One Month!!

Penny is one month old!!! We went to the doctor today, and she is now weighing 2500 grams, or about 5 pounds 8 ounces. She also gained another inch and is a whopping 18 inches long. Since she has been gaining so well for this past month, we do not have to continue the weekly visits and will see the doctor next for her two month check-up, and that is when we will begin her vaccinations. I'm so happy - it makes me feel like I'm doing something right!

Anyhow, last night was bath night. Penny does well in the water. If she doesn't enjoy it, she at least tolerates it well. We always nurse right after she gets out of the water, sitting right on the bathroom floor, because it seems to settle her. Well, lately, she always has these "explosions" nearly every time she nurses. So, she's all bundled in her hooded bath towel, contentedly nursing when *BWAAAAAAP* - yes, she had a poop explosion - IN MY LAP! She was not wearing a diaper, just the towel. GA-ROSS! In all fairness, before her bath, she peed all over Steve. He says that's how she lets you know she loves you. I guess she loves me the most, huh? *wink wink*

She has developed a new language of grunts, and is consistently grunting at us to voice her displeasure. She will even grunt in response to you talking to her, as if she is answering you (or talking back). Every now and again she'll give us a cuter sound, but mostly we get grunted at - angrily. She is almost to the point of smiling purposefully. She has given me a few half smiles, and most of the time, it looks like she's thinking about smiling but changes her mind. When she gets tired of us kissing on her, she puts her hand up in front of her face to tell us to "back off." She can do quarter rolls - if we lay her on her back, she'll roll to her side, or if we lay her on her side, she'll roll to her tummy. She sleeps next to me and likes to be right up under me. I try to give her space and plenty of room, but without fail, when I wake up to feed her, she has inched and squirmed her way to be close to me. We spend much of our time just sitting and staring in awe at her (but it's probably a tie with the amount of time we spend changing diapers).

She rules the roost, and she knows it!

Here she is in her swing! It still dwarfs her, but it does offer a little break from holding her (only about 10 minutes or so).


Making a funny face.


Dressed up for Father's Day.

Mommy Brain on the Loose!!

Forget Preggo Brain - Mommy Brain is a beast! I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever recover some semblance of my former intelligence. No wonder kids think they are smarter than their parents!

So, the other day, I was ON IT! I got up, made the bed (yes, pulling the covers up counts as making the bed - at least it LOOKS made), straightened up the living room, cleaned the kitchen, threw a load of laundry in the wash and went for a walk. I had it timed so that by the time I got back from my walk, I would throw the laundry into the dryer and start the dishwasher. We went for our walk, had a grand old time, with everything going according to schedule. We got in, made lunch, started the dryer and the dishwasher. I was feeling so great, thinking, "Oh yeah, I can do this mommy/housewife thing." Do you know, I even managed to cook dinner that evening! Oh, I was so proud of myself. So, when Steve got in, I was putting the finishing touches on dinner and decided to empty the dishwasher while I actually had use of both hands. I was starting to put away the silverware when I realized it was all so dirty, so I was putting it right back into the dishwasher. I sat a couple plates to the side to handwash because they were still dirty. I was trying to figure out what was going on when I checked the jet-dry dispenser and realized it was about empty, so surely that had to be the problem. Then it dawned on me. When I ran the dishwasher, I didn't put a dishwashing tab in there. D'oh! So, I basically wasted water and time and my dishes were still dirty. Talk about bursting that SuperMom balloon! Ah well, what could I do but laugh? I still chuckle to think of that.

Then, last night, we were watching "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader," and OF COURSE I am smarter than a fifth grader - I'm smarter than most people. (At least, that's what I like to think.) So, there was a question about whether Tasmanian Devils were extinct or not. Steve and I decide that they are not extinct, and I say, "Yeah, they're over in Tasmania, right?" LOL! I mean, really. They ARE called TASMANIAN devils, not JAPANESE devils.

But hey, I guess it's worth it to trade my brain for my sweet little Penny. Will it ever get better?? Will I ever get my brain back??

Baby Sugar makes it all better!!

Almost 3 Weeks Old!!

My baby is almost 3 weeks old! Time flies! She is steadily growing. This morning, I weighed her at 4.8 pounds - she's almost 5 pounds, and we can definitely feel the difference! At her last appointment, she even gained an inch in length! I'm so happy our little half-pint is growing!

Her personality is starting to come out. She was always so calm in the first couple weeks, and now she's starting to let us (and the doctor) have it. She does not tolerate being put down AT ALL. Now, granted, that is probably my fault. While we were in the hospital, she was rarely in her bassinet. Any time anyone saw us together, more than likely she was in my arms. Of course, this means I can hardly get anything done, and the things I've learned to do with one hand take three times as long (including typing this blog entry). She also will not sleep alone - preferring to sleep either on my chest or Steve's chest. I've only recently (read, last night) gotten her to sleep next to me. Her only conditions are that she has to be really really close to me, and I have to be touching her. I swore I would not be one of those co-sleeping parents, until I got a baby who decided she wanted to co-sleep. I want my bed back already! And they say you can't spoil a baby. Hmpf!

Her lungs are definitely in working order, and she exercises them a few times each day (usually when I have to put her down for a much needed potty break - I refuse to do that with one hand, I need some privacy every now and again!) Sometimes, when she gets really worked up she sounds like a screeching piglet. Of course, I try to get to her as quickly as possible, but I'm never fast enough for her taste. When I finally pick her up, she gives me those shuddering sigh/sniffle things (you know, the kind you'd normally have after getting a spanking, and your parents would insist you shut it up or they'd give you something to cry about, nevermind they've ALREADY given you something to cry about, hence, the sniffles. . . but, I digress. . .) She can be quite the drama queen.

Anyhow, here are some recent pics.

One of her "mean mugs." She must get all her facial expressions from me. I've always let my feelings show all over my face.

So fresh and so clean! We're getting better with bath time.

Giving momma the side eye.

Praise the Lord, everybody!!

She is determined to suck that thumb!! Still having some coordination issues, but I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before she masters it.

She likes to hold her own binkie.

Welcome to Parenthood

Ah, I finally understand why new mothers are always so tired and can never get anything done. I mean, I knew in my head it wasn't easy, but I figured, with baby sleeping most of the time you could still get stuff done. Um, yeah right. Even when baby girl is sleeping, she doesn't like to be put down. I have learned to do a lot of things with just one hand, but it is still difficult to really get some things done. I find it really ironic that now that I can't get much housework done, I have this great desire to have a clean house. I guess I'm going to have to learn to just let some things go.

So, I've heard about diaper blowouts and such, but never had the pleasure of experiencing one - until now. The other day, we had just gotten in from the pediatrician for another weight check (she gained 80 grams in 4 days, praise the Lord!), and I figured I would change her diaper before feeding her. There was a tiny bit of poo in there, so I should have taken that as my cue to wrap it back up until she finished. No, in my naivete, I assumed she just had a wet fart (she gets those sometimes) and proceeded with the diaper change. I had no sooner put a clean diaper under her when the poo fountain started up. Oh. My. Dog. It was like mustard colored water issuing forth! And it just kept coming! I would no sooner wipe it away when more would come out! It traveled up the diaper and all up her back and all over her onesie! Of course, she didn't enjoy the sensation and was screaming crying - with real tears, mind you (she's such a drama queen). I wanted to cry my own self. Finally, she finishes and we get all cleaned up. The rest of the afternoon is pretty uneventful until Steve gets home. Before I could recount my story, she does the same thing to him!!! It was much funnier to watch him going through it than it was to go through it myself. Just how is it that someone who weighs less than 5 pounds can fart and poo like a 40 year old man?? When some of those farts come out, you almost want to take cover because someone must be shooting a semi-automatic gun at the house! Sheesh!

But really, she's a sweetie. She provides me and Steve with many hours of entertainment, just watching her facial expressions (she does a good "mean mug") and listening to all her little baby sounds (like when she drinks, it's like it soooo good to her, the way she "ohs" every time she swallows). She is intent on sucking her thumb, much to my chagrin. She finds it every now and again, and she smacks that thing like it's going out of style. I haven't been quick enough to snap a picture of that yet - but I'm going to get a shot. I think she's a little too grown - she lifts her head in short spurts (she was doing that in the hospital) and she scoots up to our chests when we lie her on our bellies. For all who say that she's getting out of the way for the next child - NO WAY! I plug my ears and refuse to heed that word! When we were in the hospital, the minister of the Diakonie came to visit us, since it is a Christian hospital, and she gave us a little blessing and a card. The blessing was something along the lines of God blessing all of your children. This lady has the nerve to say that it was a prophetic word for me, since babies should not be alone, but need brothers and sisters. I smiled politely but in my head said "Nuh-uh! She'll be okay! I don't receive that word!" LOL! The Lord will have to touch me on that issue!

But she is my baby, and we hang tight during the day. After pumping and supplementing with formula over the past couple weeks, we are transitioning to exclusive nursing. She has taken to nursing like a champ, and often treats me like her personal pacifier. But it really has made my life simpler - I can stay in bed and feed her instead of having to get up and get a bottle, and I don't have to be tied to the pump. And actually, it hurts less to nurse than it did to pump! It looks like breastmilk agrees with her, and she is starting to plump up. We notice the difference in her legs and arms and her chubby cheeks. It makes me feel like I'm doing something right!

She's two weeks old today! Already! Time flies - and before we know it, she'll be crawling, then walking and talking. I'm trying to enjoy every moment with her as my baby. Steve and I look the color off of her every day, and whatever is left we just kiss it off. : ) I'll get as many kisses in now while she doesn't mind to tide me over in those difficult years to come when she won't want my kisses. But for now, she's my baby girl.

Good thing I finally packed my bag!

So, after my last entry about packing my bag for the hospital, I finally got it done on Saturday evening. It was just in time, too, since I went into labor late Sunday night/early Monday morning. See - that bag WAS magic!!

My water broke at home around 3 or 4 AM, and we made it to the hospital around 6 AM (I took my time, and my contractions were coming really close together and slowed me down quite a bit). Of course, the midwife on duty at the time we arrived didn't speak very much English, but it didn't take much to see that I was in labor, so we got hooked up to the machines and she confirmed that we were having a baby today. For some reason, I still had the thought that maybe this wasn't it, maybe that wasn't my water breaking, I just peed on myself or something. After a couple hours on the machine, the midwife who would be attending me suggested we go get breakfast and come back in an hour at 9 AM. I tried to eat, but vomited and lost some more amniotic fluid all over their bathroom. When we returned to L&D, she checked me and said it was now or never on the epidural, so we went to our labor room to await the anesthesiologist. When I arrived in my labor room, what did I see but this:

Yes, it was the famous "labor swing" from one of my earlier posts. And no, I did NOT want to try that thing.

Anyhow, the anesthesiologist finally arrived and gave me the epidural. In Germany, they only do the "walking epidural," so the only thing it did was take the edge off of the contractions for about 2 hours. I was able to relax enough and grab a quick nap (which I really needed - I had been awake all night) and then the epidural wore off and the contractions were back with a vengeance. They didn't want to top it off because I needed to feel everything to be able to push. It HURT. That's all I have to say about that. After about 30 minutes of pushing (Stephanie didn't drop on her own, so I had to work her down), Stephanie Diane Love entered the world at 2:32 PM. She came out and immediately opened her eyes as they placed her on my stomach.

She was TINY! She weighed in at 1800 grams (about 3.9 pounds) and was 43 cm long (about 16 inches). She had a tiny bit of trouble breathing, but they suctioned her and put her into an isolette with some oxygen. She didn't need any tubes or any other interventions - she was perfectly healthy, just teensy. Her apgars were 8 and 9, and she was alert and immediately recognized her Daddy's voice. She was precious, and I couldn't believe that she was actually here.

She came out smiling!

Thanks to basically having done it with no pain relief, I was up and walking very soon after delivery. Still, it HURT. Those women that say "As soon as I laid eyes on the baby, I forgot all about the pain" were LYING. I did not forget. I have not forgotten. I would do it all over again for HER, but I don't know about having any more. Besides, I don't know how I could possible love another baby as much as I love her right now.

Momma's little angel!

She is growing and growing so well. We went to the pediatrician yesterday for her 1 week check up, and she weighed in at 1900 grams, so she more than recovered her birth weight in just one week. We were kept in the hospital for 6 days so they could keep an eye on her weight. If she had lost more than 10 % of her birth weight, they would have transported her to the NICU at another hospital. Thankfully, she only lost 5 % of her birth weight, and then started to gain weight by the end of the week. The pediatrician at the hospital always seemed so surprised that she was doing so well. But I just thank God for that - I sure did a lot of praying.

The midwives were all so great at the hospital and they all fell in love with Stephanie. One told me to go on home and leave her there. Another one tried to trade me her dog for my daughter. LOL - yeah right! They were all so sweet, though, and asked that I bring her in for a visit later on when she has gotten bigger.

The food was . . . ummmm . . . different. Well, it was German. For breakfast and dinner, we got bread, cheese and cold cuts. That got kinda old. Lunch was the only hot meal of the day. They gave me a menu to pick from, but of course, it was in German, so I just randomly circled things. This is what I got on my first day - I was so stunned, I just had to take a picture:

I'm not sure exactly what it was. It tasted okay. The noodles were a weird texture. But I was feeling adventurous (and hungry) so I ate it. Later on, the patient liaison from the base came and helped me with the menu so I would know what I was picking.

Of course, I was going stir crazy in that hospital. I had no internet connection and very limited phone use, since international rates are crazy on cell phones. I didn't have sunshine on my skin for 6 days, and didn't have hardly anyone to talk to since I was the odd-American-out. We were so happy to finally walk out of that hospital! Penny's carseat dwarfed her, but she was too cute.


Of course, we are in LOVE with our little girl. Steve just can't get enough of her, and neither can I. We are rejoicing and thanking God for our little miracle!