Bouncing Baby #25 - First Month

Hello my wonderful readers! Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope you have loved this series as much as I have loved writing it about preparing and eventually introducing you to our wonderful bundle of joy, Penelope. She is now a month old today actually as you read this, which it seems like this month has flown by super fast! We have definitely had a heck of a time adjusting to a newborn's sleep schedule. My husband and I are exhausted still and can't seem to catch up on sleep but we love our little bundle of growing joy.

On another note, I was planning on breastfeeding for the first six months and I actually have gotten an infection and had to take antibiotics. I have been pumping what I can but it isn't enough for her to eat and be full so we have gone to formula. It has been so hard for me to give her formula because I was so set on breastfeeding her and everything I had read said that was the best for her over formula. So when she wasn't getting enough to eat and I had to give her formula, I had a break down because I was upset I couldn't give her what she needed and what my body was made to give her. But with my husband and mother's support I have gotten ok with the fact of feeding her formula and that she will have everything she needs with formula and what breast milk I can give her.

She has her good nights and bad nights. Some nights she screams all night and won't go to sleep ever and some nights she sleeps at 4 hours at a time, which is amazing. We take turns on taking care of her at night, my husband is a wonderful father. He has amazed me so much with taking care of Penelope and the love he gives her. 

It has been a big change of life having her and I don't think anyone can ever prepare for this change of life with all the classes and books and unwanted advice. We struggle to have time for the two of us but when we do have time together its very special now. 

I know this is kind of a mix of thoughts and I hope to get back on posting to the blog with more posts that make sense haha. We are getting better at things with us and the baby everyday and hope to that it continues on that path. Loves. 

Bouncing Baby #24 - Labor and Delivery

Hello my wonderful readers! **I am going to give a warning at the beginning of this post that there might be some graphic descriptions, because of having no other way to describe certain things but I will try to be as least graphic as possible.**

On Sunday, October 26, 2014 at around 4am I was woken up by a weird feeling in between my legs. I reached down to feel what was going on and my pants were completely soaked from my crotch to my knees, my water had broke. I woke my husband up and told him, he proceeded to change his clothes while I changed my pants and called labor and delivery at the hospital to tell them we were on our way. We thankfully had everything in the car already and I just needed to grab my wallet. We made it to the hospital by 4:30am and I went into triage to be examined. I was still only dilated to a 1 just like at my appointment earlier that week. We were in triage being monitored for about an hour or two, then we went up to the delivery room. The delivery room was like a suite at a hotel besides the bed being so uncomfortable. At this point I had not really had any contractions. My parents arrived about 7-730am at our room. I walked the halls over and over to try to get things started naturally but it just didn't happen. I ended up having to have pitocin to get my contractions started, they gave that to me about 9-10am. Then they kept turning up the dose every hour and the contractions started coming on strong. I was hurting but I was determined to try to get her out. I labored until about 8pm and that's when they took my blood pressure and determined it was at stroke level and they had to give me an epidural to get it down otherwise the baby and me would both be in trouble. I felt bad for getting the epidural because I was determined to not have one so bad. I got it and slept off and on through out the night. I labored off and on as well all night and was only dilated to a 4. 

Monday, October 27th rolled around and she still wasn't any closer to being here. I labored all day and really most of the day was a blur to me. At about 9am they came in and told me that I was at a 6 and they would give me about 4-6 more hours then they would have to do a c-section, that would be about 3pm. They upped my pitocin and my contractions came back strong and close together. At about 1:45pm I was finally dilated and ready to push. I pushed for 45 minutes and out she came. She got a little stuck on her shoulder when she was coming out so they had to help her out quickly. She was completely purple so they had to cut the cord and take her to the baby table next to my bed to check her out quickly. Aaron unfortunately did not get to cut the cord because of this. She was completely healthy. At 2:29pm Penelope Ann Thorsen came into the world after about 30 hours of labor and 34 1/2 hours since my water had broke. We spent almost 4 days in the hospital from start to finish. A long 4 days! She was 8lbs 3oz, 20.4 inches long. She is perfect in every way. She had a full head of dark hair. It was for sure the hardest thing I have ever done in my life! My husband, Aaron, was amazing through the whole thing, I think he maybe laid down on the couch once to sleep for 15 minutes, otherwise he was by my side holding my hand the whole time. I love him so very much, and to see him finally look into his daughter's eyes for the first time was amazing! I have never seen my husband cry before and he did that day because he was so happy to see her and hold her! They finally stitched me up and gave her back to me to hold for the first time and the overwhelming feeling of her in my arms finally was so amazing! I cried of course because I was so happy (plus my hormones were completely crazy haha). I would never trade anything in the world for the experience and getting to take home my beautiful baby girl! Loves. 

Bouncing Baby #23 - I Introduce to You Penelope Ann!

Hello my wonderful readers! I am so excited to introduce you to Penelope Ann Thorsen!! Born October 27, 2014 at 2:29 pm. She was 8 pounds 3 ounces and 20.4 inches long. She is just perfect, but I could be bias.

 This was her first picture :-)

 In the hospital in mommy's arms.

Hanging out with daddy after we got home. 

This is her after her first bath on Halloween night. 

 Her daddy was sent to the store to get a "My first Halloween" onesie and he came home with this adorable little Batgirl outfit off the clearance rack :-)

Just hanging out at home with mommy and daddy. 

I hope you love these pictures of our newest addition to our family as much as we do, don't worry there will be plenty more to come. Loves. 

Apple Hill Visit 2014

Hello my wonderful readers! About a couple weeks ago my brother, sister in law to be and niece came to visit us and we went to Apple Hill. Apple Hill is one of my favorite places and now that we live 30 minutes from it I am so happy. My sister in law to be had never been so it was her first time and she really liked it. My niece will be 2 this month and it was her first time as well and she got so tired out from all the fun that she didn't even make it to the last place because she fell asleep haha. 

 My niece had fun in the small kids pumpkin patch at one of the places we went. 

 We went to our favorite brewery since my brother had never been there and Aaron wanted to take him there. 

 We went to an actual pumpkin patch for the last place, my sister in law to be and niece stayed in the car because my niece fell asleep. 

Well I hope you enjoyed the post about one of my favorite places. Loves. 

Bouncing Baby #22 - Everything Else Needed for Baby

Hello my wonderful readers! We made our big trip to Target and Babies R Us to use our completion coupons for some of the things left on our registries. We decided that we would try to get anything that she would need through 6 months first then the rest of the stuff we can get later. We didn't get much at Target because our registry was small anyways so there wasn't much left. Some extra sleep and plays, onesies and storage containers. We also got all the stuff for the medicine cabinet like: gas drops, saline solution, teething tablets and infant Tylenol. We got a nightlight so we won't be tripping over everything on the way to get her in the middle of the night. The big haul was Babies R Us because most of our registry was there. We started with breast pump and the steam bags to clean it, storage bags for milk, nipple cream and breast pads. We went on to bottles, bottle brushes, nipples, pacifier clip and pacifiers. We got a Vicks vaporizer for our room because that is where she will be sleeping and I heard they are good for stuffy rooms, which ours can get from time to time. We got everything she will need for her car seat: mirror and strap covers. Everything to take a bath was next on the list: lotions, soaps, spout cover and hooded towels. We got a few more receiving blankets and burp cloths, along with a changing pad cover and liners, also grabbed one more swaddle me blanket. We got a baby book which I have had so much fun filling in the first parts about me and Aaron meeting and finding out we were having her. We bought her one toy, the one where you stack the different size rings, almost everyone has had one growing up (both of us included). We got a nose aspirator and butt paste diaper cream. Then we went to Target.com and got her four classic children's books we both loved as a kids and a Pink glow worm (which we both also had as a kid). It was exhausting but so much fun and relieving all at once to get everything she needs and we want her to have. Now I have to wash all that needs it and put it all away in its place. Hope your getting as excited for her arrival as we are. Loves. 

Bouncing Baby #21 - Weeks 37 & 38

Hello my wonderful readers! Week 37 has started out pretty darn good. I am feeling good besides the fatigue I have fought all pregnancy. I woke up Tuesday and felt like I could breathe a little easier and a little pressure in my pelvis so I think she has dropped just a little. Also Tuesday was Moms group at church and we had a wonderful speaker talk on how to teach and show your children the Bible, it was wonderful, I took lots of notes. I got all the rest of the stuff needed for the hospital and our bags are packed and ready to go when Penelope decides she wants to come. Aaron put the car seat in the car Wednesday and I got all the things for the doggy ready for my dad to come when we are at the hospital. This week we also went shopping for the rest of the stuff we thought we needed off our registries, which was relieving to do (keep your eyes peeled for that post). I feel like we are prepared now with all that we need. We ended the week with a nice little lunch baby shower thrown for us by Aaron's work, they are awesome! Below is me at 37 weeks, Full Term!!!

Week 38 started out with my list of things I wanted to deep clean each day to get ready for Penelope to come, everyone calls it nesting, list started with deep cleaning the kitchen, bathroom and spot cleaning the carpet and everything in between.  Also I am very into scrapbooking so I was able to finish all the pages I wanted to get done before she comes including our wedding, it is always a relaxing activity for me. (maybe down the road I can do a post with some of my scrapbook pages I've done) We put the bags and anything else besides the last minute things in the car so they are ready when she is. Tuesday was a busy but wonderful day. Started out with my last time going to Moms group until after the first of year because I'm not going to the second session due to baby coming. We had a wonderful craft where I made a little something to keep track of feedings for Penelope. After the group I went and got myself a pedicure and haircut, it was relaxing and felt good to do something for myself, even though a lot of the time I do feel guilty doing stuff for myself. Below is my purple toenails and my new haircut (back to bangs and just short enough to still fit in a pony tail), don't mind my swollen feet haha. 

After the pedicure and haircut, Aaron came home from work and we went to the doctor for our routine visit for 38 weeks. My blood pressure is wonderful just like it has been this whole time, Penelope's heart rate is good also, just like it has been and for the important part, she is head down! And I am dilated 1 cm and 60% effaced. It's very exciting to know she is on her way already coming out. The rest of the week is just finishing my list of nesting and resting and waiting for her arrival. Hope your just as excited for her to come as we are. Loves.

Bouncing Baby #20 - Baby Showers :-)

Hello my wonderful readers! We were lucky enough to have three baby showers thrown for us by both of our mothers and Aaron's work. My mom's shower was first on September 27th at about 35 weeks pregnant. My mom held her's at her house in Ceres in the backyard and just had a relaxed atmosphere, which is what I like. She had a hot dog bar for the food, with all the toppings that me and my husband love on hot dogs.

 We got a lot of good stuff that Penelope will use a lot, these are just a few of the pictures. 

 Aaron liked the food, hence his thumbs up haha. 

 Above is my niece riding on my grandma's walker, she just discovered she could do that and wouldn't get off haha. Below is me and my awesome friends, first one is Sharayah she is about 24 weeks pregnant here with a baby boy :-), next is my friend Mallory, I'm sure you have seen her in multiple posts :-).

 Above is me and my cousin Ashlee, she came from LA to the shower, next is me and Aaron with my brother. Below is me and my mom and then me and Aaron with our beautiful cake. 

This cake tasted amazing! It was white cake with strawberry filling with "the good" frosting whipped cream frosting haha. Overall we had a wonderful time at the shower and were so thankful for everyone and everything.

My mother in law's shower was next, on October 11th at about 37 weeks pregnant. My mother in law held her's at her house as well, in Brentwood, which is the house we used to live in. The theme was Peter Rabbit. Everything was done so beautiful and we had delicious food thanks to our family members. 

 

Above left is Aaron demonstrating how tiny she is going to be haha. To the right is us cutting our beautiful cake. 

The backyard looked amazing and the decorations were beautiful. 

 

 

We were blessed by so many people with so much wonderful stuff for baby Penelope.

Above is a good picture of me, Aaron, his mom and godparents.

Above is a good one of my parents and below is a good one of my grandparents.

Above left is my mother in law and to the right is a good one of Aaron and one of his favorite cousins. 

Above is a wonderful diaper cake we received with so many little goodies, below is a picture of our beautiful cake. 

Overall the shower was wonderful and beautiful and we were so very blessed by our friends and family and we are so thankful for it all. 

The last shower was held on October 17th at almost 38 weeks pregnant. It was thrown by my husband's work and was a really nice little lunch where they gave us a great gift and we are so very thankful for them and all they do. 

We now need to quickly find out what we have a need for left and get it before she decides it's time to make her appearance. Exciting and nervous is this mommy to be. Loves.