4 & 5 Month Update

Wow, I miss one monthly update and now I have SO MUCH to share! We have had several "firsts" and have enjoyed watching her grow and change so much.

At four months, Carley was lifting her head a little higher each day. She could roll over from tummy to back. She had started to recognize people and would get excited when she saw someone she knew. I love getting that grin and seeing her little face light up.

Nana and Big Love took Carley on her first trip to Disney World! My whole family was able to meet in Orlando for a week and it was a blast. Carley flew on an airplane for the first time and I was so proud of how well she did. She did great at all of the parks. She also was able to ride the Small Word and Pirates of the Caribbean rides.

She was given oatmeal for the first time. Haha!! I love that face. She wasn't too sure about it, so we will try again in a couple of weeks.

Carley is wearing the dress my mom made me for my first Christmas!

Her first Christmas was really sweet and low-key. She got a few toys, a wub-a-nub in her stocking, and we got her her first pearl while we were in Disney World.

First time meeting Abuelos! He had to wait his turn until she was done loving on Carley.

One of Carley's gifts from Abuelos.

   

And, finally, the five month update! She was rolling all over the place and I could hardly get the picture this time. She is now rolling from back to tummy and doing several rolls in a row. She sticks her toes in her mouth whenever she gets the chance. And she has two teeth already. I think I say it every post, but I can't believe how fast my baby is growing!!

3 Months



    Carley is already 3 months old! She already hates being a "baby" and wants to sit up all the time. She loves playing on her play mat and trying to get her toys in her mouth. She loves being held in the air over our heads and gives us a huge gummy grin and the cutest laugh! She isn't so fond of tummy time, but is learning to lift her head and look around so it's getting better. She weighs about 11 pounds (I'm just using our scale at home since we don't go back to the pediatrician so I know it's not the most accurate) and is in size 3 month clothes. I love how she lights up when she sees us and turns her head to follow us with her eyes.

We have had some really pretty fall days here and have tried to get outside to enjoy them while we still can. Above is a picture we took playing outside in the front yard one day. We also went to the pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin for Carley! We had a great time with Chris' brother, his wife and cousin Bailey! 

 

Pumpkin Patch

 

                              

                           She was not impressed with my brilliant idea for a picture.

After our visit to the pumpkin patch, I just HAD to try and get Carley in the pumpkin for a cute fall picture. As you can tell, she was not amused. I had to get underneath the table and reach my arm up to hold the pumpkin steady as Chris took pictures. The whole time I was grinning and Chris was saying over and over again "I'm sorry, mi amor, your mom is crazy". 

 After our pumpkin pictures, I decided to not let the pumpkin go to waste and am roasting it. I have tons of pumpkin now, so if you have any pumpkin recipes I would love to hear about them!

2 Months

I can't believe our baby girl is 2 months old already! She has been so much fun to watch as she grows and learns new things. She has started smiling at us and babbling away as we talk to her. She can roll over from her tummy to her back, but it scares her every time, so she starts to cry. It makes me laugh. She has started sleeping an 8-9 hour stretch at night! This makes me feel much less zombie-like and more back to normal. When she does wake up at night she at least is a happy baby. She talks and smiles and coos so it's hard to be upset about it. During the day she is so easy-going and laid back. We are in the eat, play, sleep, repeat routine. We play on her activity mat, sit outside and enjoy the sunshine, go for walks and read. She loves is when I read to her. I read "Love you Forever" to her for the first time this week. Oh. My. Word. I couldn't even finish the book. I was sitting in the floor rocking her with tears streaming down my face. LOL. I love this baby stage and it makes me a tiny bit sad she is growing up so quickly. But it is so much fun watching her learn new things and interact with us.  



A dress my mom made when I was a baby

We went to a shower for my cousin's fiance and it was Carley's first party.

She was such a sweet girl! Made this momma very proud.  



This makes me laugh every time. She was so over taking pictures.

 Chris and Carley at the park.

One month





When I started this blog, I used it to keep track of belly pictures and how much I had grown each week. Now that Carley is here I can't just quit! I certainly haven't kept it up each week, but my goal is to update at least once a month to keep up with how much she changes and grows. 

Last night was the first night she slept for 5 straight hours! She is slowly realizing that nighttime is for sleeping and daytime is for playing. I wasn't sure I was ever going to sleep again there for a couple of weeks. She loves bath time and gets so calm while she's in the water. She has started to make some sweet cooing sounds, instead of just grunting and crying. She's not too sure about tummy time. She starts off pretty calm, but then gets really mad when she realizes she can't actually go anywhere despite all of her frantic kicking. She's already rolled from her tummy to her back twice. She weighs 8.5 pounds. Her facial expressions have Chris and I laughing all the time.

More pictures to enjoy...

  

Getting ready for bed!



I love bath time!



Kisses for Daddy





Before and After




Life with a Newborn



First bath!



As I sit here to update what has gone on in our lives in the last couple of weeks, I can’t help but smile and stare at my husband as we whistles and dances his way around the living room with Carley. I am so blessed. Although tonight is calm, the last couple of weeks haven’t been the easiest by any means. We are exhausted, we’ve already made our first trip to the ER, and sometimes we just don’t even know what to do. And we are only 3 weeks in! Neither one of us would trade it for the world though. Here’s a bit of what’s been going on...

On Tuesday night, Carley wasn’t acting like herself. I monitored her temperature throughout the night. At 5 am on Wednesday the 8^th, her temperature spiked to 100.5, which is considered dangerous for a newborn. We got up and went straight to Children’s Hospital. Because they can’t be sure exactly what causes a temperature in a newborn, they run a full workup to rule out any possibility. Carley had to have a spinal tap, a urinary catheter and blood work. She was started on an IV and given antibiotics as a precautionary measure. I was in tears. We were admitted so they could observe her for 48 hours until the lab work came back. She had to have a second IV started because the first one collapsed the vein in her arm. The second one lasted 24 hours in her leg before it went bad, too. The doctors agreed to take her off of the antibiotics after that, but we still had to stay so they could monitor her vitals. We were finally released on Friday morning. She was diagnosed with viral meningitis, which just has to run its course. We are so grateful that she is healthy and nothing was seriously wrong with her. It was an exhausting and trying experience.

Friday night, I felt pretty tired and not the greatest. I chalked it up to spending the past two days in the hospital. By the time I woke up on Saturday, I had a fever of 101.8. I had chills during the night and felt like I had the flu. Late in the afternoon, we finally figured out I had mastitis. After a phone call to my doctor, he called in some antibiotics that I was able to start the next day.

My mom came to stay with us the week after we came home from the hospital. The BEST help I could have ever asked for. She cooked, cleaned, organized, and made me rest. She was here through us being in the hospital and while I was sick. It was great to have her help through it all. Chris and I are so grateful and really appreciate all that she did for us.

We are finally all starting to feel better and slowly settling in to this new life. Like I said, it’s been a little crazy, but it’s so worth it when I wake up to my sweet little girl every morning.

She's Here!!!!

Proud, sleep deprived, dad



The going home outfit I wore when I was a baby and a bonnet made from my Granddaddy's hankerchief.



We are so proud to introduce our daughter, Carley Sophia!

Birthday: July 29, 2012
Time: 12:03pm
Weight: 6 lbs. 3 oz.
Length: 19.5 inches

Birth Story: I woke up at 1:45am to some mild cramping and what I thought was my water breaking. Chris was just getting off from work so I called him to let him know not to waste any time making his way home. He called my back 3 times, I think, to check on me. While I was waiting for him to get home, I got in the shower to help me relax. I planned on staying home as long as I could to labor, but called the hospital to let the doctor on call know what was going on. He asked me to go ahead and come in since I thought my water had broken so i could be checked out. Contractions were annoying at that point, not painful. Chris got home and hopped in the shower as well. He was such an excited dad-to-be! He was telling me "We're having a baby!" in between "I love you" and "You OK?" He was throwing all of our stuff in the car as fast as he could, and almost made the mistake of losing the keys. He came in and asked if there was a way into the trunk from the inside of the car. He had shut the trunk with the keys inside. It took him a good 10 minutes to try and move the stuff around and get the keys.

We made it to the hospital a little after 3 am. I was 3 cm dilated, but my water wasn't broken. The doctor said we still had a little while. Contractions were picking up, but still space out and sporadic, and I could still give short answers to the nurse during one. I begged to go home to labor where I was comfortable. The doctor agreed to let me go, making me promise to give ourselves enough time to get back. We left and made it home by 6am. I tried to get some sleep, but couldn't sleep through the contractions by this point. I got up and went in the living room so that Chris could try and get some sleep. Being on all fours and using a birthing ball were the most comfortable positions.

By 9:30am I decided we needed to go back. Contractions were 3-4 minutes apart and I couldn't talk through them at all: however, the biggest reason I wanted to return was the thought of being in the car for 30 minutes and having to deal with contractions on the way in and I wanted to go before they got any worse. In between contractions I did try and wash a couple of dishes but Chris made me stop. I really am my mother's daughter.

Once we arrived at the hospital the second time, I was 5 cm dilated, but the nurse felt something that just didn't feel quite right. My OB had been telling me that baby was head down since about 30 weeks, and the two checks I had earlier in the morning were normal. She ordered an ultrasound just to confirm. I told myself it was nothing to worry about and let myself get excited that it would be one more chance to see Carley before she would be born. It took a few minutes and two more nurses to confirm that Carley was, indeed, breach. I panicked. I wanted to try going as far through labor as I could without medication and now was looking at a C-section. I was scared of the surgery and what kind of risk it would pose to me and the baby. The nurses had to sit me up so I could breath. My husband, the nursing staff and Allison, my doula, were great. They calmed me down and reminded me that it was best for me and baby and that it didn't mean I couldn't try for a vaginal birth in the future.

The doctor came in shortly after to let me know that I was too far into labor to try and flip her, and on top of that, it looked like there may be an issue with the cord. By 10:15 I was scheduled for a c-section at 11:45. I continued to labor unmedicated until 11:25. At 11:25, they rolled me back to begin. I was given a spinal block and then they let Chris come in. The procedure was started at 11:59 and by 12:03 Carley came into the world screaming. I was so afraid that it wouldn't be as joyful since I didn't deliver her myself or wouldn't be able to see or touch her right away, but it was every bit as beautiful as I hoped it would be. My daughter was healthy and I could hear her screaming. They held her up for me to see, let me touch and kiss her before they sent her back with Chris so they could check her and finish with me. I was back in the room with Chris and Carley by 12:45 and was able to hold her skin to skin and nurse her right away.

We came home on Wednesday, and boy was it great to be back in my own bed and not have someone come in to check my vitals every 4 hours! Carley has done great. She makes the best faces and Chris and I feel so blessed. I am recovering from the c-section really well. I cry at the dumbest things. I cried when we left the hospital because I was glad to be going home and I cried when we got home because I was standing in my living room holding my daughter and was so happy. Looking back, I am so glad that the nurse felt that something wasn't right. We found out that the cord was wrapped around Carley's neck twice, and that her body was pretty tangled, too. A vaginal birth would have been even more risky. All in all, we are truly blessed and so happy to have a healthy baby and look forward to the journey of parenthood.

Week 39

How far along: 39 weeks 1 day
Only: 6 days until due date

Total Weight Gain: 30 pounds

Best Moment this Week: We celebrated one year of marriage this past Sunday! We stopped by where we got married to take a couple of pictures and then headed to dinner at J. Alexander's. The food was great and we enjoying just spending some time together.

Miss anything: There are a few things I miss about not being pregnant, but I know it will all be over soon and I'll miss being able to feel my little girl move or get hiccups.

Experiencing: Restlessness, generally being uncomfortable, shortness of breath, snoring (when I actually sleep), and insomnia

Belly button: in
Wedding rings: I actually got my rings on for our anniversary, but I haven't been able to really get them on since :(

Feelings: I'm excited to meet my daughter. The waiting is hard and not knowing exactly when she'll make her appearance is a lesson in patience for me. Tomorrow is my last day at work and it's nice to know I don't have to get up and go to work next week. I'm not sure I will know what to do with myself, but I welcome the time to rest before baby girl arrives.

Size of baby: about 7 to 7.5 pounds and anywhere from 19-22 inches long.

Week 38

How far along: 38 weeks 2 days
Only: 12 days until due date

Total Weight Gain: 29 pounds

Best Moment this Week: The doctor's appointment went great. I've started having some mild contractions, but nothing consistent. We also got our maternity pictures! Susanne King did an amazing job!

Experiencing: lots of movement from baby, I'm moving less and less, some rib pain, mild contractions, and swelling

Belly button: in
Wedding rings: nope 

Looking forward to: Chris and I are celebrating our first anniversary on Sunday! I love that we are ending our first year of marriage with anticipating the arrival of a new life into our family.

Feelings: Ready to see what my baby girl looks like! I'm also a HUGE planner, like, I make lists of the lists I need to make. This has been the hardest part so far... just waiting for her to be here. When will she be here? Will I be at home? Will Chris be here with me or will I have to call him at work? A friend told me today that no matter what, even if it's not how I want it or planned it, it will be as it should be. This will be my mantra over the next couple of weeks. "It will be as it should be. God is in control."

Week 37

How far along: 37 weeks 3 days
Only: 18 days until due date

Total Weight Gain: 29 pounds

Best Moment this Week: I think I may finally be finished with all the major things!! My parents came up this weekend to help us finish some things up before Baby Carley makes her appearance. Mom and I ended up getting about 2 weeks worth of food cooked and put up!! Dad did some repair work and finished hanging a few things in the nursery. We also bought the car seat and stroller and other miscellaneous items that we needed.

Belly Button: in
Wedding rings: sort of. I can get it on and I wear it on the weekends. I have stopped wearing it at work, because I'm afraid of not being able to get it off after working all day.  

Feeling: Ready to meet my baby and see what she looks like!

Size of baby: about 6 1/2 to 7 pounds

Week 36





The hostesses... Christy and Lauren

Handmade gown from my great grandmother

How far along: 36 weeks 3 days
Only:  25 days until due date

Total weight gain: 28 pounds

Best Moment this Week: The baby shower was so much fun! I am truly humbled by the generosity and love that filled the day. The food and decorations were perfect. I am so grateful to everyone that was able to join in and celebrate Baby Carley Sophia.

Miss anything: Turning over or getting up without Chris' help

Enjoying: Lots of crazy kicks and rolls, these last few weeks of dates alone with my husband, putting the finishing touches on baby girl's room, and eating sweets without feeling guilty afterwards.

Experiencing: fatigue, emotional about everything, insomnia, Braxton hicks contractions, and rib pain

Belly button: in
Wedding rings: on

Feelings: overwhelmed at getting everything finished (perfect) for baby's arrival, anxious to finally hold my baby in my arms instead of feeling her squirm in my tummy, and excited about the next chapter we are about to start

Size of baby: About the size of a watermelon; 19-22 inches and 6.5 pounds

Week 35

How far along: 35 weeks 3 days
Only: 32 days until due date

Total weight gain: 26 pounds

Best Moment this Week: We finally had some maternity pictures made! I was a little nervous because it started raining the afternoon we were supposed to take them, but it was a little shower and it helped cool things off a bit. I had a lot of fun and can't wait to see them. We also finished up our childbirthing class with a tour of the hospital.

Enjoying: Baby girl is getting stronger by the day. Crazy kicks and rolls are going on in belly like never before. Chris was able to see my entire belly move for the first time. She is getting hiccups all the time and it cracks me up because she gets mad and starts kicking even more.

Experiencing: lots of rib pain, swelling in my feet at the end of the day, fatigue is back, and so are the crazy vivid dreams. I had a dream I was at work and started having contractions, but the line was so long I couldn't leave. I also had another one that I wanted to share, but now I have prego brain and can't remember what it was, just that it was crazy.

Belly button: in, although my sister kindly informed that it looked weird even though it was in
Wedding rings: on

Looking forward to: My baby shower on Sunday! My sister and friend are hosting and I am so excited to see what they have done. They haven't really told me what they are planning. I know they have both worked really hard though and I am so grateful for all of their time and effort.

Size of Baby: 19-22 inches and about 6 pounds. At this point, she's not really growing in height and is just gaining weight.

Week 34

How far along: 34 weeks 2 days
Only: 40 days until due date

Total weight gain: 25 pounds

Best Moment this Week: Chris cooked dinner and made this awesome avocado mango salsa. Then we went to a fun coffee shop in Montevallo to see The Clay States perform. They are a truly talented pair! It was a great date night and I really enjoyed spending time with Chris before baby girl arrives.

Pregnancy Pains: lots of kicks to the ribs, this weird numb tingling sensation on my belly which the doctor said was normal and due to baby sitting on a nerve, shortness of breath, and H-O-T. People told me I was going to be SO hot with a summer baby and I kind of brushed it off. I mean, I live in Alabama, it's always hot. Wrong. This is a different hot. I stood in the double door freezer at work today, with only my belly and feet sticking out.

Belly button: In
Wedding rings: On

Looking forward to: I just started a 3 day weekend and it makes me happy! I'll be able to get some things done around the house and then we have a doctors appointment on Monday, along with our last child birthing class.

Size of Baby: a large cantaloupe, 19-22 inches and 5 pounds

Week 33

How far along: 33 weeks 2 days
Only: 48 days til due date

Total weight gain: 24 pounds

Best Moment this Week: On the way home from our birthing class this past week, we just HAD to continue a tradition and stop at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts to get a "Hot Now". When my mom was pregnant with me, she and my dad would stop at the one on Government Street in Mobile just as they were pulling hot ones off the line. It was a really yummy tradition to continue! We also saw the doctor this week, too. Baby girl's heart beat was good and she's growing right on track.

Movement: Lots! The doctor said her head is not quite head down, but in my hip bone instead, putting her rear in my ribs on the front right side and her feet in my ribs on the back left side. She's kicking so hard it hurts!

Enjoying: These last few weeks of being pregnant. Despite the painful kicks and jabs, I love being able to feel her hiccups and how she responds to her daddy's voice, the music playing, or what I've just had for dinner.

Food Cravings: Ice cream, Popsicles, smoothies...

Wedding Rings: on
Belly Button: in

Size of baby: about the size of pineapple; 19-22 inches and weighs almost 5 pounds

Week 32

How far along: 32 weeks 4 days
Only: 52 days to go

Total weight gain: 24 pounds

Best Moment this Week: Getting the nursery set up! A HUGE thank you to my mom, dad and brother for helping me get everything organized and put together. Chris and I both really appreciate the help and are excited that we are one step closer to meeting our baby girl! We also attended our first childbirth preparation class. Three more classes to go before we know everything there is to know about labor and delivery, right?

Miss anything: Sleeping through the night, taking a deep breath, doing more than one task without having to sit down and take a break, and being able to reach my toes

Food Cravings: I haven't had any cravings lately. Nothing sounds appealing like it used to.

Belly button: still in, just barely

Wedding ring: Fits with no problem getting it on or off

Looking forward to: Maternity pictures! They were rescheduled due to rain in our area, but hopefully this week sometime.

Size of baby to fruit comparison: Honeydew melon, about 19 inches long and 4.5 pounds

Week 31

How far along: 31 weeks 2 days
Only: 8 weeks 5 days to go

Total weight gain: 23 pounds

Best Moment this Week: Anytime I get to hear baby girl's heartbeat is pretty great! The doctor's visit went great and I am measuring right on track. Heartbeat was strong and I start going every two weeks! We spent Memorial Day not doing anything and having the extra day off work was really nice.

Miss anything: being able to find a comfortable position

Enjoying: The crazy movements I'm feeling! It's almost unreal to stare down at my belly and watch it jump on it's own. I know this is what I'll miss the most about being pregnant. It's so amazing to be able to feel your child move like that.

Food Cravings: More temperature driven, cold things like Popsicles and ice cream sound awesome!

Symptoms: mild swelling at the end of the day, my ribs feel like they are bruised, heartburn, and HOT all the time

Looking forward to: I registered for birthing classes starting on Monday! I can't believe it's already that time! We should be getting the crib this weekend so I'm looking forward to setting that up, too!

Feelings: I have honestly had a GREAT pregnancy. I've enjoying feeling our baby move and squirm as she's grown. I'm so excited to become a mom! However, the last week has been rough - and I kind of feel guilty for feeling like that. Her feet are in my ribs and by the end of the day, I just want to lay down and cry it hurts so bad. It's a constant, throbbing pain that never really goes away. I'm trying to be positive and know that it won't be much longer before I'm holding Carley Sophia and I won't care about any pain associated with her getting here. In the meantime... Chris has been great about rubbing my back and feet when I get home, so that helps. :)

Size of baby: 19 inches and about 4 pounds!