HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2012!!!!

It was too cold for the owl outfit that Mommy made, so she was a cheetah! :-)

FAMILY OF THREE!

This little cutie pie slept through the night!!!!!! 9.5 hours!!!!! Baby girl slept so long that mommy produced enough breast milk to leak through her nursing pads and still pumped 12oz. WOW!

JUST CHILLIN' IN MY BUMBO SEAT WITH MY NEW SHADES!

SWEET BABY SOUNDS!

6 WEEKS OLD!!!!!!

Dear Gracyn, 

You are 6 weeks old today!  WOW!  Hard to believe!  Mommy had her 6 weeks postpartum checkup and passed with flying colors.  Her doctor was even impressed with her weight loss!  Being 3 lbs under her pre-pregnancy weight is a very good indicator that the diabetes was strictly related to the pregnancy ....in other words, she less likely to deal with non- pregnancy related diabetes as she gets older.  Music to our ears!!!!

As for you little one....you continue to impress us with your growth and development. You seem to be on track with all of your milestones.....Your eye muscles are growing stronger each day with fewer instances of crossed eyes! YAY!  Your neck muscles are stronger as well....each day you hold your head up for longer stretches of time!  You are starting to coo and mimic sounds.  For example Daddy loves to say " whooooo, whoooo" to you.  You study his face and purse your lips in the same fashion .....sometimes the same "whoooo" sound comes out and at other times a completely different sound comes out.  Another neat thing that we have noticed several times now.....if your paci falls out of your mouth and rests on you chin/neck area, you are able to push it back in your mouth on your own!  Pretty impressive!  

The main concern that Mommy and Daddy are dealing with is your sensitive skin.  What started out as a rash around your temple area last week has slowly spread as tiny bumps over your checks, chin, neck and chest area!  It resembles baby acne.  One day the rashes are plentiful whereas the next day, the bumps seem to diminish on their own. Mommy also has to be extra careful to keep all your fat roll creases dry....especially after a bath or the skin in the creases will get raw and red.  I remember this exact problem with Caitlin as a baby....so it really doesn't surprise me that you have the same problem!  

You continue to be a champion sleeper (7 hour stretch at night) and a terrific breast feeder.  You have started to cry for the breast for comfort sucking....but Mommy doesn't mind!  She loves the feeding relationship that has developed between the two of you.  It sure will be difficult for Mommy to go back to work in the next few weeks!  But it is nice to know that your Great Grandma will be your care taker while Mommy and Daddy are at work!  LUCKY GRANDMA!

Love you with all my heart!

Grandma Dason

Sent from my iPad

5w6d- LOVE THIS FACE!!!!

HOW TO MAKE A BABY BLANKET

1. Pick two fabrics 35x30 and sew together (wrong sides together) to prevent slippage. Buy one package of silky blanket binding. I used cream colored minky swirl and a taupe satin. Got the fabrics half priced at JoAnn Fabrics!

2. Pin binding on blanket (the longer side of binding goes on the back side of the blanket). Start pinning in the middle of a side....not the corner.

3. To make a mitered corner, place a pin on the end, open binding and bend binding around the corner, push excess material at an angle to form the corner and pin.

4. When you come to the end, cut the binding two inches longer than needed and fold under to hide raw edge.

5. Sew close to the edge of the binding on the front side of the blanket. Sew corner seams closed.

6. ENJOY!

COLD WEATHER!

Looking cute in my winter hat, gloves and boots!

5w4d- BREAST MILK STASH!

Mommy is a milking machine! She is getting close to 10 oz per pumping session! She keeps two fresh bottles in the refrigerator for those times when company or trips out of the house don't lend themselves to a comfortable and private breast feeding session. The rest is frozen for when she goes back to work. The white container is full of breast milk as well. This is how the bags are frozen flat for easier stacking! :-)

BATH TIME!

VIDEO!

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

The cutest little BUCKEYE ever!!!!!!

5w4d- GOOD MORNING!

5w3d-BIG GIRL!

Look! I am holding my head up more and for longer periods of time!

SLEEPY BUTTS!

5w1d- SMILE!

NEWBORN MUST HAVES

Caitlin made a list of her favorite newborn MUST HAVES:

1. Onesies (plain white, long and short sleeves)
2. Sleepers (Footed PJs and gowns)
3. Plain white socks- not booties
4. Hair bows. ;-)
5. Swaddle blankets (Swaddle Me & Woombie)
6. Bibs and burp clothes
7. Mam Pacifiers
8. Tommie Tippee double electric breast pump, sanitizer, bottles and bottle warmer ( no nipple confusion between the breast and bottle! )
9. Baby swing
10. Bouncy vibrating seat
11. Travel stroller system with 2 car seat bases
12. Arm cushion wrap for car seat handle! :-)
13. Play Yard with changing table
14. Boppy for breast feeding and tummy time
15. Play Mat
16. Bassinet
17. Wedge to help position back and side sleeping
18. Pampers diapers and diaper rash cream.
19. Gas drops!

5 WEEKS OLD!!!!

Dear Gracyn,

First of all let me start by saying Mommy is heaven with your sleeping patterns....especially at night!  Last night you slept for a SEVEN hour stretch!!!!  Wowowowow!!!!

Your eye vision continues to develop on track!  Your eyes will cross every now and then, which is still considered normal....the exciting piece is that you are tracking objects and voices with your eyes.....using both eyes equally!!!!  All those little rattles and toys that Mommy got at the baby showers are now coming in handy!!!!

You are getting stronger by the day, lifting your head more and turning it from side to side.  You are even able to "push" with your feet (especially when you are upset) So now we need to be EXTRA careful that you do not move around unattended!  

One thing that we are still trying to figure out is how to help prevent rashes on your extra sensitive skin!  I think you are allergic to something that Mommy uses....such as lotion or makeup....so Mommy is going to start experimenting to see what it is that causes you to break out so easily.  Hopefully we figure it out soon. 

Apparently, Mommy and Daddy's jokes are getting better....because you will smile up a storm!!!  Sooooo cute!  Which, by the way is another milestone sign that your development is right on track!  

We love you Miss Gracyn!

Love Grandma Dason

Sent from my iPad

EXERCISE!

Tummy time, play mat and practice sitting in the bumbo seat have become part of Miss Gracyn's daily routine! :-)

FALL 2012

ONE MONTH OLD!!

ONE MONTH CHECK UP!

Miss Gracyn is a growing girl!!!! 10lbs. 8.5oz. and 22" long!!! She is doing well on Mommy's milk! She is even rooting and latching on with little to no help! She wears size 0-3 month clothes and size 1 diapers. She just fits into size 0/newborn shoes....some size 1 fits. She is also losing what little hair she had on top. Still sporting a little hair on sides and back (like an old man!).... Sleeping 5-7 hour stretches at night! YAY!

DO YOU LIKE MY "HATS" ???

4w2d- ARE YOU LOOKIN' AT ME!?

4w1d- TUMMY TIME!!!

As predicted she liked tummy time the first minute or so and then.....not so much! Haha!

VISITING

Great Grandma GG (my mother) came to visit with you! She is 67 yrs. old!

G & G THOMPSON

MY BEAUTIFUL GIRLS!!!

Mommy is happy to report she is 3 LBS. under her pre pregnancy weight!!! And.....this little darling slept a 7 hour stretch last night!!!! WOOT!

4w0d- GOTTA LOVE THIS FACE !

4 WEEKS OLD!!!!!

Dear Gracyn, 

YOU ARE 4 WEEKS OLD!  I can't believe it!  You are still in the cycle of feed, burp, poop, sleep and repeat......but we think you may be in the phase of starting to stay awake longer between the repeat cycles!  However, the wake periods are much more of fussiness rather than wonderment....but this too is a phase and will pass soon!  At least you are not a colicky baby.....fingers crossed!

You are still a champion breast feeder and sleeper at night.  Right now, Mommy is getting up between 2:30 and 4:00 for a nightly feed.....which is up to a 6 hours sleeping stretch!  Then generally you wake around 7:30 for a morning feed!  One reason for the GREAT sleeping stretches may be the tight swaddle at night.  You love the Woombie brand swaddle!!!!! 

You are able to lift up your head 45 degrees and more at times.  Your cute little head is still pretty heavy, but  you practice this daily!  Mommy and Daddy will start daily tummy time to play. This will strengthen your muscles while you try to lift your head off the floor.....but I am guessing you will hate it!  You also push away with your feet when you are upset, and at times bear weight on your legs when we hold you upright to practice stand on our laps.....But most of the time you still love to curl up into the fetal position and snuggle!

You will be one month old on Thursday!  I am guessing you will be well over 10 lbs. and I wouldn't be surprised if you've grown an inch during this past month!....You have a doctor's appointment at the end of this week....so we will know for sure!

You are the light in our lives!  We love you!

Grandma Dason

Sent from my iPad

3w6d- STYLIN'

PROOFS

Here are the rest of the proofs from the newborn photo shoot!

BEFORE/AFTER

Mommy and Daddy bought this home a year ago! This weekend, both of your grandpas came over and worked hard to put all the dirt down after the concrete cured! Next spring, Mommy wants to landscape with beautiful trees and flowers.

3w5d- PRACTICE SITTING & STRETCHING WITH DADDY!

3w5d- ANTI-COLIC PAD!

Today, Gracyn was awake more than usual and also more fussy than usual! Mommy used the anti-colic vibrating pad that Gracyn is sleeping on.... It really seemed to calm her down! :-)

OWL COSTUME!

Mommy made Gracyn's first Halloween costume (idea found on Etsy.com). She will be the cutest little OWL!