The week of Doctors Appointments is finally over.

As you know, Macie had her one month check up the other day and all is well. We have decided to continue feeding her what we were and not listen to the Dr. Macie eats when she's hungry and will stop when she is full. I'm not going to deprive her of food!! She gets a little mad if there's not just enough.
I had my 6 week check up and all is well for the most part. My blood pressure was good so the medication seems to be doing it's job. He cut the dose in half and then I go back in two weeks for a BP check and some blood work to see if my liver and kidneys are back to normal. He gave me the go ahead to start working out again (I didn't mention that I had been doing that already for 2 weeks)!
I also finally broke down and went to the dermatologist yesterday. I have had two questionable spots on me that I have ignored for way too long. With our family history....DUMB. So, the Dr. looked at them and said I should have biopsies done on both. They numbed the areas and removed some tissue. Now we play the waiting game. They said it takes 10-14 days to get the results-that stinks. And by the way.....OUCH- hurts when the Novocaine wears off-dang!

One Month Check Up

Macie had her one month check up today and all is well. She is weighing in at a healthy 11lbs. 2oz. and 22 inches long. Obviously the rice cereal and Zantac is doing it's job for the GERDS. The Dr. recommended we cut down on some of the rice cereal since she is gaining quite a bit of weight in a short amount of time. Not sure how well that's going to go over with our little chunky monkey, but we'll give it a shot. We also have to do some neck exercises with her since she seems to be favoring one side of her head when she sleeps. She did have a shot today which I think was more traumatic for me than her. She screamed when they did it, but then quickly realized it wasn't as bad as she thought. Poor Mommy :-(!!!

Reconnecting with old friends!

I just wanted to put a little note in here about Facebook. Susie told me the other day that she had just signed up for it and had talked to some people from her past and recommended that I sign up. I was hesitant since I spend enough time on the computer with the blog and just surfing, but I did it anyway. I am so glad I did!!! I have reconnected with so many people that I went to high school with. It's great to see what they are doing now, if they are married, have kids, traveling, living in other states, countries, etc. I'm really having a good time getting to know people again. Thanks Susie!

5 Weeks

I feel like I am slacking with the posts lately, but for a very good reason, I just don't have as much time to do the posts. Macie is really growing fast and she is staying awake for longer periods of time. The past week was filled with us reading books, tummy time, and playing on her jungle play mat. Her reactions to things are becoming more obvious and we don't write a smile off to gas. She is clearly smiling at us and let me tell you, every time Macie looks into our eyes and a smile appears on her face our hearts grow bigger- there is nothing better. I didn't think it was possible to love her more than I do, but when she smiles at me it is possible to find more love in my heart! Watching her with Daddy is amazing. She just stares at him when he is holding her- she adores her daddy and vice versa.

She has a new squeal when she's excited. It comes out most when she is on her play mat and a particular song comes on that she's fond of. She starts doing the bicycle with her legs and her hands start waving around and she squeals in delight. Can't wait to see what next week brings.

Thanks for the hat Auntie Deb-I must say I look awful cute in it!!!

Monumental Day.

I know I said I wouldn't mention anything more about showering...I lied, just had to share. I was able to fit in two workouts today AND an uninterrupted shower- wahoooooo!!!!

Macie and I had a good day. We read somemore books and had some tummy time which went well for a bit and then she got bored.

Storytime with Macie

I read to Macie this morning and she really liked looking at the pictures. She was kicking and squealing and wide-eyed while I was reading to her. I read two really short books to her and then I moved on to a Cubs 101 book that Susie, Nelson and Jaden got for Macie. She wasn't as attentive and got a little upset during that book. Not sure if it was my singing of "Take me Out to the Ballgame" or the Cubs disappointing finish this past season.

My Little "Green" Baby!

No, she hasn't turned the color green and we are not dressing her up in a Pea Pod for Halloween. She has become the worlds smallest and youngest environmentalist. Her main focus on helping save the environment is apparently in Water Conservation. She was sleeping like a little angel a bit ago so I decided to take a shower. Got all set up yet again (monitor, towels, etc.), disrobed, and turned on the water. I got as far as putting shampoo in my hair and Macie starts screaming and I swear she said "enough water, turn it off". This was my plan....I was going to very quickly get some conditioner in my hair, rinse it and jump out to get her. Then after I fed her, changed her and had a heart to heart with her about Mommy having good hygiene and how important that is I was going to put her in the swing and make an attempt to finish my bathing. Got her in the swing with music and lights going and she's just as content as can be and dozing off. She falls asleep so now I am going to go take a bath this time because my legs are in serious need of a mowing. Get in the bath tub and guess what.......YES, you guessed it....got the tub about half full and she's screaming again. So I can only think that she just doesn't like me to use a lot of water because I would imagine as much time as we spend with each other, she's gotta prefer that I smell decent.
FYI- this is my last "shower post" I promise, just thought it was amusing that she stopped me again and twice in one day!!!

Happy One Month Birthday Macie!

I can not believe that I did not go picture crazy today for her one month birthday. Today was a little rough. She didn't sleep well last night....must have been the excitement for her birthday. She's been very fussy today and even an attempted nap on Daddy's chest didn't even calm her down. She did have a diaper blow out that she saved just for Daddy and that was pretty entertaining. She managed to get her foot in the poo and just as Phil was trying to wipe it off she peed everywhere. It got all over her back, the ottoman and Phil! Decided the best option was to just give her a bath. Must have relaxed her becasue she pooped in the bathtub seat too. Finally we got her all clean and dressed in some jammies, gave her a Zantac cocktail (she has GURDS), put her in the swing and she passed out! So, after all that excitement.....here is her one month picture. I know.....I did the 4 week pictures, but the 20th is technically her one month B-day.

More 4 week pictures

Mommy and Macie napping during the Bears Game.


Macie hanging out with Daddy.

Congratulations to Joe and Sam!

I'm a little late posting this, but now I have a picture to go with the post!!! Joe and Sam are expecting in February and found out they are having a BOY!! Congratulations! We can't wait to meet our nephew and Macie can't wait to meet her cousin!

Congratulations to John and Kari!

It's official, John and Kari got hitched. It was a beautiful wedding and Kari was a beautiful bride. We wish them all the happiness in the world!

I unfortunately didn't get the greatest pictures especially at the church, they were really dark!! A photographer I am not!

Macie is 4 weeks old!

Macie hit the 4 week mark yesterday, I can't believe it! She really is growing fast. Everyday it seems she is awake longer and she is so alert for only 4 weeks. She's sleeping 4 (sometimes 5) hours at a time and it's been WONDERFUL! Mommy and Daddy are getting some sleep. She spent her 4 week birthday with Grandma and Grandpa yesterday, we went to John and Kari's wedding. Macie had a lot of visitors yesterday too. Auntie Lynne, Auntie Deb, Auntie Gayle, Uncle Mark, Ryan, Kate, Linda and Mike all stopped in to see her. Auntie Deb got her the cutest hat when they were out in California(see picture)....Thanks Auntie Deb!

THE DRESS!!!

After my post many of you have wondered about "THE DRESS" and what it looks like. Well, here is a picture of it. The picture really isn't that great, but you get the idea. I did go shopping again today and got a cute necklace. As for the shoes....Amazing what you can find in your own closet. I had a pair of pretty cute Mary Janes with a decent heel and pointy toe so I think they will work with the dress. If they sound awful....someone let me know. Still not sure on the nylons....no nylons....tights or no tights....or just go with the pasty legs!!!
Ok, enough babbling...here is the dress. I got it in black, it's more "forgiving"-LOL!

Just a really cute picture!

Aunties, Uncles and Cousins Oh My!!

Uncle Mark

Auntie Kim

Auntie Lynne







Uncle Joe

Auntie Deb and Cousin Sammi

Cousin Ryan

Auntie Gayle

Cousin Kate

Auntie Sam

Auntie Susie

The Joy of Showering- Sorta!!

Any new mom knows that showering is sometimes a challenge. I have come to find out that I really need to shower in the early AM while Phil is still here. I am not a huge fan of this option since he leaves so early and that would require me to be in the shower at 4am sometimes. That interferes with feeding times and sleepy times!! ANYWAY...today I feed Macie and she ate almost 4 ounces and got some good burps in so I figure she's going to take a good long nap and I can get in the shower. Get myself all set up, get the monitor set up in the bathroom, get in the shower and I am in the middle of shaving my legs and Macie starts screaming. There wasn't even anything (squeaking, grunting, nada) leading up to the scream. I jump out of the shower and run into her room, pick her up and she burps and farts and falls back asleep in my arms!!! Lovely, now I have one leg shaved and the other one is looking very European!!! I'm outta the mood to finish up now, so I will wait until Phil gets home!

The Dreaded Post Partum Shopping Trip!!!

John and Kari's wedding is this weekend which we are really looking forward to. What I was NOT looking forward to was finding something to wear to their wedding since I just had Macie 3 1/2 weeks ago. I didn't even bother looking in my closet since I knew that would only cause some great distress for anyone who is close to me!!! So.........I decided I was going to venture out into the shopping world yesterday and try to find something presentable and CHEAP since I don't plan on fitting in it again- EVER.
On a side note: Phil, the wonderful husband that he is - has been listening to me complain about needing a haircut for weeks now (after I had Macie my hair looks awful and my skin has gone back to it's pubescent state....oh- and all my nails cracked off-what's going on??? You need to be preggo to have nice hair, skin and nails? I am still taking my vitamins too!) so he called and made an appointment so I could get my haircut. Planned on getting my haircut and then I would swing by the house and pick him and Macie up to go shopping (I hear a "Halloween scream" every time I say that word). Mind you, I warned Phil that this shopping trip may involve a lot of colorful four letter words and some tears and a lot of "how did I let myself get this way's" and "I'm so fat's". He still wanted to go. Now I know why.....after about 10 minutes of looking around at some dresses Macie starts grunting and squeaking. This is not entirely unusual, but I made sure she was fed and changed before we left since that usually gets a good 2 hours of sleep in her. The grunting and squeaking is slowly getting louder and she is getting red in the face. Now, she's full out screaming (never does this unless her GURD's is acting up) so I pick her up out of the stroller and realize she's had a blowout in her diaper. Daddy's on it- he takes her to the restroom and changes her. When they were done I could still hear her screaming on the other side of the store. So, I go into Mommy Panic Mode and try on a dress that I ran across, show Phil....he says "it looks great"....I am not crazy about it but it will work and we are off to the register to pay with screaming Macie. We load her in the car and she stops crying pretty soon after and now that my mind isn't racing anymore I start thinking about THE DRESS. I'm starting to hate THE DRESS and starting to think that Daddy and Macie had this whole thing planned so that I would not take so long looking for something to wear....good plan and it worked. So now I have this dress that I am not liking too much and have no idea what to wear with it. I am so pasty white that I have to wear nylons/tights with the dress AND...what shoes???? Oh god, WHAT SHOES???? Not again......

3 Weeks Old Today!

Time is just flying by with Macie. I can't believe my little girl is already 3 weeks old. Before we know it she'll be asking for the car keys and slamming her bedroom door in our faces when we say no (sound familiar Mom and Dad???). She still is not fitting in most of the newborn clothes she has which is frustrating since she got so many cute things. She is living in sleepers mostly since some of them fit nicely and keep her cute little toes warm. The outfit in this picture is newborn and it's still a tad big, but so cute I couldn't resist putting her in it! By the looks of this last picture I think she's getting a little annoyed with the Paparazzi!!!

Happy 3 week Birthday Macie!!

Macie hangin' with the animals!

The activity mat that Auntie Katie and Grandma Karen got for Macie is a big hit already!! We put Macie on it and she was loving all the lights and the music. It's a nice change of pace since the only thing she's been looking at is the inside of her eyelids and Mommy and Daddy in her face all the time saying "goo goo ga ga"....BORING. We had a good day today, she's staying awake just a little bit longer after her feedings so we can hang out and chat. We went for a walk when Daddy got home from work. It's scary how fast they grow so we are trying to enjoy every minute.

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Macie's First Bath

First let me clarify that we have bathed Macie prior to today. Today was just her first "official" bath in her "tubby seat" in the bathtub. We were giving her sponge baths until her umbilical cord stump fell off. She would scream bloody murder through the sponge baths so I assumed this was going to be worse. She didn't make a peep and really seemed to enjoy it. Of course I had to get pictures of it! The last picture is her cozy nap she took after her bath. The bumble bee blanket on her was made by our friend Kari, it's so cozy and Macie LOVES it!!

Poor little Macie

Phil and I took Macie to the Dr. yesterday, she was running a low grade fever and seemed congested and to be breathing rather heavy. Being first time parents, we have no idea what is "normal" and what's not- better safe than sorry. The nurse on the phone was great at first and then when I started telling her about the congestion she said (and I am not kidding) "well, you know babies can't blow their noses....". REALLY???? No wonder when I put the kleenex up to her nose and asked her to blow she wouldn't. Come on, I might be new to this but I do have some COMMON SENSE! So anyway, we brought her in and the Dr. checked her out. She does not have a cold which is good, but she does have GERD which is acid reflux basically. It's common and usually goes away around 4 months. Basically she's miserable when she eats and then spits up. All the acid comes back up and hurts her little esophagus. We are putting a small amount of rice cereal in her bottle to make the formula "heavy" and stay in her tummy and then we give her some medicine two times a day to help soothe her esophagus and stomach.
She's been fairly good at night, just waking up to eat and have her diaper changed, but there have been some pretty rough nights where she just cries and cries and nothing soothes her and that is because of the GURD's. We gave her the medicine yesterday and she had a great night so we're hoping that this is the beginning of her feeling better.
It's really tough when she's upset like that. It makes Mommy cry too which does not help the situation. It's just a horrible feeling when there is nothing you can do to stop your baby from crying.

Grandparents and Great Grandparents

Macie's Grandparents and Great Grandparents can't get enough of her!!! They are spoiling her rotten!!!

Macie's Nursery

This is Macie's nursery. We still have some finishing touches to add, but it's pretty much done. She likes hanging out in there while Mommy is cleaning or showering, there's lots to look at.

Macie's Pumpkin Patch Outing

We have a family tradition every year where we go to a pumpkin patch and apple picking. We always have a great time and Macie got to join this year. She was only 2 weeks old so she slept through most of it, but she still had fun!