We may actually know what we're doing!

Things actually seem to be going pretty well. Carina is still eating and pooping like a champ, yay! It looks like she has gained at least 3 ounces since Monday. Our little girl is growing so fast.

We went in for our follow-up pedi appt on Wednesday and because her numbers were so close to normal on Monday, the Dr. did not feel the need to do another blood test, hallelujah! We hate to see her so upset when they do tests like that. Later Wednesday night we discovered during a diaper change that her umbilical stump had fallen off just in time for her one week birthday! We're not sad to see it go. It was a little creepy.

Thursday my parents came to visit and held Carina the entire time. She's spoiled already. Mom brought chocolate chip cookies and they have held us together ever since, haha.

Yesterday Carina woke up with a yellow discharge in one eye so we called the pedi and they wanted to see us in the afternoon. Our friends delivered dinner around lunch time and then we took our first big outing to Babies R Us. I wanted to buy a few pumping supplies. Carina slept the entire time. Later at the pedi we found out she has an infected clogged tear duct. We have some ointment to put in her eye twice a day and we were told massaging the corner of her eye could help too. I think it looks better already today.

We had our friends Mike and Missy come to do a newborn portrait session this morning. It went extremely well. I woke Carina up from a nap so she was a little fussy but I think we got some really nice shots. Can't wait to see and share them!

So now Peter and I are hanging out while Carina naps. We'll probably grab some lunch soon. Days seem to go very nicely and Carina sticks to a pretty good every 3 hour feeding schedule but the past couple of nights have been a little harder. We wonder if she has some gas issues and gave her gas drops last night. Sometimes she's just too fussy to sleep but it all works out in the end and we all end up with at least a little sleep.

We just love being mommy and daddy!

Week One

So far, so good! The 3 of us are doing very well. Settling into some sort of routine (or as much of a routine as one can have with a newborn).

Sunday we had some visitors. Peter's parents, my brother, sister-in-law and nieces and two couples from our small group. It was a lot of fun to show off our little Pumpkin but it wore us all out, haha. Still, it was really great to see everybody. When we're pretty much house bound, it's nice to be reminded that there's a world going on outside the front door.

Monday we got a call from the pedi at 7:50 am asking if we could make a 9:10 am appt. Of course we needed to get in for our follow-up appt and we were the ones who forgot to set it up till after office hours on Friday so I said sure. We've never moved so fast! Shower, feed the baby, dress the baby, pack a diaper bag, get the baby in the carseat... it was an adventure! The appt went very smoothly. Carina weighed 6 pounds so the Dr. thinks she's on her way to gaining back her weight. She was an absolute doll for the entire visit - so content. They did have to take blood to check her jaundice levels again and of course she didn't like that but as soon as they were done she settled down. We love this kid!

Found out the acceptable levels for jaundice run on a number scale with 12 being the cap for healthy levels. Carina was 12.2 so she's really not bad at all but the Dr. wants to see her again tomorrow. I fear more blood work will be involved - poor baby. For now we're just feeding her as much as she wants and hoping she poops a lot (which she is!). I have now officially turned into one of those moms who talks about her baby's poops. Oh no!

Last night Chris and Michelle brought us lasagna for dinner. Michelle organized meals for us from friends at church (our small group, fellow Sunday school teachers, our Sunday school girls' parents). We're set with meals for the next 3 weeks! What a blessing.

This morning Peter had a few errands to run so Carina and I hung out together. We napped on the couch - her on my chest. I love it! She had a really good feeding while Peter was out and has been sleeping ever since. Probably means she'll be up and hungry again soon. I'm getting really good at one-handed typing and eating.

So that's the latest. We are all feeling and doing great. Could obviously use a bit more sleep but we may move Carina from the pack-and-play to her crib tonight so I can actually sleep in my own bed instead of on the couch. We'll see what happens!

She's here!

We had some unanticipated excitement this week!

Quick birth story. My water broke Tuesday 6/2 around 10:30 pm (I was 38 weeks 4 days). I had fallen asleep in Peter's lap on the couch while he watched Law & Order: SVU but I woke up and immediately jumped off the couch (couldn't have a ruined couch now could we). We checked into the hospital around midnight. I was given prostaglandin to get things moving around 1 am (I wasn't dilating or contracting on my own yet). Walked the halls a bit. Started on pitocin around 10 am. By 2:30 I was 4 cm and decided to go for the epidural (I highly recommend). Around 4 pm I was 9 cm. My midwife broke the last of my water and I was 10 cm by 4:30. I pushed for about 30 minutes and she was born!

Carina Noelle was born June 3rd at 5:14 pm weighing 6 pounds 7 ounces and measuring 18 inches long. She has dark blonde hair (for now) and grey/brown eyes. She is the most perfect and precious baby!

No complaints or regrets - I was very happy with the whole experience. I had some internal tearing but am recovering really well. Feeding is hard only because she is so tired and disinterested all the time but it's getting better every day. Peter and I tag teamed it last night (one on the couch and one in bed) while she slept in the pack-n-play downstairs and we both managed a good bit of sleep.

Today has been really great. We all managed to shower/bathe and Peter went out for groceries. Our neighbors brought us cookies. Carina has been eating, sleeping and well... going, haha well for us all day. She seems right on track. We were told she has just a touch of jaundice so our nurse recommended sitting her in front of a window to get some sun. I sat with her in the sun for a while and she loved it - like a little heat lamp! We should have a pedi appointment Monday so hopefully her jaundice and weight loss will not be an issue.

Thanks all for your prayers and congrats. We love you!

Peter, Amy & Carina

Are We There Yet?

Not much to report. Peter and I have been pretty lazy lately and I guess that's a good thing. Spent some time this weekend taking walks and taking naps. One of my best friends had a beautiful baby girl on Saturday! Obviously a more eventful weekend than ours, haha.

Had a Dr. appointment today. Nothing too exciting. Weight, blood pressure, and baby's heart rate were all good. Met another of the 4 doctors at my practice. I'm only scheduled to meet 3 of the 4. Next week I see a midwife. Of course I hope I won't make it to my appointment next week. The Dr. was only too kind to remind me today that most first time moms deliver in the 10 days following their due date. Thanks Doc, very encouraging.

Gonna go work on cleaning the house since I was too lazy to do it over the weekend!

Holiday Weekend

A day off from work is always appreciated in the Jones house. Friday after work we took our cars to the local police station and they inspected our car seat bases and car seat. We had installed them pretty well ourselves (the very helpful police officer gave us a B+) but he just made it all a bit more snug. We feel better now.

Saturday we went grocery shopping and then went to the mall. I wanted some $1 Old Navy flip flops. By the time we got there around noon, there were only black and brown flip flops left (which is what I wanted anyway) and we had to wait in line 30 minutes to pay for them. Crazy! Then I came home and napped.

Sunday my parents and nieces came to visit for the day. We had pizza for lunch and Friendly's for dinner. My Dad helped Peter install our screen door and Mom cleaned our shower. I'm spoiled and I love it.

Monday we slept in, finally, and then we dropped off my car at the garage for inspection and stopped at Artsfest on our way home. We did a lot of walking, maybe 2 miles or so. Amazingly I didn't swell too badly but Peter and I did each get a little sunburn. Peter volunteered at the at shelter and I made hot dogs and beans for dinner - our own little picnic.

Yesterday Peter had another day off and I took a half day. I had a Dr. appointment and that went very well. Nothing exciting. Weight and blood pressure good. Baby's heart rate good. No signs of labor that I know of. We're just waiting!

I'm Not on Vacation

Just thought I'd clarify. I know someone who just got back from Florida, someone just about to leave for Florida, someone in the Dominican Republic and someone in Las Vegas. Yet I'm at home... working. It makes me sad.

However, if I must be home, at least it's been a good week. Saturday we took Nutmeg to the vet for ear mites. This is probably the 3rd time they've come back and we want them gone for good before the baby arrives. Fortunately Kenny doesn't get them as well, they can be very contagious. So now we're giving her ear drops twice a day. Not so easy.

We went into Harrisburg to have my driver's lisence renewed. Figured that would be easier to do before the baby arrives as well. Funny how our schedule is already dictated by this yet to be born baby. After that we went grocery shopping and then visited Greek Fest at our local Greek Orthodox church. We go every year and the food is amazing. We brought home dinner and dessert and enjoyed a very lazy evening.

Sunday we taught Sunday school and then ran a few errands. Peter's Dad visited on his way home from Baltimore. I made cookies and froze a bunch so I have some homemade cookies to eat after the baby is born. I've already got some meatloaf and chicken rice tortillas in the freezer for later and I'm adding a lasagna tonight. We will not starve after having a baby. I know our friends at church will take care of us too. Peter says they owe us because we've provided meals for 3 other families when they had children, haha. Karma points at a Brethren in Christ church?

I had another great Dr. appointment this morning. Nothing too exciting but everything still looks terrific. The midwife said "See you again next week unless you have that baby." and I just thought "Yeah, right.". This Friday I'll be full term (37 weeks) so it's safe for baby to come anytime. I think it'll definitely be June before she arrives though. Just my feeling.

One Month to Go!

We're hoping to meet our little Pumpkin in less than a month. It feels both very close and so far away at the same time. I started packing for the hospital this week and feel that we have most everything we need. I even got 3 free diapers in the mail today! We picked up our stroller and car seat last week and Peter put them together. We still need to install the car seat bases in our cars but then we're set to go.

This past Saturday we went to Philly with friends. For her birthday, one of our small group friends wanted to visit a medical museum. It was the weirdest, grossest stuff I've ever seen. The best part was the gift shop (complete with syringe pens and gummy tape worms). We also saw the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. We had beautiful weather and overall a really good day. It may be a while before we fit in another day trip like that.

Monday I had a very good Dr. appointment. I met another of the 4 doctors and I'm only scheduled to meet one more. I bet the one I don't meet is the one on call when I deliver, haha. I'm sure they're all fantastic. Blood pressure, weight and baby's heart rate were all good. I'm going to weekly appointments now. The end is in sight!

As I'm sure you picked up from this post, I'm ready to have this baby. However, I'm still feeling terrific! Peter and I are just so excited to meet our little lady and learn what parenting is all about. So to balance the post a little I thought I'd list a few of my favorite things about being pregnant:

1) Without a doubt, THE best thing about pregnancy is baby movement. I love feeling hiccups and jabs and stretches. I love that I was able to feel movement so early and Peter could feel it from the very beginning too! I love seeing the movement from the outside - little volcano peaks when she pushes an elbow or heel out, seeing a hand or foot move quickly from one side of my belly to the other, jiggles, belly quakes, big butt lumps. It's all so amazing and awesome. I'm really going to miss it.

2) Maternity clothing. All of my clothes are very comfotable. I haven't buttoned a button or zipped a zipper in months! And best of all - I can get away with being more casual at work because it's very easy for me to say "This is all I had that was clean and fit me!".

3) Not cleaning the litter box. Peter is a saint. Not only has he taken over the litter box duty but he's always offering to do the dishes or the laundry or absolutely anything else I just don't feel like doing. I'm a lucky, lucky girl.

4) Baby clothes! We have an entire nursery full of the cutest little clothes you will ever see. We are so richly blessed by friends and family and it is definitely one of the best things about being pregnant.

5) Naps. I get to take them whenever I want... guilt free!

So there you go. I do enjoy being pregnant very much. I'm just at the point where the idea of holding my little girl in my arms is much more appealing than having this belly.