supposed to spend time with your Aunty Christina while I was on maternity leave also - she was going to go with me to this ceramics place to paint some pottery, to keep me distracted from being sore and itchy. We were supposed to go on the Friday of the week you were born - but I had to text her and say, let's reschedule because here she comes!
You're so loved, little Bean, and so am I. We are so lucky to have so many wonderful people in our lives that love and care for us. And I love you more than you'll ever know!
Happy three week birthday my girl. Let's see what the next week has in store for us...
Love you,
Mommy
Friday, April 22, 2011
First Field Trip!
Dear Isabella,
Today was the first day I took you out all by myself! Not counting going to the doctor, or driving to Grandma's house. You and I went to visit Daddy at work, and you got to see Tío Chavo and Tío Julio again, and you got to meet Uncle Brian and Uncle Felipe and Tío Paco. We also went downstairs to Starbucks and you got to see Aunty Jess again!
You even started crying when we were at Daddy's office because we were there long enough that it was time for you to eat again. But once you got your bottle you were a happy camper. You were alert and awake for everyone to see your pretty eyes! Uncle Brian said he thought your hair was pretty.
Daddy took us to eat pho for lunch after he finished in the office and you slept right through lunch.
It was quite an exciting day, my girl. Right now you're sleeping in Grandma's arms - today really wiped you out!
I love you! I can't wait to take you walking in the park and visiting more people soon.
Love you forever,
Mommy
Today was the first day I took you out all by myself! Not counting going to the doctor, or driving to Grandma's house. You and I went to visit Daddy at work, and you got to see Tío Chavo and Tío Julio again, and you got to meet Uncle Brian and Uncle Felipe and Tío Paco. We also went downstairs to Starbucks and you got to see Aunty Jess again!
You even started crying when we were at Daddy's office because we were there long enough that it was time for you to eat again. But once you got your bottle you were a happy camper. You were alert and awake for everyone to see your pretty eyes! Uncle Brian said he thought your hair was pretty.
Daddy took us to eat pho for lunch after he finished in the office and you slept right through lunch.
It was quite an exciting day, my girl. Right now you're sleeping in Grandma's arms - today really wiped you out!
I love you! I can't wait to take you walking in the park and visiting more people soon.
Love you forever,
Mommy
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Two Weeks Old!
Dear Isabella,
You're two weeks old today! We are learning more and more about how to take care of you as best as possible and make you happy as much as possible every day. Having a newborn sure is like being a detective. Or a lab scientist. Hypothesize, experiment, evaluate... It's been another roller coaster week, my little Bean, let me tell you. Just when we think we have something figured out, you change your mind or something else comes up.
You had your two week check up a couple days early because of Daddy's work schedule, on Tuesday, and the doctor said even though you have so much trouble staying asleep, you are doing perfectly. You weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces, just half an ounce less than your birth weight, which is great. In fact your weight, length, and head measurements are all at exactly the 50th percentile mark. You, my dear, are literally exactly "normal."
We discovered you really like co-sleeping - but don't tell any of the doctors, they say it's too dangerous. Grandma also discovered you like the mobile in your crib, and the vibration in your swings and bouncer and playpen. You also get really interested in music.
You make funny faces when you're making a diaper - usually you get really still and make a tiny "O" with your mouth and your eyes get a little wide and round.
You are already very opinionated! When you don't want something we offer (like your pacifier) you make the most sour, irritated face. And once you decide you do want something (like your pacifier) you want it NOW! You seem to have a bit of a temper also - once you decide you're hungry or want to be carried (so, always) you get angry so fast. Crying and squirming and so red!
Mommy wasn't doing so good this week, angel. On Sunday I was on the phone with your Grandma, and suddenly became very cold. I was shivering and had goosebumps and I could tell my skin was cold because you didn't like it when I touched you. I asked Grandma, "Isn't it supposed to be Kona winds or really hot or something?" she said yes, the weather hadn't changed. I didn't really pay much attention, just turned off the fan. When you got too hot we moved into our bedroom, turned on the AC and I hid under the covers. But all day Monday I was hot and cold and had sweats and chills. I called the doctor and she said to call Tuesday if I was still feverish and to just watch the fever to make sure it didn't rise. Well, Monday night it started rising really fast. I had you by myself and the body aches and weakness was starting to scare me. When my fever got to be 103.5 I asked your Daddy to come home from work so we could go to the hospital, and your Grandma came all the way from Kaneohe to babysit you at 10pm. In the ER, they took me right away, and when they took my temperature it was 104.2! Your body can start to cook itself after 104 degrees or you could go into shock! They gave me Tylenol and IV fluids, and took a LOT of blood for blood tests. After a couple hours they still didn't know what it was - they didn't even know if it was a virus or bacterial infection. They did say it wasn't the flu, and we were glad - we were so worried if I had given YOU the flu. My fever came down a little and they told us to follow up with our doctor the next day. Finally on Tuesday, the doctor diagnosed me with mastitis - with also a possible uterine infection! Double whammy! They prescribed antibiotics and to follow up again today. Turns out the infection actually got worse instead of better, and now I'm on TWO different antibiotics - and one of them isn't safe for breast milk.
This whole week the amount I've been able to pump for you has gotten less and less, and now it looks like we have to supplement with formula. Before this started I was pumping enough to have extra to store for later but now I'm hardly making any, and on top of that with the medicine I have to dump it anyway. We're still not sure your tummy can handle the formula we have. If not we'll have to go through several days of experimenting with different formulas, and that means your tummy might hurt more than usual.
Isabella, honey, I'm so, so sorry. I feel like this is my fault, and I've already failed you somehow. Mastitis usually starts with a blocked milk duct, which usually happens if you stop or reduce pumping or nursing too abruptly. This past weekend I started skipping pumping sessions instead of pumping EVERY time you eat, so I could sleep more. Then my duct got blocked and then infected, and for a couple days I could hardly take care of you - Daddy and Grandma did pretty much everything because I was so feverish and weak (Thank goodness we have them!). And now my milk is going away AND now I have to stop giving it to you anyway (temporarily, but it keeps getting less and less, even in the uninfected breast)! All because I got lazy and selfish about how inconvenient pumping is! I know there are lots of really healthy kids whose mommies never gave them breastmilk at all, or whose mommies also had to stop for a lot of other reasons, and they are just fine, and I know it doesn't mean I don't love you enough. But I also know breastmilk is the BEST thing for you and I feel like if I could help it I should give as much as possible. And I feel like I totally could have prevented this. I know it doesn't make sense to feel so guilty and sad about it but I do. I'm sorry, Baby Bean. I hope my milk comes back for you when I get rid of this infection.
You're growing so much every day, little girl. When I show you outside you look interested, and I keep promising you we can go explore more soon. Things keep coming up. Maybe in this next week I'll be able to bring you out and you can see what things look like outside of home and doctor's offices. I hope so.
I love you so much, and your Daddy and I still tell each other every day how lucky we both feel to have been blessed with you. Even on the toughest days, you hold my heart in your beautiful eyes.
Love always,
Your Mommy
You're two weeks old today! We are learning more and more about how to take care of you as best as possible and make you happy as much as possible every day. Having a newborn sure is like being a detective. Or a lab scientist. Hypothesize, experiment, evaluate... It's been another roller coaster week, my little Bean, let me tell you. Just when we think we have something figured out, you change your mind or something else comes up.
You had your two week check up a couple days early because of Daddy's work schedule, on Tuesday, and the doctor said even though you have so much trouble staying asleep, you are doing perfectly. You weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces, just half an ounce less than your birth weight, which is great. In fact your weight, length, and head measurements are all at exactly the 50th percentile mark. You, my dear, are literally exactly "normal."
We discovered you really like co-sleeping - but don't tell any of the doctors, they say it's too dangerous. Grandma also discovered you like the mobile in your crib, and the vibration in your swings and bouncer and playpen. You also get really interested in music.
You make funny faces when you're making a diaper - usually you get really still and make a tiny "O" with your mouth and your eyes get a little wide and round.
You are already very opinionated! When you don't want something we offer (like your pacifier) you make the most sour, irritated face. And once you decide you do want something (like your pacifier) you want it NOW! You seem to have a bit of a temper also - once you decide you're hungry or want to be carried (so, always) you get angry so fast. Crying and squirming and so red!
Mommy wasn't doing so good this week, angel. On Sunday I was on the phone with your Grandma, and suddenly became very cold. I was shivering and had goosebumps and I could tell my skin was cold because you didn't like it when I touched you. I asked Grandma, "Isn't it supposed to be Kona winds or really hot or something?" she said yes, the weather hadn't changed. I didn't really pay much attention, just turned off the fan. When you got too hot we moved into our bedroom, turned on the AC and I hid under the covers. But all day Monday I was hot and cold and had sweats and chills. I called the doctor and she said to call Tuesday if I was still feverish and to just watch the fever to make sure it didn't rise. Well, Monday night it started rising really fast. I had you by myself and the body aches and weakness was starting to scare me. When my fever got to be 103.5 I asked your Daddy to come home from work so we could go to the hospital, and your Grandma came all the way from Kaneohe to babysit you at 10pm. In the ER, they took me right away, and when they took my temperature it was 104.2! Your body can start to cook itself after 104 degrees or you could go into shock! They gave me Tylenol and IV fluids, and took a LOT of blood for blood tests. After a couple hours they still didn't know what it was - they didn't even know if it was a virus or bacterial infection. They did say it wasn't the flu, and we were glad - we were so worried if I had given YOU the flu. My fever came down a little and they told us to follow up with our doctor the next day. Finally on Tuesday, the doctor diagnosed me with mastitis - with also a possible uterine infection! Double whammy! They prescribed antibiotics and to follow up again today. Turns out the infection actually got worse instead of better, and now I'm on TWO different antibiotics - and one of them isn't safe for breast milk.
This whole week the amount I've been able to pump for you has gotten less and less, and now it looks like we have to supplement with formula. Before this started I was pumping enough to have extra to store for later but now I'm hardly making any, and on top of that with the medicine I have to dump it anyway. We're still not sure your tummy can handle the formula we have. If not we'll have to go through several days of experimenting with different formulas, and that means your tummy might hurt more than usual.
Isabella, honey, I'm so, so sorry. I feel like this is my fault, and I've already failed you somehow. Mastitis usually starts with a blocked milk duct, which usually happens if you stop or reduce pumping or nursing too abruptly. This past weekend I started skipping pumping sessions instead of pumping EVERY time you eat, so I could sleep more. Then my duct got blocked and then infected, and for a couple days I could hardly take care of you - Daddy and Grandma did pretty much everything because I was so feverish and weak (Thank goodness we have them!). And now my milk is going away AND now I have to stop giving it to you anyway (temporarily, but it keeps getting less and less, even in the uninfected breast)! All because I got lazy and selfish about how inconvenient pumping is! I know there are lots of really healthy kids whose mommies never gave them breastmilk at all, or whose mommies also had to stop for a lot of other reasons, and they are just fine, and I know it doesn't mean I don't love you enough. But I also know breastmilk is the BEST thing for you and I feel like if I could help it I should give as much as possible. And I feel like I totally could have prevented this. I know it doesn't make sense to feel so guilty and sad about it but I do. I'm sorry, Baby Bean. I hope my milk comes back for you when I get rid of this infection.
You're growing so much every day, little girl. When I show you outside you look interested, and I keep promising you we can go explore more soon. Things keep coming up. Maybe in this next week I'll be able to bring you out and you can see what things look like outside of home and doctor's offices. I hope so.
I love you so much, and your Daddy and I still tell each other every day how lucky we both feel to have been blessed with you. Even on the toughest days, you hold my heart in your beautiful eyes.
Love always,
Your Mommy
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