Happy One Month, Alayna!

Our little Laney girl is already one month old! It has been both the shortest and longest month of our lives. We've been so blessed to be able to enjoy extra hours of the day that we used to waste sleeping. What were we thinking!?

Here are just a couple highlights from Laney's first month:

Our first little hike

Partying with Dad ;)

Meeting Laney's adorable cousin, Alina

Laney's First Party (Alina's turning 2! What a big girl!)

Laney and Mom after Laney's first evening with world-class babysitter, Grandpa Rick

Relaxin' on a typical day on Laney's one month birthday!

Parenting 101 - Lessons from Laney

Over the past 3 weeks, I've been busy teaching my mom and dad all about parenting.  So far, they're doing pretty well.  Here are a couple of the important lessons that they have learned so far:

1.  I am going to need ALL your attention when I'm awake.  Don't go thinking that you can check your cell phone while burping me or check your email while bouncing me on the couch because I'm onto you!

2.  If your legs are tired or you just can't rock me anymore, I would recommend using an exercise ball. (Dad - I appreciate you spending countless hours in a daze bouncing me to sleep at 2 am)

3.  If I'm grunting, I'm going to be needing a diaper change very soon.  (Let's hope I outgrow that by middle school...)

4.  I love to be close to you! You can hold me close or use one of those great carriers so you can do other things...but what is better than cuddling me!

5.  That Harvey Karp from The Happiest Baby on the Block really knows what he's talking about!  If I'm a little fussy (which is to be expected when you consider all I've been through), just try the 5 S's.

6. When you get up in the morning, you won't have any time to yourself.  When I wake up, I'm ready to play...and by play I mean stare at you and blink and if you're lucky make silly faces. If you really want excitement, stick out your tongue and I'll stick mine out right back at you!

 I have many more lessons to teach my parents, but so far they're doing great! Thanks especially to their wonderful friends and family for all their help! Apparently, having me at home can be pretty overwhelming and they wouldn't be able to do it without all the support.  (Plus, they have LOVED the tasty meals!!)

 Keep it up, Mom and Dad!

 Love, Laney

Happy 2 Week Birthday, Alayna!

After her first bath

Our girl is growing up so fast!

What a crazy last 14 days it has been!  Laney has had many more first and Peter and I have been surprised and amazed left and right.  Here are some milestones and firsts from the last week or so:

1.  First blowout of apparently many to come...

...which led to...

2. First official sponge bath (she didn't really enjoy this special bonding opportunity)

Boat Trip

3. First boat trip with Grandma and Grandpa Hansen and Uncle Darren.  It was a great trip and we managed to keep her totally out of the sun!

4. First evening of grunting...apparently this is normal. I guess she takes after her dad?

Bright Eyes

5.  Loss of what was left of her umbilical cord - now she has a cute little belly button.

6.  Evenings of silly faces - I think she's learning to use all the muscles in her face because she'll stare up at us with the cutest, strangest, most fun little looks.

7. First visit with Great-Grandma Freda and Grandma Hansen. Four generations of women. :)  Great-Grandma was the first to guess that Alayna was on her way (last Christmas) and knew from the beginning that she'd be a little girl. Great-grandma knows best.  

Four Generations of Ladies

Alayna's First Week

Alayna and me  right after she arrived.

What a wonderful, crazy, and life changing week it has been!  It is hard to believe that last week at this time Alayna was just about to make her grand entrance!  I can't believe all that has happened in the last week! Peter and I are so grateful for our little girl and love her so much!  We were lucky as we seem to have gotten the cutest little girl around. ;)

Two days old

Alayna's arrival was quite the event last week with my contractions becoming pretty regular on Monday night around 9. Unfortunately, I had back labor, meaning Laney was turned the wrong way.  At first I didn't think I was actually having contractions as I just had excruciating pain in my back. Then by midnight, I was ready to call the doctor and ask if we should come in.  My contractions were about 5 minutes apart.  He said we could, but he also said I might be more comfortable at home.  (Realistically, I don't think I would have been comfortable at a 5 star resort in the Bahamas...)  I've read that you should try and sleep between the contractions, but they must have been talking about the future father not mother, because I told Peter to get some rest (he had no problem) and I spent the night downstairs trying to sleep in 4-5 minute intervals.  Whoever said sleeping is possible is absolutely insane!

By 6 am the next morning, I told Peter I wanted to call again.  My contractions were three minutes apart and definitely not fun.  I just kept telling myself that I must be imagining the pain and to toughen up.

Back at our house and 3 days old

When we got to the hospital, we went to triage and the nurses said I was probably a little dialated as I was clearly having contractions.  When the doctor checked me out, she was amazed to find that I was already 7 cm!  Hooray!  Only 3 left to go!  The nurse led us to the birthing suite and I just kept looking at that empty baby bed and couldn't believe that I would have a little, baby girl lying in that bed.  I was excited, but to be honest...completely terrified!

After many more hours, Laney finally decided to make her entrance at 3:30 in the afternoon on Tuesday.  The entire experience was unlike anything I've ever been through.  Words just can't describe it.

One Week Old  Birthday Walk to the Park

Currently, we're adjusting to this new life with our beautiful girl and praying that she'll figure out this whole sleeping at night thing.  Otherwise, we've decided to just switch our schedule and stay up all night...might just be easier...

 

We're ready...we think...

So we've officially made it to 39 weeks! Wow!  I've spent my time finishing up the nursery (almost there, just want to add a bright pop of purple somehow),  catching up on good books (currently reading Secret Daughter and so far so good), and organizing. Last week, I even made a dinner and froze it for post-baby; very rare for me.  Peter's been busy getting things situated at work and finishing up a toy box for our little gal.  I have to say, this may be the sturdiest toy box of all time! He's a thorough dad already!

As of this morning, I started to feel nauseous and definitely had some kind of painful cramps.  Then just about time for church, they stopped, so off we went.  I'm feeling pretty good that our little girl will be arriving soon, but we're in no rush.  I still feel pretty comfortable and we're trying to enjoy every last pre-baby moment.

This morning, I was reflecting on our wedding day and how much that day changed the course of our future.  Peter and I both really enjoyed every moment of our wedding and the preparations.  We know that some day soon, we'll have another life altering day.  The day won't be quite as pain-free and full of great food, family, and friends as the last one, but we are so looking forward to beginning our next journey with our little lady.  Sometimes I get nervous, but then I think about how God brought Peter and I together and I couldn't have imagined what a wonderful partnership we would form.  I know that He's got a little girl perfect for us almost ready to make her arrival and we can't wait to meet her! While practically everyone we talk to tells us how hard it will be (don't worry, we know!), we also know that between the two of us, God, our family and our friends we will do our best and what an adventure it will be.

Until then...we're living it up! Time for an emergency run to Baskin Robbins! Yum!

37 Weeks!

After spending several weeks taking it easy, I've made it to 37 weeks and am able to "resume my regular activity"! That's an interesting statement for a doctor to make to a woman who is 37 weeks preggo.  I've been trying to "resume normal activity", but it's not working yet.  Aside from the fact that I never should really be more than about 10 minutes from a bathroom, I find myself getting tired after walking 5 blocks to Starbucks...not quite normal activity.  Oh well, I'm just glad to be able to leave the couch and get ready for this little baby girl we have headed our way.

Photo taken by Heidi
Check out her blog http://www.heidihasahobby.com/

One of my first days out, I visited some of my teammates from school.  I am lucky to have a fabulous group of teachers to work with! They're gifted educators and also hilariously funny.  I decided to bring fruit to our get together and what is more appropriate than a juicy, tasty watermelon!  When I bought it, the woman at the register told me I'd have to pay for both of them. Hilarious! :)

First Ever Load of Pinks

While I have turned the entire load of white laundry pink before believe it or not, that is not the case here.  This is our very first load of "Pinks"!

I've never been a real "girly" girl and I remember rebelling against pink when I was about 11 years old.  Since then, pink and I have a good working relationship.  I've actually come to embrace it as the mom of a little girl.  That said, I wasn't really ready for our first load of pinks!