Rainy Day

Here I am with Mr. Lion Head

Today it has rained ALL DAY! Mommy keeps saying how wonderful it is because we havent had rain since I was born, but I really like to look out the window at the blue sky.  I hope it comes back soon and this rain goes away.  The past couple of days, Mommy and Daddy have noticed that I am able to turn my head and follow objects in the room.  Since the doctor says I have a flat spot on my head, today Mommy worked with me to strengthen my neck.  I spent a lot of time on my tummy, which I don't like.  Another exercise we did was my head would start out on my favorite side and I would see Mr. Lion Head moving so I would have to rotate my head around so I could see him.  Im really getting good with moving my head and eyes!

No More Sponge Baths!

Yesterday, the doctor removed what was left of my umbilical chord.  Although most of it had fallen off two weeks ago, there was a little scab that remained until the doctor pulled it off.  Mommy thought it was gross watching the doctor pull it off, but it didnt hurt.  Now that its all gone, Im allowed to get big girl baths and feel what its like to be bathed in water.  Today, Mommy gave me my last sponge bath. It has gotten much cooler outside and it finally feels like fall so I got a few goosebumps while Mommy bathed me.  She was careful to wrap me up in my towel so I wouldn't catch cold.  I can't wait until my real bath this weekend!!!

The First Month

My Birth

Early on the morning of Wednesday, August 25, 2010 I was born into the world!  It was 5:09AM to be exact.  What I remember before that was all a quick blur...

The day before I was born the barometric pressure was high, it had poured in the morning and then got very hot and humid.  Mommy went to work just like any normal day.  She was busy, and I recognized all the familiar noises of her work day.  Leaving work a little late to wrap everything up (as she did everyday "just in case") she went home.  Once home, I heard her and Daddy talking about going on a trip to Target.  The previous weekend Mommy had spent hours cooking meals to prepare for the coming weeks and they needed to go purchase some tupperware to freeze the meals.  All the activity from the day and taking a trip to Target signaled that it was about time for my arrival.  I started rustling around 7 when Mommy and Daddy came home from Target.  Mommy had some trouble cooking dinner as I started causing labor pains.  The faint sound of Daddy mowing the lawn outside was also getting me riled for my arrival as well.  

Mommy and Daddy finally sat down for dinner and I remember them talking about contractions and stop watches.  Not sure why, but I know I was doing my job by preparing for my arrival.  Unfortunately it was making Mommy's back hurt.  After dinner, Mommy and Daddy relaxed and timed contractions, which were fairly close together, but not too close.  When it was finally all dark outside, Daddy decided to go to bed while Mommy and I stayed on the couch watching late night TV and dozing until about 2:30AM when Mommy finally got up and awakened Daddy.  She said the contractions were really close together and that it was time to go to the hospital.  Once Daddy did his hair and got everything into the car, we were on our way to the hospital.  Mommy was calm and collected, although I could tell from the sound of Daddy's voice that he was a little anxious, which is okay.  I was REALLY nervous too about my trip into the world and meeting my Mommy and Daddy for the first time.  

After some hangups at the hospital and Mommy yelling at people, the doctor came in and told Mommy that she was dilated all the way and it was time to break her water.  As I prepared to come out, Daddy was such a great coach for calming Mommy.  Before Mommy started pushing me out, the doctor had left the room only to never return.  It turns out that a different doctor that Mommy and Daddy had never met delivered me because their doctor had to do an emergency C-Section.  Thats okay because the doctor did a great job.  The nurse coaching Mommy, did an even better job.  In 20 short minutes of pushing, I finally got the first blast of cool air on my skin and my first feeling of Mommy cuddling with me. While Mommy held me, Daddy cut my umbilical chord.  From this point on I was now a part of this world.... all 6lbs 8oz of me.  As they weighed me and cleaned me off, Daddy watched.  When they finished I was able to feel what it was like for Daddy to hold me.  I could tell that my parents really loved me.

My new family and I spent two days in the hospital.  We had flowers delivered to us and all of the nurses liked coming into our room because it had such a nice aroma.  Several visitors came to visit me and my parents when we were in the hospital too.  For the most part in the hospital, Mommy and Daddy spent time with me, admiring my small fingers and toes, and my beautiful blue eyes on the occasion when I wanted to open them.

Life At Home

On Friday, August 27 we left the hospital.  I remember Daddy loading me into my car seat and the drive home.  It was still hot outside and Daddy drove very carefully.  When Mommy and Daddy got home, they took me on a tour of the house and showed me my new room.  It was beautiful - I even had my name on the wall.  I could tell that this would be a loving home for me to start my new life as little Cora.

On Labor Day weekend, Mimi and Papa (Gavin) came to visit.  I wasn’t even two weeks old then!  Everyone wanted to hold me take lots of pictures of me.  We took our first trip to the Farmer’s Market, but the car seat really makes me drowsy so I don’t remember a whole lot about it.  Until then, the only place I had been was the doctor’s office.  

My umbilical chord managed to stay on until Friday, September 10th.  Mommy was taking a nap when Daddy came home from work.  I needed him to change my diaper and when he went to change my diaper, he found my umbilical chord in my diaper!  I was really becoming an independent woman!

During the next couple of weeks, Mommy and Daddy did a really good job taking care of me.  At night, they put me in my crib and I really like to sleep.  It makes me feel comfortable and Im not afraid of the dark.  Mommy and Daddy thank me all the time for sleeping - I just like to sleep, and eat of course.  I spend a lot of time on my belly practicing to use my neck.  Most of the time I hear a familiar heart beat if I am laying on Mommy or Daddy’s chest so I tend to doze off to sleep.  

At my two week doctor’s visit I weighed 7lbs 10oz.  Im really growing - thanks to all the milk that Mommy feeds me.  Feeding time is nice.  Usually, Mommy feeds me and then Daddy burps me.  I like being able to spend time with both of them.  

Just before my one month birthday Grammy and Grandpa (Young) came for a weekend visit.  They loved to hold me and take pictures of me.  I wonder why people want so many pictures of me.  We took an outing to the Farmer’s Market where Grammy and Grandpa bought me my first pumpkin.  It was a small pumpkin, but I could barely get my hand over it!  During the day, Im awake much more and everyone loves looking at my cute face.  No one can seem to agree if I look more like Mommy or Daddy.  Maybe I look like both!

Possibly a couple hundred diapers, lots of gas, many hugs, tons of kisses on my soft head and a few cries later Ive made it to my first month!  Life has been wonderful!!  At my first month doctor’s visit I was still gaining weight and Im now up to 8lbs 9oz.  Although I had to have a shot at the doctor, I behaved myself and it wasn’t really all that bad.  Ill continue to wiggle my legs, practice my head lifts and air out those lungs (not too often) so I can continue to be a healthy little girl!  Now that we are all caught up Ill be sure to update much more often!!!