3 weeks today

Nothing prepared me for the astonishing feeling of love and joy that being your mom has brought me. Nothing will ever compare to the change you brought into our lives, we have come a long way in the journey of life and with your birth it feels like we are just beginning.

Things about you..

Since I can't remember much these days I want to write down some things about you. Only 15 days old and you have a big personality already.

You often look concerned
You can give a mean stink eye
You like to coo and make the sweetest sounds ever in your sleep
You first bath in a bucket was a huge success, you seemed really happy in water
You have been working up to your first smile, it is already adorable

You peed on mommy on the couch
You got grandma with poop and pee
You permanently scarred daddy with a big shooting across the room poop
You think that baby in the mirror is really pretty dang cute
You love to sleep and go on walks in the moby wrap
When hungry insert bottle quickly to avoid a melt down- and you have a huge appetite

We love you very much. We just had your newborn photo shoot and will have some awesome pictures of you soon.

Love mom

Grandma in town

My mother in law is in town visiting the first grandchild for my hubby's side of the family. It is great to see her enjoying little Ocoee so much and the extra pair of hands allows me time to shower, and hubby time to get his master's homework done. We got a great nights sleep last night but Ocoee is snoozing all day today...so it may be a long night. The weather has been amazing and we are taking advantage of that by getting out and walking....this baby weight has to come off somehow!

Arctic Valley Adventure

We ventured up to Arctic Valley looking for some snow....not much there yet but a great dose of fresh air! Actually got to wear the moby wrap today for the first time. The dogs were pretty happy as well.

Who knew

Today is day 6 and last night was tough....the breast feeding was extremely painful and I was in tears while feeding her. She is a very hungry baby and was eating every hour to 45 minutes...she just wasn't getting full. We were feeding for 30minutes to 45 minutes so I had about 30 minutes of down time to heal.....a recipe for disaster. Plus this meant no sleep time at all during the wee hours. So finally around 4 last night I broke down and fed her formula. We had researched and chosen the best organic formula we could find and had a few on hand...just in case. Thank god! She guzzled it down and crashed for 4 1/2 hours straight...that felt like sleeping through the night to me. I cried and felt guilt, disappointment and anxiety for choosing formula...I know breast milk is the best and it was only day 5.

After a nice stretch of sleep I came to terms with this. My boobs needed a break to heal and I was no good as a mom if I was in pain, tears and on the verge of a breakdown. Also I thought of some great moms and dads I know who haven't been able to breast feed for a variety of reason and their kids are awesome and no worse off. I guess I needed to be less hard on myself. I am quickly learning there are so many emotions that come with being a mom and letting go of the negative ones like guilt is crucial.

Around 6 I got up and self expressed some milk, then at 8 I pumped. I was able to get a huge bottle and I felt so proud. The pump was much easier on me and less painful. She had 1/2 of that bottle and crashed again. I think I can get ahead of the cycle and take care of myself and my baby. If I have to supplement, all that matters is that she and I are both happy and healthy. I think we were exhausting her as well with the tons of feedings that weren't really filling her belly...because as I type she is crashed in her moby wrap happy as can be. Completely knocked out!

The journey of learning and love continue.

Cheers
Janelle

Day 3-walk in a park

Today we got outside to enjoy the warm fall sun and fresh snow on the mountains. Mike wore the baby bjorn and the fresh air did us all good.

Ocoee's birth story

We woke up after not getting much sleep the night before. It was liking waiting for Christmas. We took the doggers for a walk in Russian Jack Park on a beautiful morning. The clouds had burned off and the sky was blue, setting off the peak gold of the birch trees with the mountains in the background sprinkled with snow....a great day to be born. A gaggle of geese flew over us waiting for us to vacate the park before they landed and took over the soccer fields. Everything was crisp and fresh.

Of course once we got home we realized Guiness had cut her foot and was bleeding all over the floor, so we had to quickly bandage her up, taped on a smart wool sock and zipped out the door to be at the hospital by 11. Once we were checked in things went pretty quickly. Mike was very nervous and I was getting less nervous. It was hitting me we would have our little girl with us soon. Once in the OR we put on our playlist and then Mike was beside me. I didn't love the feeling of not feeling but once it was all numb and Mike was there I was chatty cathy...I chat when I am nervous and I think the oxogen they were giving me mad me a little loopy.

Literally 20 minutes in Dr. Hinkle held her up and we saw our baby for the first time. She gave a big lusty cry and was pink and chubby. They asked Mike if he wanted to cut the cord and he said no....Of course I told him to get over there and cut it. He looked so nervous and unsure....just totally freaked out. He had Ocoee in his arms within minutes and brought her over to me to see.....she was so perfect and adorable. I was instantly in love.

I had to go to the recover room for 30 minutes and it was ok, not a single issue all was well. I am actually really glad we did the c-section. Everyone was betting how big she would be...I said 9 pounds 12 ounces but was off...she was 10 pounds 10 ounces! And had not moved into my pelvis at all....so she was not coming out anytime soon.

Once we were together in the room I was floored by hubby. He was now this expert dad. He had her in his arms and swaddled and looked like he had been doing this for years...just 30 minutes ago he was so panicked looking. I have to say how amazed I am by him. He changes diapers, helps me breast feed, took care of me and Ocoee and looks at her as if everything she does delights him. His is an amazing dad. I fell in love with him a 100 times over on her day of birth.

We breastfed right away and that went pretty well. We are still in the hospital waiting to be released. She is sleeping very contently beside me right now. I am going to check her diaper. We loaded her up in her Husker onesie to watch the Nebraska game....not fun but I just looked at her when it got real ugly. She is now officially 1 day and 8 hours old, and she has changed our lives forever. I am so unbelievable happy to have her in our lives.


10 pounds 10 ounces
21 1/2 inches long
2:23 pm
lots of dark hair
slate colored eyes that will be ........we will see
she loves to use her hands and be cuddled


Welcome and Happy Birthday Ocoee Dael Fey!