Open vs Closed

Does she look so different with her eyes open vs closed? I can't get over it!

2 Weeks

Our little peanut hit the two week mark today! It's hard to believe that much time has passed already...I am trying to remember to cherish every moment.
Here are a few more tidbits about our life together:

-Isla is definitely a little night owl! We've had a couple really rough nights the past two nights as she is waking up at about 10 PM and staying wide awake and alert until about 1 or 2 AM. She'll finally sleep until about 4 AM and then wake up for the rest of the night. Graham has been taking her for the first half of the night "shift," rocking her and trying to get her to fall asleep on his chest. She will fall asleep but then the moment she is laid in her cradle, she begins her grunt fest (which we are trying to capture on video to share--it is really quite hilarious, just not when it happens constantly through the night.) I have found myself wishing she would learn to scream and cry (rather than grunt) at least so I'd know she was upset or needing something. People have asked what happens if we just leave her in the cradle when she begins grunting. Well my friends, she will grunt for an hour straight and never seems to wear herself out!! We are trying to wake Isla more in the day and gradually hope we can sneak her awake hours earlier into the evening. Until then, I may just be going to bed at 8:30 to get a couple hours of sleep in before she wakes. I know we will get through this but it is proving to be quite the challenge. People warn you about the lack of sleep you will experience with a newborn but I don't think there is any way to fully prepare for what that looks like--I mean, how hard can it be? Yeah you have to wake to feed the baby in the middle of the night but then you just go back to sleep again, right?--HA! If only it were that simple... My dear friend reminded me yesterday that my job right now is to keep our sweet baby girl alive--which I am doing--and therefore, I am a success. That was encouraging to hear!

-Isla is gaining weight wonderfully (so is feeding well). We had to bring her in to the doctor on Labor Day because her belly button had been spotting little bits of blood for more than three days and they wanted to check it out to make sure there was no infection. It turns out she has a small granuloma (a small area of inflammation in tissue due to injury per the mayo clinic) in there but nothing bad enough to treat. She weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces at 13 days of age which means she has gained more than an ounce a day over the past 6 days--she's a real foodie I'm thinking.

-We've been trying to sort out a lot of important details this week such as when Graham has to go back to work. He initially was going to take the entire month of Sept off but then was told by Human Resources that he couldn't use his sick time to care for Isla and I and therefore would have to use all his vacation plus have a couple of weeks of unpaid leave in order to be off for the whole month. So he was going to have to go back this coming Friday instead. BUT, people kept telling us that it's ridiculous that he can't use his sick leave and that we should fight it. So we are. And I think we're winning. Tomorrow we will pick up a note from my OB stating I need him at home to help care for Isla and I. I mean seriously, isn't that a no brainer?! I definitely need his help--I honestly don't know how single parents do it! Anyway, I don't think HR can argue with a doctor's note so Graham may get to stay home for a few more weeks after all!

-Isla is quite the pooper. And I'm not really talking about frequency here. More force. It's like she's shooting a missile out her little behind. And I must say she has the most audible poop I have ever heard come out of a baby. So loud that I usually have to ask "Graham, was that you?" It's great in church...I'm sure we're going to get a lot of funny looks. Anyway, Auntie Lani was over last week and sweetly volunteered to change Isla's diaper. That night after she got home, she was recounting her day to her husband and the story went something like this:

Michael: "So how was your time at Kelsie's?"

Lani: "Good! Oh and you'll never believe what happened!!! I was changing Isla's diaper...." (Long pause, wide-eyed expression on face, giggle). "That reminds me!! I forgot to change my clothes!!" (Off she runs to her room for a clean pair of pants).

She didn't even have to finish the story for Michael to know what had happened. So far I have managed to avoid her poo missiles during diaper changes but Daddy has not been so lucky. He got hit a couple nights ago. Thankfully, we see the comedy in it all and just have to laugh.

-My turnover time for laundry is 5 days (meaning, if I start washing a load on Monday, it is finally dried, folded and ready to be put away by Friday). We'll get better I'm sure!

-Isla and I vacuumed for the first time yesterday. It was during her awake and alert time (which we're trying to prolong during the day so she'll sleep more at night). I decided it was a great activity that would keep her alert for longer. I put her in my Moby wrap and she did great. She was awake for the first 15 minutes but by the time I was done, I looked down and the loud roar of our vacuum had lulled her to sleep--go figure!

All for now....

Blackberry Pickin' with Isla

Make sure your volume is turned up before watching!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Krpu-ttP6Lk

Meeting Uncle Josh, Time with the Wilsons

Unfortunately Isla's arrival was not quite early enough to beat WSU's start date so my brother Josh was not able to meet Isla until he could make a trip home this weekend. He came into town Friday night and the rest of my family came down as well to spend more time with us.

Uncle Josh holds Isla for the first time when.....3 seconds into it.....

OH!!!! I think she's squirting her pants!!

Josh of course loses it as I don't think he's had much experience holding babies while they squirt their pants. It ended up being the joke of the weekend how the two of them "got started on the wrong foot" but she won him over in the end. :o)

I mean look at them! I think that's the face of a proud uncle!

On Saturday, we decided to venture out to Woodinville and take Isla on her first winery tour at Chateau Ste Michelle. She slept the entire time and Uncle Ben and I enjoyed their selection of pre-wine (i.e. grape juice) at the end of the tour.

After the tour, we picked up teriyaki and ate it at a park.

A family shot

Finally awake

But never for long

Loving his niece

Family Time with the Croziers

Yesterday we went to the Croziers for a goodbye lunch for my brother-in-law Scott who is heading back down to CA for school. Of course I didn't get any shots of the guest of honor...oh well. He won't be back until Thanksgiving and I'm sure Isla will be practically walking (or at least holding her head up) by then so I was sad to see him go. I actually didn't cry though which is a miracle in my current state. Graham said I should have but you can just never predict when the flood gates will open.

Napping on Auntie Tash


Isla June with her middle namesake, Great Grandma Juna

Susanna gets a turn...child, when will you wake up!!??

EVERYONE!! Come look!!! She's opening her eyes!

I love these candid shots, seeing how excited everyone was to see alert Isla. I guess I didn't realize how little she's been awake around the Croziers so they were pretty thrilled to see the whites of her eyes.

Getting in some Grandma time with eyes OPEN

The past 13 days has really reminded me what wonderful families Graham and I both have. I can't even describe how it warms my heart as a new mom to see others so excited about our baby. We are truly blessed.

Due Date

Today was my due date....I would have been 40 weeks today! It's hard to imagine still being pregnant the past 12 days. I'm so happy Miss Isla decided to bless us a little bit early. Here's my "40 week" photo only this time with the reward in tow!

We've been keeping busy this weekend....more updates and photos to follow!

Updates

Our sweet baby girl has already passed the one week mark! It's hard to believe... In addition to posting pictures on this blog, I also wanted to share some tidbits on how things are going so I'll remember them later on.

I mean it when I say we have a sweet baby girl. I'm not sure when you begin to really catch a glimpse of a baby's personality, but so far Isla is incredibly well tempered. She rarely cries. She makes a little grunting sound when she wants something but I think I've only heard her truly cry maybe three times.

Daddy's nicknames so far for her include Isla Bella June Bug, Isla June Bug and Presh Presh (for precious). I've caught myself calling her Sweet Pea and Sweet Baby Girl. I'm sure many more nicknames will develop....

We had our first pediatrician appt on Monday (day 6). Isla was only 15 g below birth weight so apparently is getting plenty when she eats. She has been a bit jaundiced but not to a concerning level and it seems to be resolving now. I really liked her doctor (she has a daughter name Isla too!) and feel confident she will get great care.

People keep telling me Isla looks like Graham. I can't see it but I think I need an outside party to be the judge anyway. I do think she for sure has my lips and my "ski nose" (as Graham's grandma calls it).

I have yet to get a good night's rest although last night was the best so far (I may have actually slept for 7 hours cumulative which is much better than my 4 hour average the previous nights!) Isla apparently is a night owl. She has been cluster feeding for 3-4 hour stretches in the middle of the night where she basically feeds constantly or is wide awake and won't sleep. I lay her down and she just lies there in her cradle looking around. She apparently hates having the light off when she's awake because as soon as I turn them off, she begins to stir and grunt and make plenty of noise. She stops as soon as the light comes back on.

I have yet to go a day without crying although I assure you they are happy tears! These hormonal surges are INSANE! I'll be sitting there staring at Isla and burst into tears of joy. Graham will come over to "comfort" me and through the tears I'll wail "I'm just so happy!!!" Counter intuitive I know. :o) I have just been feeling so incredibly blessed by the outpouring of support from friends, family and coworkers. God is already teaching me to give up my independence and let others step in to help so I can spend good quality time with my daughter. It's amazing. THANK YOU EVERYONE!

Graham has been so awesome. I can't believe how much of a natural he is at this whole fatherhood thing. He loves holding Isla and has gone through withdrawals the two times he has left us girls alone at home. He comes back "needing" to hold her for awhile.

We have gone out on many adventures so far. We made an errand run to Costco, Babies R Us, Target and Barnes and Noble. We went out to coffee at Zokas in downtown Kirkland and then went to the Farmer's Market. Today we hope to go to Grandma and Grandpa Crozier's for lunch and then maybe attempt to pick a few blackberries. We were feeling a bit cooped up at home and are trying really hard to get out and about early so that we don't get stuck in a rut, feeling like we can't go anywhere/do anything "because we have a baby." I think we need to take it a little more slowly though. I feel like I've healed up quite nicely but definitely experience more pain the more I am on my feet.

Okay, now for the fun part....PICTURES!!

Doing some tummy time, Dr's orders!

My cousin suggested we take a picture of Isla in the same spot every week to follow how she grows and changes. I figured the teddy bear would be a good marker of how much bigger she is getting. Here is Isla's one week shot. Thanks for great idea Shauna!

Mean, I know, but the ruffle butt is SO CUTE!

First trip to Zoka's. It was sorta like a date for Graham and I--lots of good conversation (Graham always share more over a good cupa Joe)

Look at those cheeks!

Cuddles

I just can't get enough of her!

At the Kirkland Marina

I must say, we've had a great week!