First Days

One thing I've learned by now, is how FAST these first days, weeks, months go with a newborn.  I'm forcing myself to take this rare quiet moment to remember (and share)...because I don't want these precious fleeting days to blur together.  

Honestly, I think I'd be content to sit in my rocking chair staring at my baby girl's sweet face, all day long.  ;)  Thanks to our moms and my husband, I've been able to do just that for over 2 weeks now.  Just look at my view...burping our baby....she's so sweet.  We've taken to affectionately calling Camille my little "glue-dot" because she's happiest when she's stuck to me like glue.  :)  So far, she loves to sleep and when she's awake, very peaceful and alert.  She's especially fascinated by her big brother and sister's antics-oh there are some funny stories to tell, but that will have to wait for another post!  

For now, here are a few fun pics from Camille's first 2 weeks...

Daddy's happy place....they're all asleep!  :)

Camille found her thumb, she'll also take the pacifier...

but that thumb's so convenient! ;)

Her first bath...not a happy camper.

Wait...is that my thumb?

Big sister, "fixing" Camille's hair. 

Reecie is my little side-kick in baby care.

We have been so fortunate to have Dan's mom and my mom (Grandma and Nana) stay with us for the last 2 1/2 weeks during this time of transition. They have helped with meals, cleaning, laundry, errands, spending quality time with Graham and Hannah Reece, and anything else we've needed along the way. We are so incredibly grateful for their gift of time with us. Camille is our first "away" baby, living far away from family. It's been different but do-able because of their time with us and for the help of precious friends we've met here in North Carolina.

Big brother had his first bout with Strep Throat this weekend. This was nerve-racking especially because Dan had class on Friday and Saturday, thank goodness Nana was here to care for Graham and provide germ-control.

Here's Miss Camille with Grandma and Nana

Introducing...

Camille Grace

March 14, 2010

7 pounds, 3 ounces

19 inches

Camille's Birth Story

This is the story of your birth day and the events leading up to it.  On Saturday, Daddy's birthday, we rode the train into Uptown Charlotte to visit the Children's Library and do a little sight-seeing while Grandma was visiting. That evening, we settled in for a movie at home.  Around 4:30pm I felt restless and the contractions were more frequent. I folded laundry, tidied up and packed our hospital bag.  Around 7:00pm, I asked daddy to write the time with each contraction, by now they were between 6-10 minutes apart, but not too uncomfortable.  Around 11 pm,  my contractions were more regular at 4 minutes apart so we headed to the hospital.  It was so good to know that your big brother and sister were safe with Grandma and sleeping soundly.  When we arrived, contractions were 1-2 minutes apart, so we registered quickly and settled into our room.  The epidural worked great, but slowed my labor, so the nurse administered Pitocin just before 3am.  At 6am the doctor broke my water, but I was still pain free!  Daddy and I enjoyed being ableto rest a bit and conversate.  This was a first!  Just a few pushes and you were born at 11:56 am on Sunday, March 14, 2010.  You had a soft cry and a head full of light brown hair.  You were our smallest baby, born about 3 weeks early, weighing 7 pounds, 18 ounces and 19 inches long.  I remember the adorable way your brow woudl furrow when you'd squint your eyes open.  I nursed you right away and then the nurse gave you  a good bath.  We had a wonderful birth experience and care at Presbyterian Hospital (uptown), but daddy and I were so grateful to be released only 24 hours after delivery.  You didn't make a peep during the 30 minute drive home!  You are a precious gift from the Lord, Camille Grace!

Love,

Momma 

Remembering...

Thinking a lot about the birth of my sweet son and daughter.  Each experience unique and wonderful, each in their own way...

Daniel Graham

Hannah Reece

Wondering and dreaming about Camille Grace....who will she look like?  Will she like to rock or walk, be a sleepy girl or alert?   I just can't wait to meet her and cradle her in my arms.  Looking forward to seeing her Daddy, brother and sister shower her with love and affection, the way they've been hoping to for the last nine months.  Thank you, Lord for this precious gift of life.

Heartburn, Hair, and a Wheelchair

Well, I finally polished off the bottle last night!  The interesting part is that it was the first night in a VERY long time that I wasn't contracting or aching anywhere, until about 1:30am I woke up with the most awful case of heartburn!   I'm absolutely *sure* it had nothing to do with the bean burrito I had for dinner, or the rasberry truffle ice cream I had for dessert. ;)

If the old-wives tale is true about all of this heartburn, then it looks like maybe Miss Camille will have a head-full of hair!??  We're getting so close...

Speaking of hair...got my 'do done today.  Something about sittin' in that chair getting fussed over is just so theraputic!   Now,  if I could just reeeeaaaach my toes to paint those puppies a cute shade of pink.  "Oh, honey!!"  :)

I scrubbed the toilets on my hands and knees yesterday and had my first set of timeable contractions later in the afternoon- every 15 minutes for about an hour and a half. 

We're super excited for the beginning of our company...Grandma (Dan's mom) arrives on Wednesday for a week, and then Nana for the two weeks after that.   It will be such a relief to see them and know that they're here at the ready when labor truly begins.

This weekend, we made a trip to this store.  It's very close to our house, and when we move back to Florida we won't be making a quick trip to paruse and eat lunch...I'm pretty sure the closest one is several hours away.  The place is so huge, that Dan plopped my hiney in a wheelchair...and that was just fine with me.  :)   We love the lunches- $6 for hotdogs, drinks and chips for a family of 4, just can't be beat!   Oh, please don't judge me for photographing my children as they climb on the displays-I told y'all these prego hormones are makin' me do crazy things!   ;)

This, my friends...

is a striped plate holder, child-head-bumper, incubator, feet hider, doggie happy place, sleep impeding, baby growing bump!

We're "officially" at 36 weeks.  Dr. says I'm 1-2 cm. dilated, 80% effaced...and in his words on Tuesday "I'll give you another week, and beyond that-it's anyone's guess!"  But we momma's know it really is anyone's guess...only the good Lord really knows....although a woman at W*l-M*rt decided to share her unsolicited opinion as well,  "you look like you gonna POP!"  Nice.  Thanks.  :)

We've been working on a little necessary cleaning and nesting around here...today has been laundry catch-up.  My mind is determined to see that mountain reduced to nothing.  My body is determined to take a long nap.  ;)

It is such a GORGEOUS day here today...high of about 49 and SO SUNNY!  We took Reecie to the playground for the first time in a very long time this afternoon.  Still a little chilly, but the sun felt so great.

Dan is so, so helpful.  He really does "carry the team" these days.  Last night he made the most delicious shepherd's pie with chunks of steak inside (have I mentioned how much I crave beef in the last few weeks?) and today he even cleaned out the drip pans on the stove because they were just nasty, and on my list of to-do's. 

Well that's enough randomness for right now, time to go fold another load!  :)

Today...