2 month check up!

We just got back from Makenzie's 2 month check up. She's doing great!!! At her last visit (2 weeks old) she was 7lbs 7oz and 19in. Today she's 11lbs 8 oz and 22 1/4in!!! My little girl is getting soooo big! She got 4 shots today and she did really good. She cried (and broke Mommy's heart) but by the time I was done getting her dressed she was smiling and cooing again. The doctor says she's doing wonderful and whatever Art & I are doing, keep it up! That made me feel good since this is our first time at this parenting thing =)

Now we're just going to relax until it's time to go to her first Halloween party at 4:00. I'll be sure to post lots of pics tomorrow. Here's her two month shot:

8 Weeks!!!

Today Makenzie is 8 weeks! 8 weeks?!?!?! I can't believe my little girl is almost 2 months. The time is going so fast. Today is my last day of disability which means if I wasn't going to start working from home I'd have to go back to work on Monday! I can't even imagine. She's still so young but she's getting bigger every day. She's holding up her head so well and her legs are getting stronger every day. I try to put her down for tummy time but she really hates it. She'll only last about 2-5 minutes. She stays awake longer now and is really alert! She's "talking" up a storm and smiles all day long. It melts my heart when I look at her and say hello and she just smiles and laughs. God I love her so much!!!

I'm actually looking forward to start working a little from home on Monday. It'll keep me busy. Not that she doesn't keep me busy but this will get me away from the TV! I watch every reality and talk show there is! It's gotten so bad I DVR The People's Court. Can you believe that????

We're also getting ready for her Christening on November 16th. My brother and Ariana are coming up from Florida and I'm so excited for it! My brother hasn't met his Goddaughter yet and he tells me everyday that he can't wait to see her. I can't wait to see Makenzie and Ariana together! There will be some pretty cute pictures to take =)

I'm so blessed!

I haven't been able to write in a while. Miss Makenzie is keeping me busy! I'm typing this as she is sound asleep on my chest. I promise to try to post more often about how she's doing and how she's changed!

I have been a little emotional in the last few days/weeks so brace yourselves because this may end up being a mushy post...LOL! Having Makenzie has really made me look around at what I have in my life and appreciate everything and everyone around me so much more. My Husband, my Mother, my Friends and Family, I've honestly seen everyone in a different light.

As I've already stated numerous times, my husband is an amazing man and I am damn lucky to have met him. After 9 years together I love him more at this moment in my life than I ever have. To see him as a Father and to watch him with Makenzie honestly brings tears to my eyes. The way he plays with her, the way he holds her, the way she instantly falls asleep when she puts her head on his chest. Probably because she feels safe and loved just the way I do when I'm in his arms. It's beautiful to see a grown man absolutely melt at the sight of his daughter. I could watch the two of them for hours. He's also been so amazing to me. I can't believe how much he has changed. He's doing so much more for me since I'm busy with Makenzie. The other day he scrubbed the bathroom for me, even the toilet! Now that's love...LOL!!! Most of all he's been extra loving and caring to me, which at some points I really need because I get overwhelmed and get very emotional. I honestly don't know what I'd do without him. The other night when we were on our date he gave me a necklace with a pendant. It's a square with Makenzie's birthstone and a diamond on top of it. I love it! It's beautiful and it meant so much to me!

I also couldn't do this without my Mother. Wow, she been amazing to both me and Arthur. She is so much more than my Mother, she's my best friend, my rock. She gets me through a lot and helps us so much. Art always makes comments about how much he appreciates having my Mother around. I only wish I can be to Makenzie what she is to me. She is truly inspiring to me.

And my friends. I have to say I've fallen in love with each of them all over again, especially Alli & Jill. The way they are there for me and the way they love my daughter is beautiful. I cherish them all so much and am so happy that, after all these years, they are still in my life.

And of course my in-laws. They have always been great to me but to see them react to Makenzie is so sweet. I love to see my father-in-law with her. He just can't get enough of her and if he could he'd hold her 24 hours a day. Karen has been wonderful and is always coming over to see her! Even Sweetie Pie is fascinated with her! But I'll never forget the way Patrick reacted to her the first time he saw her in the hospital. It's a side I never thought I'd see from him.

It is so amazing to see how one little girl can bring so much happiness to so many people. I feel so blessed every day that I get to wake up every day (and every night!) to her beautiful, smiling face. She will only be 7 weeks tomorrow and I feel like she's grown so much. Her personality is starting to come out now and it's so fun to see. She is a true miracle, an absolute angel! I have a love in my heart for her that I can never explain. Arthur & I were sitting on the couch the other night with Makenzie and I looked at them both and said "I have never been as happy as I am at this moment in my life!" It just can't get any better than this!

It's been a while!

Makenzie and I are doing great! The end of last week she started getting real gassy and she looked so uncomfortable. I tried Mylicon drops and they helped a little but she still looked like she was in so much pain when she tried to pass gas. So on Saturday I decided to switch her formula. I was reading reviews of the Enfamil Lipil and a lot of people said it made their child gassy because of the amount of iron in it. So we switched her to Similac and over the last few days you can tell she's been better. She's been sleeping pretty good. She has her longest stretch of sleep at night. She'll take a bottle at about 8 and when she falls asleep she won't wake up until 1 or 2 a.m. After that she's up every 3 hours which isn't bad at all. She isn't sleeping much during the day though. She'll fall asleep on me and when I try to move her to her pack n play, her swing or her bouncy seat she'll either sleep for only 30 minutes or she'll wake up right away so it's been tough trying to get things done around the house with her not sleeping. BUT there is hope! I just got the Moby wrap and it's wonderful. I can carry her around and still have both my hands. What a wonderful invention!!

Art & I are doing good. I must admit the beginning was tough. It took us a while to adjust and get into a routine with the two of us but I think we got a handle on it now. We're going on a date next Saturday! Art says it's important that we have some alone time and not neglect our relationship so Nana is going to watch the baby and he's taking me out! How cute is he?

Sunday my little girl will be a month already! I just can't believe it! I know they say it goes quick but my God that was too fast! She's becoming so alert! When we put her in her swing and put her mobile on with the twinkling lights she looks up at the lights. She's smiling like crazy and she's starting to make little coo noises. She's doing great with her head too. She can hold it up for just a little while. We've been putting her on her tummy time mat so she can practice and get stronger. She looks so much like her father though! I couldn't see it at first but I see it now! It's so funny, she's totally a mini-Arthur...LOL!

Being a Mother is such a wonderful thing! It is one of the most rewarding gifts! I sometimes just sit and stare at her and try to take it all in and it amazes me. I'm amazed that she's my daughter and that I'm a Mother and I'm amazed that my Husband and I created such a perfect little girl. I'm so incredibly happy and in love right now!!!

We did lots this week!

Monday was our first trip out of the house. Makenzie had her first doctor appointment so Art & I got her all bundled up, put her in the car seat and went on our way. Everything went great! Makenzie gained 9 ounces and is back up to her birth weight (she was 6lbs 14oz when we left the hospital). Doctor says she looks good so I guess Art & I are doing something right as parents! Now we won't have to go back until she's 2 months.

Tuesday my Mom and I took her out on her first walk in her carriage. It was really nice to get out of the house, walk a little and get some fresh air. And Makenzie seemed to like it too.

Makenzie is doing great! She is such a good baby. The only time she'll cry is if she's hungry or needs to be changed. Other than that she sleeps, eats & poops! I love it when she's wide awake. She'll just lay there in my arms and look around for an hour. It's the cutest thing. The nights aren't that bad. She'll sleep anywhere between 3-5 hours. I'll feed her and then she'll go right back to bed. She doesn't sleep too long in her bassinet so I'll just pick her up and let her sleep on me. I'm just so happy she's doing so well!

Daddy & I are getting used to having a baby in the house now. It's such a huge adjustment but we're working together to get into a routine. Arthur is so good with Makenzie. He's such a proud father and it's so beautiful to see.

Today I had a my post labor doctor appointment so they can check my incision. The doctor was a little concerned because it's a little red & swollen so she's putting me on antibiotics. If it doesn't start to get better in 3 days I have to go back to the doctor next week. So we'll see what happens. After the doctor we went to visit Daddy at work so he can show her off to all his co-workers. Then we went to Mommy's work to show her off there. It was real nice to get out of the house and see everyone.

Monday my Mom goes back to work. I don't know what I'm going to do without her here. I'm actually a little scared to do this all on my own. I just hope I'll do ok. It's not like I haven't been home alone with the baby, I have. But it's so great having my Mom here to help out. I may just have to have her retire and hire her as a permanent nanny!!!

One Week Old!

I can't believe Makenzie is a week old already! The first few days have been hectic to say the least. The first day was good. Makenzie was eating and taking her naps like a good little girl. Then the night came! I don't think she likes her bassinet too much. Every time we put her down she'll stay asleep for about an hour and then wake up. The only way I can get her to stay asleep is if I have her sleep on me.



Breastfeeding is hard! Maybe more frustrating than hard. Like I said, the first day was good, she was eating and sleeping good. But then she started wanting to eat about every 1 1/2 hours. By the second day she wasn't napping either. So obviously she wasn't getting fed enough and was hungry and tired. The second night I think we both slept about 2 hours. The third night started the same, she went to bed at about 10 and woke up at 11. She would not latch on at all and was crying. So I grabbed a bottle (Yes, a bottle. I'm a bad Mother already!) and fed her and she fell asleep right away. I took her into the bed and had her sleep on my chest (I wasn't risking waking her up by putting her in her bassinet). She slept good and woke up about 1:30 so I fed her again. She fell asleep and didn't wake up until 5:30! I was so happy!!! 1) Because my little girl was fed and nice and rested. 2) Because I got more than an hour sleep...LOL!!! Today is going much better! I woke up and nursed her and she did good. She then napped for about 2 hours. While she slept, I pumped. So I'm going to try that for now.

I'm feeling good though. I'm still recovering from the c-section. Art went back to work on Wednesday and Thursday but is off Friday and Monday. My Mom has been here with me helping out. She's been great! I can actually stay off my feet while she's here which is helping my recovery a lot! Plus, I don't think she minds the Nana-Makenzie time. She's off the whole next week too so she'll be here helping. I don't know what I'm going to do when she goes back to work though! I may cry hysterical since my hormones have been CRAZY lately!!!

She's finally here!!!

I can't believe I'm finally going to post this but I'm finally a Mommy!!!! Makenzie Ellen Crist was born via c-section on August 28, 2008 at 5:39 p.m. She was 7 pounds 7 ounces and 19 inches long. She is just absolutely beautiful. She has this beautiful full head of brown and blond hair (yes, my daughter was born with what looks like highlights) and the blondest eyebrows AND what looks like light eyes, maybe even blue!!! She's making her Daddy very proud! Arthur & I are completely in love with her. We just stare at her amazed that she is ours and even more amazed that we created her. It is the craziest feeling in the world! I think what I'm enjoying almost as much as my daughter is seeing my husband with her. He has been so wonderful! I knew when she arrived Art would be good with her but he has been beyond words. Since I had a c-section I wasn't able to do a lot in the first day or two and he completely stepped up and has taken control. It is simply beautiful to see him hold her in his arms and smile at her and kiss her. I fall in love with them both all over again.

My labor wasn't the easiest labor. It was long and at parts painful (what labor isn't) but I got through it with the help of my two WONDERFUL coaches, Arthur and my Mother. I honestly don't know what I would have done without either of them. And, to be honest, I don't know what they would have done without each other. Each one of them played such an important part and was there by my side holding my hand (and my legs...LOL). They are two amazing people and I'm so lucky to have them in my life. So here is my birth story. It starts on Wednesday afternoon, after my last post on this blog.

So after my doctor appointment they called me and told me I was scheduled to come into the hospital on Tuesday September 2nd for an induction. Not the ideal plan for Arthur & I but at this point we'll take what we can get. The whole afternoon I was cramping. Like the cramps I started getting in the morning so I was anxious to see if the contractions would start up again. Arthur came home around 5 and we ate dinner as usual. At around 7 p.m. the contractions started. They were spread out in the beginning ranging anywhere from 30-40 minutes apart. Then they got to about 15 minutes apart. They stayed like that for a few hours. At 11 Art & I decided to go up to bed. I didn't sleep much considering I was still having contractions and they continued to wake me up but I slept here and there. All of a sudden, at about 12:45 a really strong contraction woke me up. I looked at the clock and the next one came 6 minutes later. I told Art I was going to go downstairs to lay on the couch. If they continued to stay this far apart I'd wake him up. Well, from 1 to 2 they ranged between 3 and 6 minutes apart. I ran upstairs, woke Art up and called the doctor. She told me to get to the hospital. Art and I showered, packed up the last minute items in our bag and headed to the hospital. The whole way there we were both kind of shocked that "it" was finally happening. So many times we drove down this road and we would always say "One day it will be for real" and that moment had finally arrived. So we got to the hospital at about 3 and was all checked in and showed to our room by 3:30. They hooked me up to the monitors and did an internal. I was already 4 cm dilated. So they told me I was staying and that the doctor would be in in about a half hour to check me. She finally arrived about an hour later and I was already 5 cm. The doctor and nurse said I was progressing nicely so we decided to get the epi now instead of waiting until it was too late. So they gave me the epi. Not the most enjoyable procedure I've ever been through but I'll tell ya, TOTALLY worth it!!! It is a complete miracle drug! From that point I didn't feel ANYTHING! I got some sleep and relaxed as much as I could for the rest of my labor. At about 7 a.m. the doctor came back in and I hadn't progressed at all so she broke my water. From that point to about 9:00 I still had no progress so the doctor started the pitocin. From there it was just a waiting game. Like I said, I was very comfortable and actually got to sleep a lot of the time. At about 12 the doctor came in to check me again and I was 8-9 cm. FINALLY! She told me to lay on my side for a while to help me progress. Well I don't know what laying on my side did but I was on my right side and my left leg started killing me. It's like the epi stopped working and I felt every contraction just in that leg. It was the craziest thing. I was in so much pain for that hour. I tried moving around, getting up, stretching, breathing...nothing worked. Finally, after an hour of complaining, they gave me another shot and the pain stopped. Why they didn't do that sooner I'll never know!!! So now it's 1:00 and I'm fully dilated. The doctor said the baby was still a little high but it was time to start pushing. Pushing is no joke! I put everything I had into every pushing. I pushed on my back, on my left side, on my right side and my baby girl just wouldn't budge! She just wouldn't come down. 2:00 came and went and still nothing. Finally at about 2:30 the doctor inserted a monitor of some sort (not sure what it was called) to better watch the baby's heartbeat. She said if the baby was fine than she had no problem letting me push for 2 hours if that's what it took (I cried when she said that) but if she sees there's a problem with the baby she's going to recommend a c-section. Well the baby wasn't in distress but her heartbeat was dropping after every contraction. She said that, combined with the fact that she was still so high and it took me so long to progress from 5 to 10 cm, she was recommending a c-section. It's not the way I wanted to go but I wanted what was best for the baby and I honestly didn't have it in me to push for another two hours so we agreed. They started prepping me and Art for the c-section. My Mom went out to tell my friends who were in the waiting room what was going on. I must admit I was scared. I just wanted this part over. I wanted to know my baby was going to be alright. I wanted to hear her little cry and see her little face. They brought me into the operating room and got me all hooked up. Finally, they brought Art in and they started. I just laid there holding Art's hand, squeezing the hell out of Art's hand, and anxiously awaiting that little cry. Finally I heard them say "She's out" and the doctor lifted her up above the wall and said "Katie, here's your daughter!" It was only for a brief second but I saw her and she was unbelievable! She was finally here! She was right there in that room with us. I heard Art saying "Oh My God" over and over again. The only thing that took away from that moment was that I couldn't hold her. I told Art to go over and see her and take a picture to show me. He didn't want to leave my side but I made him. He came back with a bunch of pictures and a video and showed me. But I still didn't hear her cry. She let out a few little cries but that was it. All I kept saying was "Why isn't she crying?"
Art then had to leave to go with Makenzie to the nursery while they stitched me up. I gave him a huge kiss and told him to watch out for our girl and I'd see him later. They then took him to "ring the bell." At St. Clare's whenever a child is born they tell the father to ring a bell and a lullaby rings throughout the whole hospital. While he was doing that I was being "put back together." That hurt so much more than I expected it too. Wow! That was the worst part out of the whole process.

Next thing I remember I was in recover and Art was there. They had to keep me there for a little while and then they started to bring me back to the room. I couldn't wait because I still hadn't seen my little girl or held her. We finally arrived back in the room and my Mom and best friends Jill and Alli came in. Talk about wonderful friends, they waited there the whole time so they could see me and Makenzie (well, mostly Makenzie but I think they wanted to see me too). And finally, my husband came walking in rolling my daughter in her little crib. He picked her up and handed her to me and I just cried. I couldn't believe I was finally holding her. This perfect little human being, our daughter, was finally in my arms. She looks gorgeous. The perfect little face, little hands and feet and toes and fingers. Everything about her was just perfect. It was the most memorable moment in my entire life. The rest of the night was spent with our family and friends meeting Makenzie. Art's family came up and everyone just fell in love with her. Uncle Patrick even cried when he held his niece for the first time. It was a beautiful, special night and I'm so glad so many people were there to share it with us. Everyone finally left and Arthur & I decided to send Makenzie to the nursery for the night since I was in a lot of pain and couldn't get out of bed. But we got her back first thing the next morning.

I had to spend the next few days in the hospital. Four nights to be exact. I'm actually being released tomorrow. The last couple of days have been good. Between me trying to recover and trying to get to know Makenzie it's been busy but we're all getting the hang of it. I'm feeling much better. I was up and walking around today. Doing laps around the maternity ward. I'm breastfeeding Makenzie and so far it's going pretty good. She's latching on just fine. My only problem is getting her to stay awake during her feedings. But we're all learning and with time we'll all get the hang of things.

Arthur is absolutely amazing with Makenzie. I love watching him lay on the couch with her on his chest. They both fall asleep and it's just so beautiful. I just can't get enough of them. It's the most beautiful thing.

Anyway, that is my story. Like I said, we're going home tomorrow so I'm sure I'll have lots of stories to share. Wish us luck!!!

PS-Saturday my friend Alicia (who did my Maternity pics) came to the hospital to take some newborn pics of Makenzie. Of course she did an amazing job! Here are a few:

http://www.aliciagouldphotography.com/blog/