Checking in...

I know I've been a slacker this week, but we've been busy around these parts.

I had my six week checkup and am doing great!  Except for the fact that I'm still having what I think is gallbladder pain.  My doctor recommended an abdominal sonogram, which I had today, so hopefully we'll get that figured out soon.  I can't figure out if I hope they tell me it's gallstones (which means I'll have to have my gallbladder removed) or not (which means there's no known cause for the pain, which makes me feel slightly crazy).

Miss Priss has been doing so great in her crib at night!  She's been consistently going 5 to 6 hours from about 10:00-11:00 to 3:00-4:00.  She's also been napping better during the day, which is nice.  Turns out, she sleeps much longer when she's swaddled and in her crib.  I know this means she probably won't be one of those kids who can sleep anywhere and will likely prefer her crib, but I'm just thanking my lucky stars that she'll sleep. 

We've been seeing a whole lot of this face lately:

(She may or may not have promptly spit up all down the inside of my shirt right after I snapped this.)

I'm loving all of her sweet little smiles and happy noises.  She loves it when we tickle her belly or run our fingers down her face.  Diaper changes on her changing pad usually turn into play sessions (which has probably resulted in me going through more diapers than I should).  I'm loving watching her little personality emerge. 

I'm also trying to be better about dressing her each day.  We've been staying in our PJs a lot of the time, but I feel like I've got to make use of all of the adorable clothes she has hanging in her closet. 

I'm in love with this little romper (that I scored for $4 at Kid to Kid - whoop!).

And also...

I'm pretty sure these leg warmers are the most adorable things I've ever seen. 

So there are the obligatory baby pictures. :)

I also made it to the nail salon for a mani/pedi on the way to our meeting with our financial planner this week.  It was glorious.  Tomorrow we've got our niece's second birthday party (Happy Birthday, Stella!) and a wedding and on Sunday, we might try and brave the worship service at church.  Here's hoping Grace cooperates. :)

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!  I'll check in again soon.  Promise. :)

Hi from Grace...

We're not doing a whole lot around here on this long weekend.  Mostly just taking it easy, spending time with family, and snuggling our sweet girl.  She spent the first night in her crib on Friday night, and she's doing wonderfully!  

So I don't have much to fill you guys in on.  I just thought I'd drop in because Grace wanted to say hello.

Ha. :) Hope you all have a fabulous Memorial Day!

Grace's newborn pictures... part two

I'm finally getting around to posting the rest of Grace's newborn photos (you can find the first half here).  Truth be told, I saved most of my favorites for this post. :)  Enjoy! 

And thank you again to my beautiful and talented best friend (who has her very own blog that you should go check out here!) for taking these pictures that I will cherish forever.

How I'm doing...

It hit me this weekend after I posted Grace's one month update that this is my blog, and some of you might actually be interested in hearing how I'm doing. Ha.  Apparently it didn't take long for Miss Priss to take over my entire life, including my little corner of the internet. :)

So in case you're curious, here's what I've been up to lately.

I've been...

... drinking sweet tea like nobody's business.  Now that I'm not pregnant or breastfeeding anymore, I can indulge in caffeeine without any guilt whatsoever.  In a few days or so, I'm going to have to rein it in because the syrupy-sweet goodness isn't exactly calorie friendly, but for now, I'm letting myself enjoy it.

... watching a whole lot of this:

via

Are we the only people who never saw this when it was on TV?  Holy cow, I'm in love.  It's the perfect combination of small town drama/family values/yummy Taylor Kitsch (who plays bad boy Tim Riggins on the show.  My infatuation with this guy is so out of character; we all know I'm usually drawn to the wholesome quarterback and not the long-haired, brooding fullback. :))

... stealing Grace's Johnson's Baby Bedtime Lotion.  I swear, y'all, this stuff smells fantastic.  Every time we bathe her, I slather both of us in it and breathe in the scent like a weirdo.

... watching the scale like a hawk.  I'm down about 41 pounds since I had Grace, and although that sounds like a lot, I've still got a long way to go to get back down to my pre-pregnancy weight.  I ate way too many cheese tator tots from Sonic over the last nine months, you guys.  Next time I swear I'm sticking to grilled chicken and veggies.

... cuddling with this guy.

We are still in an almost honeymoon-like state of bliss, and it's so wonderful.  We'll eventually get back to fighting over the remote and picking at one another's annoying habits, but for now, we're enjoying each other and this little girl.

... searching for an internal medicine doctor.  I'm pretty sure that the middle-of-the-night stomach and back pain that I experienced during pregnancy and is now rearing its ugly head again is related to my gallbladder.  I figure that since I've already met my deductible for the year, I might as well get it taken care of.

... enjoying my freshly-colored and cut hair.  We left Grace for the first time this weekend while Micah had softball practice and I went to the salon.  My mom and stepdad took incredible care of her, and it was nice to get away for a little while.  It made the snuggles she gave me when I got home even sweeter. :)

... munching on the delicious red velvet brownies that the sweet cousin of one of my oldest friends brought Micah and me on Saturday.  Thank you again, Rebekah!

Alright guys... the little girl is napping in her crib for the first time (she usually sleeps in her Rock 'N Play or her bouncy seat during the day).  So I think I'm going to lay down and take a little nap myself. :)

Grace: one month...

My darling Grace,

You are ONE MONTH OLD!  It's so insane because, on one hand, it seems like yesterday that we were bringing you home from the hospital.  But on the other hand, you absolutely and completely fit, and it feels like you've been a part of our family forever.

Here are your one-month stats:

One Month at a Glance

Weight:  ? (we don't go back to the pediatrician until your two-month appointment)

Length:  ?

Eating:  3.5 to 4 ounces every 3 hours during the day and every 4 to 4.5 hours at night

Sleeping:  4 to 4.5 hours at a time at night, usually an hour or so in between feedings

Diapers:  size 1 (you've worn size 1 since you came home from the hospital, you chunky girl!)

Clothes:  newborn (some newborn onesies are getting difficult to snap!) and some 0-3 months

Things You Love:  your MAM pacifiers, cuddles, Tommee Tippee bottles, bath time (as long as we keep your legs covered with warm wash cloths), your bottom being patted, being swaddled, conversations with Mommy and Daddy, being held, your bouncy seat, your swing

What You Can Do This Month:  reach for things, smile (although I think these smiles might still be gas), hold your head up, pull Mommy's hair, recognize Mommy's and Daddy's voices

You are such a good baby, little girl.  You are completely happy 90% of the time.  You only fuss when you're hungry, dirty, or occasionally when you're, ahem, in the process of making a dirty diaper. :)  Your waketime has increased significantly, and we spend a lot of time looking at and talking to one another these days.  When you're awake, you're so wide-eyed; your Mamaw says that you look like an owl.

Eating:  Since we've switched you to formula, you've consistently gone 3 hours between feedings during the day.  At night, you've gone as long as 6 hours (Mommy didn't mean to let you go that long - she set her alarm for p.m. instead of a.m.!), but you usually go 4 to 4.5 hours.  You're eating 3.5 to 4 ounces at each feeding.  I worry that I'm overfeeding you, but you down every bottle like you've never eaten before, and the pediatrician says we're right on track. 

Sleeping:  You sleep like a champ at night, sweet girl.  Mommy is so thankful that you finally got your days and nights figured out because at first I was only getting an hour or so of sleep at a time.  Now, you fall asleep almost immediately after each feeding, and since you're going 4 to 4.5 hours between each feeding, Mommy's getting sleep in 3.5 to 4 hour stretches.  Whoo hoo!  During the day, however, you're not as consistent.  Although you'll sometimes sleep for an hour or hour-and-a-half at a time, you often prefer to take a few small catnaps between each feeding.  It's not a problem right now since you're generally so content when you're awake, but I hope you eventually learn to take real naps so Mommy can have an hour or two at a time to get things done. :)  You also occasionally fight falling asleep during the day, but if I swaddle you, you usually fall right asleep.

 

I honestly couldn't have asked for a more perfect or easy baby, and I am so excited to watch you continue to grow and develop.  We're in for a fun adventure, sweet love!