Sisters

I have been meaning to get on here and update about Lilli and her reaction to Scarlett, but time slips away with 2 little ones!

We were nervous about how she would accept a new baby in the family, since she is only 2.5 years old and you just never know how a toddler will react.  However, we have been very pleasantly surprised!

   The day that Scarlett was born was a long one for Lilli - but she was a trooper!  She did so well, despite missing a nap and being stuck in a hospital for several hours.  When the time came for Lilli to meet Scarlett she wasn't sure about her - and we didn't force it.  She examined her but really didn't take too much interest. She was spending several nights with Nana and PawPaw and was distracted/excited about that.

When we brought the baby home, Lilli did great.  She thought all the visitors were there to see HER (because that's what we told her!) and she didn't really notice Scarlett much.  When she did, she was always very gentle around her

"It's ok Scarwett, Lilli is here"

She wanted to share her snacks-

Finally, when S was about a week old, Lilli told us she wanted to hold her.  It was a precious moment and one that I am glad I didn't force at the hospital when we were all exhausted!

 She loves to tell us that Scarlett is "so cute" and "she's so pretty Mommy" which melts me!

A few days later we put Lilli and her together on the floor and heard Scarlett "coo" for the first time!

Again, so gentle!

Since those first few weeks, things have been just wonderful.  I can honestly say that Lilli has never seemed to be jealous or envious of Scarlett and the attention she is getting.  She really loves her baby sister!

Some things that make me smile that I don't want to forget-
She will go get diapers and wipes for me when I ask her
She will tell me that "Scarwett is crying and wants her 'Mommy milk'"
She loves to give S her pacifier but doesn't try to shove it in her mouth, she just lays it near her
She shares her toys, even B and Melmo, her most prized possessions!

She wants to help us give her a bath

She asks to hold her and then tells us when she is finished

She loves to ask if Scarlett is awake and if she can see her. If she is asleep Lilli tells me "I tip toe around her!"

She kisses her so sweetly

Since this is about sisters, here is my own, holding her new niece

One of my concerns was that Lilli might get jealous when my parents or sister held Scarlett.  But so far, she just seems proud!  I think we all try to give Lilli extra attention and that has helped.


Jason loves his daughters and seeing their relationship bloom.  He is smitten! 

Most people probably assume we wanted a boy, but that was never the case.  We were honestly excited just to have another baby, and we did not care what the gender was.  That was one reason we didn't find out the sex during pregnancy.  Now I cannot imagine our family any other way!

How do people make it through life without a sister? ~Sara Corpening

Scarlett is ONE month old!

At one month, Scarlett:
*weighs 9 lb, 13 oz - 75%ile
*is at least 21.5 inches - 75%ile 
*Sleeps very well.  She goes to bed around 9 and gets up around 3, then again around 6.  Sometimes she will go back to sleep until 9 and that is HEAVEN!
*Doesn't love the swaddle.  She gets out every time!
*Doesnt cry much.  She only cries when she is hungry or wet.  She is such a happy baby.  Alert more and more each day.
*Coos at her sister and has given one or two smiles, but probably not to anything in particular
*Is exclusively breastfed, but takes a bottle of pumped milk easily.  She takes about 3.5-4 ounces at a time and we use Dr. Brown's bottles.  She did have formula one day before my milk came in when she was less than a week old, but she gained 9 ounces in one day so we went back to nursing!
*Likes for me to put her on her back after waking up so she can stretch (and usually poops then!)
*Just started focusing on things, including my face.
*Does well with tummy time.
*Is wearing newborn diapers and clothes, but not for much longer.  Her feet are long and narrow and seem to be getting too long for her little sleeper feet.
*Still has dark blue eyes, but they are getting lighter
*Her hair is dark blonde, her eyebrows are very light and hard to see.  Her hair is very soft.
*Enjoys bathtime and diaper changes - had her first REAL bath at one month old because her cord stump held on forever!  We had to go to the Dr. to have them treat it twice with silver nitrate.
*Sits in her swing for about 15 minutes without fussing, but that is about it.  She doesnt sleep in it, though.
*Naps and sleeps in the Pack N Play next to our bed at night.
*Sleeps easily at night but likes to be held during the day.
 *LOVES her big sister already!

Some firsts -
Halloween - she stayed at home and I didn't even have a costume for her! But we did have some Halloween jammies!

First trip to church - November 6, 2011

First Tub Bath - November 17, 2011

She is such a blessing and such a joy!  We cannot believe both our girls have been so "easy" as newborns.  She is following in her sister's footsteps as a good sleeper and a good eater and just an overall happy baby!

And for comparison -

Lillian Brooke at 2.5 years

It is hard to believe my oldest is 2.5 years old!  It seems like SHE should be the one I am swaddling and nursing in the middle of the night!

*She is ___ inches tall (ile) - need to measure her!
*She weighs 29 lbs 10.5 oz (about 50%ile) which is where she has consistently been on the charts. 
*She wears 2T and 3T clothes and size 7 or 8 shoes
*Sleeps through the night, about 11 hours.  Goes to bed around 8:30
*Naps once a day for 1.5-2 hours
*Has all teeth but 2 year molars (from what I can see!)
*Her eyes are almost brown - but with a little green/hazel in them.  I think they are still changing, even at 2 years old.  Her hair is getting long enough to go in pigtails/ponytail but is very thin at the top, just like mine.  We still have not cut it.  It has curl in it, especially when it is wet
*Favorite foods - she loves pancakes, any fruit (berries are a favorite now), corn, guacamole, cheese
*Uses a sippy and a cup with a straw easily.  Drinks whole milk, has chocolate or strawberry milk once a day for a treat, and one sippy of diluted juice a day.  Enjoys and asks for water, especially mine
*She speaks in sentences and tells stories easily.  She loves to tell me about preschool and loves to say prayers at night.  She typically prays for Nana and PawPaw, Granny and Granny Margaret, Uncle Drew and Aunt Missy, Auntie Ash, her friends and teachers at preschool, Pooker, Brady, B and Melmo.  (Notice Mommy and Daddy are not on the list, she forgets us!)
*Favorite toys - her "B" (lovey bunny), Melmo, button (pacifier), blankie, pillow, as well as puzzles, books, paint and playdoh
*Loves to watch cartoons - UmiZoomi, Little Einsteins, Dora, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse are the ones she asks for.  She just recently started watching Snow White and Aristocats and enjoys them
*Can run, jump with both feet, climb stairs and crawl into her highchair by herself. 
*She adores Cooper and Brady and they are both good with her.
*Loves to Skype with her Auntie Ashley and will ask to "Talk to Auntie?"
*Has an excellent memory - she will often talk about things we have long since forgotten
*Is potty trained with very few accidents.  We did this over the summer (June 2011) and although she regressed a little when she went to preschool in August, we have been doing great.  She still wears Dora panties for sleep time (pull ups) but can pull her own panties and pants down and use her princess potty during the day.
*Sleeps in a size Full bed through the night.  She doesn't get out of the bed on her own, she calls out for me or Daddy and we come get her.  She still uses her Button but we plan to give that to Rudolf at Christmastime!
*LOVES her baby sister.  She is so good with her, too.  She knows to be gentle and she is very concerned when the baby cries.  She wants to see her but mostly just does her own thing when Scarlett is around!
*Started preschool at church in August and has done AWESOME.  She loves her teachers and has become much less shy.  We love that she is learning about God and making friends!
*The only time she cries is during bath time, but we think that is because she knows she has to go to bed soon.  We are trying different toys and bath tricks!



Lilli has impressed me over the past 6 months.  Not only has she transitioned from diapers to panties, crib to big girl bed, and only child to big sister, she has done it with a smile!  She is such a great little girl and we are blessed to call her ours!

 

Meeting Scarlett for the first time

 I love my girls!

Such a big girl!

 She is so gentle and loving

 LOVES her Daddy!

 Pretty little peacock for Halloween

It's a ...

GIRL!!

 Scarlett Jean was born at 1:08 PM on Monday, October 17.  

On Sunday at church I started getting contractions about 6 minutes apart.  They quickly went to 2-3 minutes apart after lunch at the Mexican restaurant and a non-successful attempt at a nap.  I wasn't in pain, but they were definitely different than my normal Braxton Hicks contractions.

We headed to the hospital, not knowing if I would be sent home or what.  I had hoped to labor at home until I was a good 6 or 7 centimeters, but we were nervous to stay any longer because they were so close together!

I walked around and the contractions got more and more intense.  However, I was not any further dilated than my last appointment (1cm).  We were discouraged but as the pain became more and more difficult to manage, we knew I WAS in labor, just progressing slowly.

I used my Hypnobabies techniques to get through the pain - and swaying was my favorite position.  I didn't have to be monitored the entire time and no IV, so  I was free to move around.  I had a WONDERFUL nurse that is training to be a midwife and was familiar with HB and she knew I wanted a VBAC and was trying to help us get that.  Unfortunately, in spite of the super strong contractions, my cervix was stuck at 1! 

After an aggressive cervical check I finally made it to a 3 and asked for some pain relief.  We tried Demerol and it did nothing to help the pain.  I was BEGGING for help - throwing all our natural childbirth plans out the window!  I really think if I was having more progress with each check and knowing that the contractions were getting me nearer to birth I might have remained more positive.  However, every time they told me I was the same I felt like the last hour was in vain and I was losing ability to focus and stay relaxed. 

I ended up getting the epidural around 1:30 AM and it was HEAVEN.  The man that did it was so gentle and understanding and I loved having relief! 

I progressed slowly, but ended up around 9-10 cm around lunch.  This entire time the baby's heart-rate was showing some signs of distress, and they were monitoring me closely since I was a VBAC patient.  I had several interventions to help, but after a big drop and the nurse finding dark blood after a check, we decided baby needed to come out.  Apparently dark blood can signify a problem with the placenta, and this was concerning.  After a period of hysterical crying by me (just being honest!) and prayer by Jason, we prepped for the c-section and the delivery of our baby!

The staff in the OR knew that Jason would be revealing the gender once baby was out - it was something we had been looking forward to hearing for 9 months!  I was so shocked when Jason, after making a gasping sound, said "It's a GIRL!"

 She weighed 8 pounds 9.5 ounces (wow!) and was 19.75 inches long.  For comparison, Lilli was 7lb 11oz and 19.25 inches long. 

She was sunny side up, just like big sis, which is what was causing me to not dilate effectively.  No problems with the placenta, but we did have a complication with my uterus tearing toward my cervix when they pulled her out.  Due to this, I am no longer a VBAC candidate for future babies.  I am not sure if this makes me happy or sad after the labor I just had ;o) 

Jason was able to tell the news to my parents and Lilli who were waiting.  Lilli was a CHAMP waiting all day, I am so proud of her!!

After being able to nurse in recovery (again, the best medicine!) I was taken to my room and able to see Lilli - something I was so ready for!

 

She was excited to see her baby sister, but exhausted from the day.  She actually fell asleep in mom's lap which was incredibly rare for her!

Recovery in the hospital went well - better than last time.  Scarlett did great - nursed like a champ from the beginning and rarely cried!  Even the nurse said she loved having her in the nursery (we sent her at night) because she was so sweet!

 

We were released after just 2 days, such a pleasant surprise! 

I joke that Scarlett is already a good listener - all I wanted at the end of pregnancy was for the baby to wait to be born until we were able to go to Lilli's preschool field trip to the pumpkin patch on Friday -

And a Halloween party on Saturday -

The fact that Scarlett came the first moment possible after these two things made her momma very happy!!

I hope to come back soon with another update from the first week...things have been going so well with the baby!  I have had some issues/scares from swelling but I am finally feeling better and on my way to recovery.