Happy One Month Birthday SJ!

Yesterday Stella celebrated her first birth-day... hurray!
She celebrated by sleeping just a little during the day after a week-long protest of day time sleeping and still managed to sleep for 6ish hours at night! She also mastered rolling on to her stomach and side during the night when no one was looking (amazing and terrifying).
Stella got to play with her Aunt Claire and her mom and dad on her birthday and didn't have any wheat in her milk all day (I cut out wheat starting yesterday to see if it helps with the gas issues) and got her third dose of probiotics (which seem to be helping with the gas too). She also went to church and blew out her diaper (first blowout outside the house) on dad during the sermon ("it's my party I can poop if I want to").
Today she got to go visit her pediatrician and find out just how wonderful she is. We're also re-evaluating the reflux issue... again.
Update: Weight 9.14 Height 221/2
Started up on Zantac for the reflux



**pictures thanks to jschmale

Tagged

My friend and former band director gave me a blog award on her blog and so now I have to fill out these questions using only one word....

Where is your cell phone? table
Your hair? ponytail
Your mother? helpful
Your father? under-cover-softy
Your favorite food? salty
Your dream last night? disney
Your favorite drink? dr.pepper
Your dream/goal? write
What room are you in? living
Your hobby? baking
Your fear? lonely
Where do you want to be in 6 years? plugged-in
Where were you last night? couch
Something that you aren’t? Spontaneous
Muffins? banana
Wish list item? sleep
Where did you grow up? Texas
Last thing you did? nurse
What are you wearing? Pajamas
Your TV? computer
Your pets? Stella?
Friends? working
Your life? transition
Your mood? neutral
Missing someone? Drew
Vehicle? Subaru
Something you’re not wearing? socks
Your favorite store? Target
Your favorite color? Pink
When was the last time you laughed? morning
Last time you cried? evening
Your best friend? Drew
One place that you go to over and over? Sojourn
One person who emails you regularly? Claire
Favorite place to eat? ChickFilA

In other news, everybody's favorite baby turns four weeks old today at 4:43pm! She is celebrating by refusing all of her morning naps.... I am celebrating by letting her protest in her new swing (from the FW grandparents)!
I can't believe how fast babies change from week to week. Just two weeks ago I remember feeling like I couldn't do this... I didn't feel like I could make it to the next feeding, much less the next day or week. I was so overwhelmed with her crying and with being responsible for all of her needs. The Lord has been so faithful to answer our prayers over the last few weeks for peace, joy, strength and rest... I'm already feeling so much better and Stella and I are getting used to each other more and more each day. We are all learning how to do life when dad (the best husband and dad ever... seriously) is away at work most of the day. Don't get me wrong... I still get overwhelmed and still shed a tear here and there on those rough days when nothing makes her happy... but I also feel blessed to have been entrusted with this little one and to have so many family and friends supporting me through out all the ups and downs.
Monday is SJ's one month well check up and we'll get to see how much she weighs and what her percentages are and ask all of those burning first time parent questions we've been saving up (like: is it okay if she has so much gas... is it okay if her poop is green... is it okay if she poops 8 times a day). I'll keep you all posted!

I couldn't get these pics downloaded... so for more pictures of SJ go to:

http://jessicaschmalephotography.smugmug.com/
Album: Stella Jane
Password: Lewis

Three Weeks

I am three weeks old! Can you believe it?
It's amazing because I know my mommy feels like it has already been an eternity and yet I am still so new and getting used to life in the real world.
Let me tell you, the real world is a tough place. Some times it's too quiet and some times it's too loud and some times it's too dark and other times it's too light. I preferred my controlled environment a lot better.
It's also rough because you actually have to wake up to eat and use all these muscles to get the food out and then to take care of it on the inside and then get rid of it again... it's really exhausting work... and don't even get me started on the burning in my throat or those gas bubbles in my tummy!
The journey begins!




At three weeks I am a pretty amazing baby... my mom is just a little bit high strung and tense... but she'll work it out... I hear moms are much better by six weeks, so I am giving her some time. I like to sleep pretty well at night for any where from three to six hours at a time between feedings. I like to eat a lot but not too often.
And then...
sometimes....
I just like to practice stretching out my vocal chords for long periods of time...
I'm just gearing up for all that talking I'll be doing in just a little while!

I weigh some where around nine and a half pounds and most of those pounds are in my cheeks because the rest of me is pretty skinny!
I love my daddy, Sojourn music, Bible stories and my bouncy seat with the vibration... but only for a short amount of time, gotta keep it real! I also love to poop on people... extra points if you get their clothes, your clothes and the nursing pillow or towel!
I don't like being stuck in the car seat (unless you want to drive all day) and I don't like switching sleep locations... tradition works for me! My paci is a hit or miss sort of thing... I'll let you know when I want it and especially when I don't!
I can follow things with my eyes now and focus a little on people and interesting objects (like ceiling fans) and I give some great smiles but I prefer to frown (like I said... those dang gas bubbles!).
Lots of people love me and I can't wait to see them all again in just a few weeks...

Keep praying for my mommy... she needs sleep and even when I try to give it to her she doesn't seem to be able to get settled down. She needs a lot of strength and peace (and feel free to tell her she's not crazy).

You Know You're a Parent.....

When your daughter completely blows out her diaper and leaves your shirt, undershirt, pants and belt all covered with a soupy mess.
That's right... Drew and I were both initiated by our very own Stella Jane this weekend.
At least she's well fed!

Who me?

In other news... we think SJ has a pretty bad case of reflux.... or has just decided that sleeping from 4am-midnight is optional. So we could use your prayers about what to do and whether to start her on medication to see if that helps.
In good other news... when we got the meds that our doctor wants us to try I had her weighed and she is up to 9lbs 4oz! That's a pound heavier than a week and 3 days ago when we last had her weighed. She is also REALLY long and REALLY skinny (minus those cheeks!)... she is too long for newborn footed pjs but too small for anything 0-3month.
She is a rule breaker... unlike her mommy.

A Mother's View

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted an update, I am sure you are all dying for news and pictures. But let's be honest, nothing can prepare you for the leap into motherhood/parenthood. I read so many books, I prayed and met with wise wise women. We took the classes and thought we were as prepared as we could be... and I think we were. The problem is, nothing can prepare you for the change.
The thing that every book seems to leave out is the fact that your child will be different... in some way they will break the rules and defy the limits set on them by doctors and authors alike. I am a rule follower and so I expected my baby to come out of the womb eating 8-12 feedings every 21/2-3 hours etc etc... and even when my circumstances are better than average (like a baby who prefers 4 hours between feedings most of the time and still is gaining great weight)... it is still hard for me because I wonder if I am failing. I want her to be healthy and happy and a lot of the time I have no clue how to get her there except to feed her and change her when needed and try to get some sleep so I'm not crazy. But then you throw in pacis and bottles and sleep training and it's all upside down again.
Speaking of sleep... I have also come to learn that sleep deprivation and changing hormones are the deadliest combination known to mankind. It is amazing how sad and desperate I can feel when I have had little to no sleep. Add a crying or fussy baby to the combo and it is seriously more dangerous than nuclear warfare.
THANKFULLY, I have the best husband on the planet. Drew is the picture of confidence. No amount of crying (from me or the baby) can make him doubt himself (or me) or regret our decision to jump on the parenting bandwagon. No amount of pump-part washing or dirty-diaper-changing has tempted him to complain. He has been a picture of joy and peace and this has been my strength on days I feel like I am unraveling.
We have also been blessed with wonderful family on both sides, who have taken care of us a great deal. My parents came first and were the picture of helpful. They made countless trips to the grocery stores and Target to fill up our cabinets and buy all those things we forgot that we needed until we had a newborn. They were so gracious when I melted into tears over dinner (a few times) and even treated us with a date night to celebrate a belated anniversary and took care of Stella so we could get some alone time. It was wonderful to have them.
Then Drew's parents came and his mom is actually still here and they have been so helpful also and have really helped Drew get a lot of the details on the house finished up. You would be amazed at what a blessing a hot dinner is during this season of life!
We are also so thankful for our church community, who have texted, emailed and called us time and again when they have been out to eat or at the store and offered to pick us up something or drop something by etc etc... we are truly blessed.
We are also blessed because Stella is a wonderful baby and really healthy (minus some reflux issues we think we are seeing crop up- please pray). She gained her birth weight plus 6oz by her one week check up and only wakes up 2-3 times in the night. She is BEAUTIFUL and already so different than she was just a week and a half ago... it is wonderful because it means I am providing for her needs as much as I can... but it is also sad because it is already a sign of how fast she will grow up and I love her little.
Here are some pictures from the mommy seat... they aren't great b/c they are with our little camera but that is easier for me to get out and use with a baby on board. You can see how much she's changed in a few of them... if you want more, my parents have posted a TON on facebook... so you should friend them and check those out.