I am going to attempt a 365 blog, take a picture everyday for the whole year in 2011! We'll see how that goes. I had a friend do it, http://tatefamily365.blogspot.com/
and I thought that would be fun!
I just need help designing the blog. I am horrible with those kinds of things. I'm going to see what I can figure out!
Anyway, check it out!
Charlotte in 365 days 2011
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!
Our little family on Thanksgiving day.
I can't believe how big she is getting!
A few of Charlotte's Christmas pictures!
I can't believe how big she is getting!
A few of Charlotte's Christmas pictures!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Great contest!!!
Check out this great contest! I would love to win this Ergo baby carrier!! :)
http://www.heavenlyhold.com/pages/contest.htm
http://www.heavenlyhold.com/pages/contest.htm
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
It's that time of year again....
Fall! I love fall!! I wish we could have cool, 75 degree weather all of the time, but alas I live in New England! It doesn't work that way. The leaves have been changing colors earlier this year since we haven't had a lot of rain. Seeing orange leaves in the middle of August is just strange! We finally got some rain a few days ago, so that was good.
I was away for a week and a half! We took our yearly vacation to Cape Cod. The weather was OK, cloudy and we got one good beach day!
Dave tried taking her in the ocean, but it was just a little too cold for her. Oh well! We also tried taking her in the pool at the house we were staying at. She wasn't too fond of that. She loves the bath, but the pool was too cool.
Here is a nice picture of Charlotte and I hanging out after going swimming! :) She was much happier being warm in her clothes instead of the pool!
Hanging out with her cousin Josh who she just loved!! :)
After the Cape, Charlotte and I flew out to Michigan for my brother's wedding! I can't believe my little brother is married! Sigh.....I feel old! It was a very nice ceremony. Charlotte slept through the whole thing!! The reception was fun and C did well with all of the new people. The next day though she was a little over stimulated and clingy when we had more family and friends over at my parent's house.
Now we have been back home and getting prepared for the start of the school year. I go back to work on Monday and feeling a little nervous. We did a trial run at daycare this week and Charlotte did great! Dave and I got some time to ourselves for the first time since she was born. We've had a few times where we run out to the store real quick while one of our parents were watching her, but otherwise we haven't had a few hours together. We went shopping for new sneakers, ran some other errands, and enjoyed each other. I was a little freaked out, but I did OK.
I'll update again next week and let you know how our first week went!
I was away for a week and a half! We took our yearly vacation to Cape Cod. The weather was OK, cloudy and we got one good beach day!
Here is our little beach bum sleeping on the beach.
Dave tried taking her in the ocean, but it was just a little too cold for her. Oh well! We also tried taking her in the pool at the house we were staying at. She wasn't too fond of that. She loves the bath, but the pool was too cool.
Here is a nice picture of Charlotte and I hanging out after going swimming! :) She was much happier being warm in her clothes instead of the pool!
Hanging out with her cousin Josh who she just loved!! :)
I liked this picture of her and I on the beach. This was on on of the cloudy days. :(
After the Cape, Charlotte and I flew out to Michigan for my brother's wedding! I can't believe my little brother is married! Sigh.....I feel old! It was a very nice ceremony. Charlotte slept through the whole thing!! The reception was fun and C did well with all of the new people. The next day though she was a little over stimulated and clingy when we had more family and friends over at my parent's house.
My brother and his new wife Jessica during the ceremony!
Charlotte hanging out with my mom.
Now we have been back home and getting prepared for the start of the school year. I go back to work on Monday and feeling a little nervous. We did a trial run at daycare this week and Charlotte did great! Dave and I got some time to ourselves for the first time since she was born. We've had a few times where we run out to the store real quick while one of our parents were watching her, but otherwise we haven't had a few hours together. We went shopping for new sneakers, ran some other errands, and enjoyed each other. I was a little freaked out, but I did OK.I'll update again next week and let you know how our first week went!
Nursing Cover Giveaway
Check out the giveaway on this blog......http://shesmommafied.com/2010/08/babybond/comment-page-2/#comment-1162
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Charlotte's Story--Bringing our rainbow home!
Charlotte was conceived about 5 months after we lost Moira. We couldn't believe how quickly we got pregnant with her and we were so excited and scared of course. I had a closely watched pregnancy with blood pressure checks, ultrasounds, NST's, and OB appointments. Plus my OB was always an e-mail away if I had any questions. Her and my high risk OB wanted nothing more then to bring us a healthy baby safely!
Our plan was to have a repeat c-section so that we could hopefully deliver Charlotte on June 4th, the start of my 37th week. We went in that morning by 8am for an ultrasound and amnio with the high risk doctor to check her lung maturity. My OB was there as well, she is the one who delivered Moira, so this was a big day for her too. After the amnio, we were to wait on the results over in Labor & Delivery triage, that way if we got the go ahead we would be ready to go.
They promised us we should know the results by 10am. Both of my OB's left us with hugs and fingers crossed and we waited in triage. 10 am rolled around and still no results, and so we waited! I was STARVING, but this was all for a good cause! I couldn't even have any water to drink. I think around 11 or 11:30 we got the results of the amnio and Charlotte's lungs were VERY mature and ready to go!! The prepping began, my OB was so excited and went to change into her scrubs while they prepped me. We had to wait on the anesthesiologist to come and prep. me as well. They were called to an emergency, but had already come in to talk to us and have me sign the paperwork. Finally by 12:30 we were ready to roll! They took me into the OR and Dave got his scrubs on. The anesthesiologist was amazing! She held my hand and one of the nurses let me hug her and my OB sat on the bed next to me while they started the spinal. Once that was in and they prepped me, Dave was aloud to come in. The whole process was relaxed, calming, and such a different experience. The anesthesiologist sat next to me and held my hand some more while they were prepping me before Dave came in, once he was in, she was close by to help us out. I was a mess while they were cutting me open. I was so scared and excited and crying. Dave was amazing, holding my hand, wiping my tears, kissing me, and telling me it was going to be alright. I remember asking my OB how it was going, and she said we were close. Next thing I know I felt tons of pulling, but it was so different then what I felt when they were delivering Moira. It didn't hurt as much and of course it didn't seem as rushed. All of a sudden I heard some gurgles and my OB shouting to get the suction and then the best sound in the world filled that OR. My screaming rainbow baby!!!
I lost it! I kept telling my OB that I all I wanted was to hear her scream and scream she did. She let us know she was not happy about being pulled out of my warm belly. Dave stood up and got to see her and told me she was beautiful. They took her to clean her up and Dave joined them. Charlotte was screaming the whole time and I was crying. Dave brought her over to me wrapped up like a burrito and she was still screaming and I told him I wanted to kiss her! He brought her close to me and I kissed her face and talked to her and she immediately stopped crying. She heard her mama's voice and knew everything was going to be alright.
After our little family met for the first time, they had to whisk her away and so Dave followed while I was sewed up. The anesthesiologist came and sat with me again. She kept telling me how beautiful Charlotte was and how strong I was to have gone through all of this. Everyone in the delivery room was aware of our history, so it made it that much more of a special delivery for us!
Once I was in recovery, I kept asking when I could see Charlotte. Finally the nurse called down and we found out her sugars were low so they were bringing Charlotte to me to breastfeed and have some skin to skin. Finally the moment I had been waiting for!! Charlotte latched on like a pro and the beginning of a wonderful relationship began!
We battled with her sugars being low, a nurse that wanted to give her a bottle instead of supplementing at the breast, jaundice, supplementing with formula, and then finally bringing our rainbow home!!
Our plan was to have a repeat c-section so that we could hopefully deliver Charlotte on June 4th, the start of my 37th week. We went in that morning by 8am for an ultrasound and amnio with the high risk doctor to check her lung maturity. My OB was there as well, she is the one who delivered Moira, so this was a big day for her too. After the amnio, we were to wait on the results over in Labor & Delivery triage, that way if we got the go ahead we would be ready to go.
Last picture of Charlotte and I together!
Waiting to hear if she would be joining us that day!
Waiting to hear if she would be joining us that day!
They promised us we should know the results by 10am. Both of my OB's left us with hugs and fingers crossed and we waited in triage. 10 am rolled around and still no results, and so we waited! I was STARVING, but this was all for a good cause! I couldn't even have any water to drink. I think around 11 or 11:30 we got the results of the amnio and Charlotte's lungs were VERY mature and ready to go!! The prepping began, my OB was so excited and went to change into her scrubs while they prepped me. We had to wait on the anesthesiologist to come and prep. me as well. They were called to an emergency, but had already come in to talk to us and have me sign the paperwork. Finally by 12:30 we were ready to roll! They took me into the OR and Dave got his scrubs on. The anesthesiologist was amazing! She held my hand and one of the nurses let me hug her and my OB sat on the bed next to me while they started the spinal. Once that was in and they prepped me, Dave was aloud to come in. The whole process was relaxed, calming, and such a different experience. The anesthesiologist sat next to me and held my hand some more while they were prepping me before Dave came in, once he was in, she was close by to help us out. I was a mess while they were cutting me open. I was so scared and excited and crying. Dave was amazing, holding my hand, wiping my tears, kissing me, and telling me it was going to be alright. I remember asking my OB how it was going, and she said we were close. Next thing I know I felt tons of pulling, but it was so different then what I felt when they were delivering Moira. It didn't hurt as much and of course it didn't seem as rushed. All of a sudden I heard some gurgles and my OB shouting to get the suction and then the best sound in the world filled that OR. My screaming rainbow baby!!!
My beautiful screaming baby!
1:10pm 8lbs 1.4oz, 20inches
1:10pm 8lbs 1.4oz, 20inches
I lost it! I kept telling my OB that I all I wanted was to hear her scream and scream she did. She let us know she was not happy about being pulled out of my warm belly. Dave stood up and got to see her and told me she was beautiful. They took her to clean her up and Dave joined them. Charlotte was screaming the whole time and I was crying. Dave brought her over to me wrapped up like a burrito and she was still screaming and I told him I wanted to kiss her! He brought her close to me and I kissed her face and talked to her and she immediately stopped crying. She heard her mama's voice and knew everything was going to be alright.
We are a family!
After our little family met for the first time, they had to whisk her away and so Dave followed while I was sewed up. The anesthesiologist came and sat with me again. She kept telling me how beautiful Charlotte was and how strong I was to have gone through all of this. Everyone in the delivery room was aware of our history, so it made it that much more of a special delivery for us!
Once I was in recovery, I kept asking when I could see Charlotte. Finally the nurse called down and we found out her sugars were low so they were bringing Charlotte to me to breastfeed and have some skin to skin. Finally the moment I had been waiting for!! Charlotte latched on like a pro and the beginning of a wonderful relationship began!
Mama & baby together at last!
Our happy little family
We battled with her sugars being low, a nurse that wanted to give her a bottle instead of supplementing at the breast, jaundice, supplementing with formula, and then finally bringing our rainbow home!!Finally going home! Charlotte didn't like the car seat!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Nighttime Diapering
This has been a discussion in our house as Charlotte has gotten older and has been sleeping longer stretches occasionally. I asked some friends and did some research on how to to stop the leaking and having to change her diaper during that early morning feeding. Her jammies were getting wet and when I had to change the diaper AND her jammies, she woke up more and thought it was playtime! I was hoping I could use something that I already have as opposed to buying something new. I currently use Bum Genius One Size diapers, mostly their 3.0 diapers, but I just recently bought some of the new 4.0 diapers. I also have some small Fuzzi Bunz old style and new style diapers. Both of these diapers are pocket diapers and you can stuff them with extra inserts, etc. to help with heavy wetting.
Tonight I will start with a small Fuzzi Bunz pocket diaper.
I decided to try a newborn insert along with a newborn prefold diaper stuffed into the pocket. So far we have gone 3 nights and no leaks and no early morning diaper and PJ changes. This makes for a happy mommy since we can go back to bed after that early morning feeding. This also makes for a happy baby since she isn't soaked! :)
After I stuff the newborn insert into the diaper, then I stuff the newborn prefold on top of the insert.
Then I have my nighttime diaper ready to put on the cute baby! It's a little thicker then her regular diaper, but so far it's been working!
Tonight I will start with a small Fuzzi Bunz pocket diaper.
I decided to try a newborn insert along with a newborn prefold diaper stuffed into the pocket. So far we have gone 3 nights and no leaks and no early morning diaper and PJ changes. This makes for a happy mommy since we can go back to bed after that early morning feeding. This also makes for a happy baby since she isn't soaked! :)
After I stuff the newborn insert into the diaper, then I stuff the newborn prefold on top of the insert.
Then I have my nighttime diaper ready to put on the cute baby! It's a little thicker then her regular diaper, but so far it's been working!
21 more days
As I sit here drinking my coffee and watching Rachael Ray, I see my sweet, precious girl sleeping away in her swing. She has finally started taking a regular morning nap most mornings. It's been a process, but we've figured it out. Some days I get an hour and other days I get two. Anyway, sleep is another blog post for another day.
21 days......sigh. That's how many days I have left before I go back to work and leave my precious daughter in the care of someone else. I know she will be in good hands, but having been a nanny myself for a little babe, I know there will possibly be many firsts that I will miss. Charlotte hasn't started rolling yet, she's not fond of tummy time and will tolerate playing on the floor for a little while. I try to do it with her everyday. It hit me this morning as I showered with her sitting in her bouncy seat outside the shower, that I could possibly miss her rolling over for the first time. This really sucks! These are the sacrifices I have to make though. Am I OK with these sacrifices? No, not really. I mean, come on, my first daughter died! I will never have any firsts with Moira, never! Here I am blessed with another chance to experience these firsts and I have to send her off to daycare, where they might possibly get to see them!
I have to admit though, I have the perfect job to have with kids. I work in a Jr. High. I go in at 7ish and I'm out by 2pm. I have nothing to bring home with me. I get to leave work right away, no late days, do duties, etc. I can run right to daycare since it's behind the high school which is across the street from me! I can pick her up and we have the afternoon together. I get the weekends, holidays, school vacations, and then summer! So, I really do have the perfect job, if I have to work.
With the economy the way it is and the fact that we need to buy a new car for Dave, I have to work. We need my paycheck to help pay the mortgage. Thank goodness for Dave's extra job as Energy Manager, which will help to pay for daycare. It would be great if we could afford a nanny!!
This is where I am, trying to enjoy every last minute I have with her, but also worrying about our next big transition. I think tomorrow, if I can remember to bring my camera upstairs tonight, I will do a day in the life of Mama and Charlotte. That way I can document how we have spent our days!
Now I will leave you with some daily cuteness! This is Charlotte cuddling with my Uncle Andy when we went to visit him on Saturday.
21 days......sigh. That's how many days I have left before I go back to work and leave my precious daughter in the care of someone else. I know she will be in good hands, but having been a nanny myself for a little babe, I know there will possibly be many firsts that I will miss. Charlotte hasn't started rolling yet, she's not fond of tummy time and will tolerate playing on the floor for a little while. I try to do it with her everyday. It hit me this morning as I showered with her sitting in her bouncy seat outside the shower, that I could possibly miss her rolling over for the first time. This really sucks! These are the sacrifices I have to make though. Am I OK with these sacrifices? No, not really. I mean, come on, my first daughter died! I will never have any firsts with Moira, never! Here I am blessed with another chance to experience these firsts and I have to send her off to daycare, where they might possibly get to see them!
I have to admit though, I have the perfect job to have with kids. I work in a Jr. High. I go in at 7ish and I'm out by 2pm. I have nothing to bring home with me. I get to leave work right away, no late days, do duties, etc. I can run right to daycare since it's behind the high school which is across the street from me! I can pick her up and we have the afternoon together. I get the weekends, holidays, school vacations, and then summer! So, I really do have the perfect job, if I have to work.
With the economy the way it is and the fact that we need to buy a new car for Dave, I have to work. We need my paycheck to help pay the mortgage. Thank goodness for Dave's extra job as Energy Manager, which will help to pay for daycare. It would be great if we could afford a nanny!!
This is where I am, trying to enjoy every last minute I have with her, but also worrying about our next big transition. I think tomorrow, if I can remember to bring my camera upstairs tonight, I will do a day in the life of Mama and Charlotte. That way I can document how we have spent our days!
Now I will leave you with some daily cuteness! This is Charlotte cuddling with my Uncle Andy when we went to visit him on Saturday.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Make your own cloth wipe solution
In our house we use cloth diapers. Since before I was pregnant with Moira, I knew I wanted to use them. I did tons of research and got lots of help from friends and some great websites. I worked on my stash of diapers for her and I couldn't wait to use them! When Charlotte came around, my long awaited cloth diapers were now going to be used! I couldn't wait! I also decided to try out cloth wipes.
I found this a woman on Diaper Swappers who makes wonderful wipes. I am not creative in any way, so Eli's Wipes are great for me. What I like about her wipes, as opposed to just flannel wipes, is she backs them with sherpa, velour, and a few other types of materials. These make the wipes thicker and nicer when wiping that wonderful breastmilk poo! I have a mixed variety of velour and sherpa. I have decided that I prefer the sherpa over the velour, so when I placed my last order from her I ordered all flannel/sherpa wipes. I only started out with about 30 wipes and now that we are using them on a regular basis I need more to get through a few days. I just placed an order for 45 more wipes! I am hoping that these will last us a little longer.
After doing a lot of research online for a good wipe solution to use with my cloth wipes, I decided on a combination of Burt's Bees baby wash, water, and Burt's Bees baby oil. I use the handy dandy squirt bottles that I swiped while we were in the hospital and they work great!!
After I have assembled my supplies, the first thing I do is fill the squirt bottle halfway with water. Then I add a few drops of baby oil and a few squirts of baby wash.
Then I fill the squirt bottle up and shake to mix. Before each use, I give the bottle a shake to mix it up before I squirt some on the wipe!
So, that's what I do for my cloth wipes and wiping my baby's bum! We've had no diaper rashes since using cloth diapers and her bum smells fresh and clean after she's wiped up! Now I'll leave you with a bit of cuteness!!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Charlotte is 2 months old!
I can't believe my little girl is 2 months old already. We have less then a month left before I go back to work and C starts daycare. Sigh.....not what I want to do, but it's what I have to do. Let's see.....we are getting lots of great smiles and hoping to hear a laugh soon. No rolling over yet because she still isn't fond of tummy time. Charlotte has lots more awake time though, which is nice when she is in a good mood and we can "play." I've been trying to give her more floor time, both on her back and her tummy, shaking toys in front of her, talking to her, singing, and playing music too. She really loves her vibrating bouncy seat and she'll sit in it while I make breakfast or lunch or while I take a shower. Napping still isn't the best, but we are getting there. Some days are great and other days not so much. Sleeping at night has been good though. Once she is down for the night, which is anywhere between 8:30 and 10pm, she will go anywhere from 5-6 1/2 hours, wake for a feeding, and then back to sleep for another 2-3 hours. We had been snuggling in bed and sleeping until 9 or 10am, but I've started getting up with her between 7 & 8am. That way I can get some good awake time for a shower for me and playtime with her. Most days she will take a nap sometime between 9:30 and 10:30am and I then I can pump and get a few things done around the house. After dinner lately, it's been cool outside, so we have been taking a walk. It's usually her cranky time, but she loves riding in her stroller for a walk. Now that she is focusing more, she loves looking around. When we get home, we get ready for a tubby if it's bath night and then snuggle in bed for some nursing and relaxing.
In two weeks we are going away for our Cape Cod vacation and then Charlotte and I will leave from there to go to Michigan for a few days for my brother's wedding. we will have a busy week and a half. Dave and I are excited to take her to the beach and Dave really wants to take her in the ocean, so we are going to look for a nice baby floaty for her to use. I can't wait!
Anyway, that's how Charlotte is doing!
I will leave you with some cuteness!
In two weeks we are going away for our Cape Cod vacation and then Charlotte and I will leave from there to go to Michigan for a few days for my brother's wedding. we will have a busy week and a half. Dave and I are excited to take her to the beach and Dave really wants to take her in the ocean, so we are going to look for a nice baby floaty for her to use. I can't wait!
Anyway, that's how Charlotte is doing!
I will leave you with some cuteness!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Charlotte is here!!
It's been crazy & we are still adjusting! Just wanted to share some pics!
Born June 4th at 1:10pm, 8lbs 1.4oz, 20in. She came out screaming & the whole birth was a much better experience!
Born June 4th at 1:10pm, 8lbs 1.4oz, 20in. She came out screaming & the whole birth was a much better experience!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
4 more days......
We have possibly 4 more days until we meet our sweet rainbow Charlotte! I can't even begin to believe it!! We go in Friday morning at 8am (EST) for the amnio to check her lung maturity. We should know by 10am whether or not they are ready, and then if her little lungs are ready, we should be in the OR no later then noon time!
Wow!!! We are pretty much ready for her. I just have to finish up a few things in the nursery and then just make sure the house is straightened up this week. It's been cleaned up and looking good, I just want to make sure it's super clean by the time we leave for the hospital. Well.....maybe not super clean because I am not the best housekeeper, but clean and presentable!
Wow!!! We are pretty much ready for her. I just have to finish up a few things in the nursery and then just make sure the house is straightened up this week. It's been cleaned up and looking good, I just want to make sure it's super clean by the time we leave for the hospital. Well.....maybe not super clean because I am not the best housekeeper, but clean and presentable!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Maternity Photos
Here is the link to the preview of our maternity photos! I can't wait to see the rest of them!
http://www.heidihope.com/blog/a-and-d-maternity-portraits-rhode-island-and-massachusetts-maternity-portrait-photographer/
http://www.heidihope.com/blog/a-and-d-maternity-portraits-rhode-island-and-massachusetts-maternity-portrait-photographer/
Sunday, May 23, 2010
35 weeks
I took some pictures today at 35 weeks 2 days! I was comparing them to my pictures of me pregnant with Moira at the same time, 35.2 weeks, and I look much healthier this time around.
I dyed these t-shirts and hat for Charlotte! She is going to be styling!! I love the way they turned out!
I went through my cloth stash and got things ready for Miss Charlotte. The first picture is of my prefolds and small and xsmall covers
Here are the small all in ones and pockets.
These are the xsmall all in ones and pockets
One size diapers
X-Large wetbags for traveling, daycare, and to use downstairs.
I am feeling very ready for Charlotte! She can come anytime she wants to now! If she does decide to come on her own, then that would be fine. I would still go for the c-section, but then maybe I won't need to have the amnio.
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