Just Perfect

Little Annie had her one week check-up yesterday and all is well. She had surpassed her birth weight by five ounces, so the doctor was quite pleased.  As of now, she's about average in length and tiny in weight.  In our eyes... perfect.

Weight: 6lbs, 14oz  (17th percentile)
Length:  20in (53rd percentile)
Head:  13.5in (23rd percentile)

At Home and Happy

Everyone said it and it was easy to believe, baby number two will be totally different.  So it hasn't been too much of a surprise that Annie's first night at home was actually quite pleasant.  Yes, I was up most of the night trying to nurse a hungry baby, but because I knew that was going to happen, it wasn't too bad.  I'm sure I'll eventually hit the wall with this sleep deprivation thing and it will be EXACTLY like McKenzie's first few days.  But for now, things are going pretty well.

I keep thinking that if McKenzie ever reads through this blog, she's going to think that she was a ton of trouble those first few weeks and her little sister was easy.  For her sake, I want to clarify that idea.  McKenzie's arrival was like a slap in the face... quick, painful and totally unexpected.  I think all first time moms can agree that you just cannot be prepared for the first days of a newborn no matter how many people try to tell you how it's going to be.  McKenzie was a pretty easy baby, but I just was not ready to enjoy her.  I was too busy surviving.

This time, it's more like a playful punch in the arm.  You know it's coming, but you are ready for it and can respond accordingly.  Oh Annie, you're crying?  I got this.  Here's your... diaper, food, swaddle, etc.  You know exactly what to do and those cries don't cause quite the pang in your stomach.  Thankfully, I've been making up for those moments that I didn't get to enjoy McKenzie as a newborn by soaking in her big sister moments.

Oh No!  What is happening?

Getting some photo time with GranCarter

 

The Fast and the Furious

Annie has arrived and she made it into this world in record time!  I figured I would go ahead and get the birth story down before getting home from the hospital.  For some reason, once I get home, I'm thinking I might have my hands full.

Now, because this birth was incredibly fast, so too will the story be quick.

Brittnee called me at 5:38pm just to check in and say hello.  When she asked what I was up to, I told her I was cooking dinner (a delicious meal of chicken spaghetti that I never got to eat!) and trying to decide if I was having contractions or just stomach issues.  By 6:00pm, Brant was home and I called Lana to see if she would come over and hang out with McKenzie so we could go to the hospital and just get checked out.  After calling my parents for the second time and telling them to head to town, Brant and I hit the road.  At this point, my contractions were about 3 minutes apart, according the iPhone app we looked at later.  Once I got to the room, the nurse checked me and confirmed my suspicions: this baby was on her way.  I was at an 8 and contractions were increasing in strength and frequency.  The epidural was ordered STAT and I was looking forward to the relief it would offer.  Unfortunately, epiduals don't always work.  I had heard this rumor, but had such a great experience with McKenzie that it never crossed my mind.  Now, natural childbirth was crossing my mind and I was a bit concerned, to put it mildly.

The next thing I knew, it was time to push.  The nurse didn't want me to push because the doctor had not arrived, but there was no turning back for me now.  It's incredible to think that a female body is made specifically for childbirth and having the epidural fail helped me see that.  I literally could not keep from pushing, despite all of my efforts.  The nurse grabbed a random doctor off the hospital floor and brought him in just in case.  Minutes later, my doctor made it in and within probably two minutes, baby Annie arrived.

I later learned that the cord was wrapped around her neck and there were a few tense moments while the nurses worked to get her airway cleared.  But she is just fine now and I can assure everyone that her lungs work just fine.

Annie Marlowe  6lbs, 9oz, 19.5in

Sweet Big Sister

Even after a night of no sleep, today has been pretty good.  Annie is nursing well and I think I'm still on a little bit of a high thinking of what my body was able to do.  McKenzie has been a very sweet big sister and I hope to post a few more pictures of that sweetness later.  For now, I plan to enjoy a few more moments of silence until little Annie rejoins me in the hospital room.

A Christmas to Remember

As I sit here on New Year's Day, I'm thinking about just how peaceful the house is right now.  McKenzie is asleep on the couch.  Brant is reading the paper.  The dogs are snoozing.  And I'm going through Christmas pictures for the blog.  We are 12 days away from Annie's due date, so I'm relishing these few quiet moments.

The quiet time is in stark contrast to the last several days, especially all the Christmas celebrations.  McKenzie had a blast this year!  She was a little unsure about opening presents on Christmas morning with Brant and me, got a little more into it later at Dandy and LaLa's, and was pretty much a pro by the time we had Christmas with my parents, Chris and Rebecca.  She seemed to really love most of her gifts and it's been fun watching her put her new toys into actions.  For the sake of memories, I wanted to comment on a few of her favorites:

The tent: Chris and Rebecca gave her a little tent that looks like a whimsical tree trunk.  We put it in her room and she loves playing in it.  She also loves making Brant get in there with her, even though he barely fits.  Tent activities include laying on her sleeping bag from LaLa and giving shots to Daddy with her doctor's kit from Chris and Rebecca.  I think Brant has been given about a thousand shots since Christmas day.
Rain boots: My mom got her rain boots so we could wade in the creek at the end of the street.  I walked down there with her yesterday and she had so much fun.  She fell in the water and I thought we were headed home for sure.  Nope.  She continued stomping and splashing until she was completely drenched and didn't care to come home until she fell in the gravel and hurt her hands a little.
Guitar: She got a Barbie guitar from Dandy and LaLa and it has certainly been a hit.  She puts it around her neck, lets a song play and then insists that everyone in the room clap for her.  Then, she pushes the "applause" button on the guitar and bows her head.  This happens after each and every performance and it's hilarious!

There are more toys, big and small, and we certainly appreciate all the gifts for her.  I hope to have some time to go through videos tomorrow and pick out a few fun moments to share.  It was a great Christmas, probably only to be outdone by Christmas 2012!

Choosing her plan of attack.

Opening with her new apron.

That's one way to do it.

Her beautiful skirt... wore it all day long!

Keeping an eye on her other gifts.

Testing out the sleeping bag.

She actually sat down for a minute!

The cousins munching on popcorn.

Watch out world!

With Choo-Choo PaPa

 

Early Christmas Present

Jenny, Eric and Emmett stopped through yesterday on their way to Fayetteville and surprised McKenzie with an early Christmas present.  I must admit that I was a little nervous as to what McKenzie's reaction would be to her hand-knitted hat, even though I knew I would love it.  Well, it's pretty much her favorite accessory so kudos and a big thank you to Jenny for an awesome gift!  Little Annie also received the same hat, but smaller and with colors opposite of McKenzie's.  Can't wait for the newborn pics with those, because McKenzie actually wanted me to take pictures of her wearing the new hat...

Lovin' the new hat!

Another silly face.

She got super serious with the bear.

Christmas Festivities

Last Saturday McKenzie got to spend some time with LaLa, Aunt Erin and her cousins.  They went to see Santa, did some Christmas crafts and enjoyed the annual Christmas parade downtown.  As you will see, she had lots of fun.  And we were grateful for the opportunity to get some things done around the house while she enjoyed time with her cousins.  A big thanks to LaLa and Aunt Erin for providing such great weekend entertainment!

All smiles vs. Why are you taking my picture?

No tears!

Let me just give this a little taste.

So surprised she allowed this to happen!

Directing the bands at the parade.

Parade watchers.

True sign of a great day!

Dressing with Daddy

If you want a no-fuss morning of getting McKenzie dressed, there are two options: put clothes on her as soon as she wakes up when her will to fight is low or let her choose every single clothing item.  On this particular morning, Brant chose the latter of the two.  Fuzzy black boots with a sparkly red skirt (no tights) would be an ok choice, if not topped of with an orange and white striped shirt.  It really was worse than the picture shows, and I'm certain it won't be the last time she leaves this house looking a little less than stylish.  That is, by the way, her official donut shirt.  For some reason, when we go on Saturdays to get donuts, that is the shirt she always wants to wear and asks for by name (i.e. I want my donut shirt).  

Can you believe Daddy let me wear this?!  Sucker!!