Two Months of Madeline!

Madeline is two months now! Things I'm loving at this stage:
- She smiles a lot.
- She is starting to have "cooing conversations" with us.
- She LOVES looking around at everything.
- She's awake A LOT (sometimes I don't love this when she hasn't taken a decent nap during the day).
- She can hold her head up by herself pretty well. It's still a little wobbly though, but she is awesome at tummy-time.
- She loves to suck on her hands (self-soothing here we come!).
- She is sleeping through the night!!!!! She'll sleep for 8 hours, if I don't wake her up to feed... which I do sometimes because I need to "unload" or else I have to pump. (I contribute this amazing feat to two things: the Fisher Price Rock and Play Sleeper and the Summer SwaddleMe blankets.)
- She eats for about 10-15 minutes rather than 30-60 minutes!!!

We are still having problems with the spitting up and vomiting, but it is not as bad. The week before Christmas we went back to the doctor and FINALLY got a prescription for some Zantac. She still has her bad days though, but we have definitely noticed an improvement. We go in for her two month checkup tomorrow, so I think we'll ask if we can up her dosage since she is getting bigger. She'll be getting some shots, which I know she won't like. Hopefully, her whole routine won't be messed up because of it. We're also planning our first trip with her to San Diego to visit my family. It is going to be a very long day, but she loves her car seat, so I think she'll do well. Jon isn't working and is finishing up his Bachelor's degree (yay!) this semester. They're all online classes, so we have that freedom to go somewhere whenever. Madeline will be able to meet her Uncle Roger (he was a butt and didn't come to Utah with my parents when she was born) and her Great-Grandma, who is now 92. We're taking advantage of this awesome (40 degrees and no snow) winter weather to travel because it won't last forever (in fact, it's supposed to snow a little tomorrow). I'm not sure how long we'll be gone. We're planning on staying at least a week, but we're going to keep an eye on the weather and drive back on a non-snowy day.

In other news, Jon is planning on going to graduate school, which I may have mentioned before. I was pretty sure we were going to be in Vegas (and, trust me, I'd much rather go there), but we have decided to go to Arkansas. The only reason I agreed to this is because it is MUCH cheaper than Vegas. UNLV would be $10,000/semester and higher rent for an apartment than what we're currently paying. Whereas, Arkansas Tech (I think?) will be about $3,000/semester and rent for a house will be cheaper (although, we don't know what all the utilities will end up costing). The only other positive in this is that we'll get to see Emily and Joseph's families more (and Madeline and Bailey will be best friends!). I made Jon promise me to take me to DisneyWorld since we'll be much closer to it (yes, I know it's still a ways away). Also, Jon has promised that we'll only be in AR for those two years, and then we'll move back West.

I'll leave you with some cute pictures of my baby from my phone.

Worked her hand out of her SwaddleMe, so she could suck on it!

2 months and still wearing some of her newborn clothes (it looks small because it's bunched up above her belly)!

Smiles for Mom!

She just wanted to play with all her toys!

Cute face.

Sucking on her taggie alligator.

Asleep at Iggy's.

Just looking cute... or angry because she wanted to eat.

My pretty lady!!!

We love baby jeggings!!!

Another cute smile.

She loves her Mamas and Papas Snug!

Helping Mom cook dinner (or just woke up from a nap while Mom was cooking).

Naked baby!

Trying on her owl hat that I made (still not finished though)!

I just love that face.

One Month of Madeline!

Madeline is officially one month old as of yesterday! Sleep has gotten MUCH better. In fact, I believe she almost slept for five hours straight last night. That was exciting! Anyways, here's what has been going on since Maddie was born:

Week 1: We were in the hospital for three days after Maddie's birth. Once we were home, my Mom pretty much held Maddie all the time except when I had to feed her (obviously)... Although, she held her a lot in the hospital as well. We had to supplement Maddie with formula through a tube while she was latched on because she lost 10 ounces in her first two days of life (but gained an ounce before we left the hospital). We struggled with feedings because she would ALWAYS fall asleep too early. Then that weekend, she decided she didn't want to breastfeed or something. She cried for 10-15 minutes while I was trying to get her to latch on (this happened twice in the same day). I cried. And then we decided to just give her a bottle of formula (we were trying so hard to avoid giving her a bottle). Anyways, I eventually gave into the bottle that weekend because I was dying from sleep, and she was still struggling with the breastfeeding thing. So Jon and I took turns feeding her overnight.

Week 2: We took Maddie into the pediatrician's to get her weight checked since she had lost so much at the hospital. She was almost back to her birth weight (yay!). She had also grown a whole inch. She got better at breastfeeding for a few days until Thanksgiving day. We were at my sister's house, and I tried to feed her but struggled again. She cried and fussed a lot again, but I persisted in trying to get her to latch on. She eventually did, but it wasn't fun getting to that point. We also got her newborn pictures taken early in the week, which turned out awesome! She started to get pretty good at sleeping at night (3 hour stretches!!!). However, towards the end of the week, she started spitting up and vomiting A LOT, which would wake her up if she had been asleep in her crib. After almost no sleep Thursday evening, we decided to take her back to the doctor's the next day to see if we could get a prescription for some reflux medicine... Unfortunately, the nurse didn't think Maddie had reflux but just a lot of gas that she was struggling to get out. She gave us some suggestions on how to help with that and some over-the-counter medicines that we could use as well.

Week 3: Maddie's spitting up and vomiting continued... She decided she wouldn't let us put her down at all during the day and wouldn't sleep in her crib at night. It got to the point that I would just have her sleep in my arms in our bed. Co-sleeping sounded much better to me instead of no sleep! We went to see the lactation consultant towards the end of the week because Maddie was struggling with latching on correctly (or I just couldn't get her to do it correctly, at least), and she was very fussy and pulling away while eating. I thought the lactation consultant might be able to help us figure out why she was so fussy when she ate (was it just reflux or a fast letdown?). Unfortunately, the consultant was no help at all and Maddie decided to be absolutely perfect during the session. The only good thing to come from it was that I can get Maddie to latch on correctly almost every time now (Which is definitely a HUGE bonus, I just wish she had helped us more with our questions. She seemed very uninterested and done for the day). On her last night this week, we finally got her to sleep in her crib overnight again. It was such a happy day (or night) for me! This week was definitely the toughest on me. I cried probably every single day because I hated breastfeeding and because I wasn't getting any sleep. I just didn't know what to do about feedings because I didn't think I could last until at least 6 weeks (my goal for breastfeeding before I decided what I wanted to do). I was convinced I was going to end up pumping all the time, and then feed her from a bottle.

Week 4: Maddie continued to sleep in her crib (yay!), and we were also getting her to take naps in her pack and play in the living room. She has also done so much better with breastfeeding (I think I can do it)! This last week has been SO much better! Jon has been so amazing because, after I get up to feed Maddie several times in the evening, he gets up with her around 8AM to feed her (usually pumped breastmilk, if there is some), and I go back to sleep for at least two more hours. I am so grateful that he has been around to help me out because I'm pretty sure I would be a zombie right now... and my child would be eating formula all the time... and I would stink from not being able to shower for a whole month. We have also started to notice her slowly adding some "coos" to her noises. They are much more pleasant than her grunting and squawking noises. She has also started to look at us instead of past us. She tracks pictures we move in front of her face (she even tracked my face one day- advanced learner!!). She is also awake during the day much more often. She gets quiet and listens to me when I am talking to her. We are loving this new stage of development she has entered into. We can't wait for her to interact more with us and with everything around her.

 Tiny little Maddie

 Too small for her newborn clothes!

Maddie burrito.

Maddie with her cousin, Ryleigh.

Playing with Daddy.

Wearing a preemie outfit (a little too long for the pants though).

Um, Gap, I think this 0-6 month hat and glove set is a little big.

Sticking her tongue out!

Looking at herself in the mirror.

Love her little mullet.

Sleep smiles.

Snuggled with Mom and the Boppy.

Looking cute in her car seat.

Um... tummy time?

Cute Christmas outfit. 

 A baby in a boot!

Another cute Christmas outfit (same pants, different onesie). 

 Cutest face ever!

1 month Maddie!

Madeline Taylor Is Here!

Because a lot happened, and I don't really want to make this post incredibly long, I'll just post what basically happened on the days leading up to and after Madeline was born.

Wednesday (11/9): Went to the doctor. Blood pressure was up again. Only dilated to a 1. Doctor scheduled an induction for Sunday evening/Monday morning. Had to get blood work done again and to go back into the OBGYN Friday for another blood pressure check (if all was okay- he would cancel the induction). Put on bedrest.

Friday (11/11): Nurse takes blood pressure and almost sends me to the hospital. Talks to doctor and says to just keep the Sunday induction.

Sunday (11/13): Waited around all day for the hospital to call to let us know when to go in for the induction. Finally got a call around 4 or 5 PM. Ate my last real meal for a few days before I went in at 6 PM. Went to the hospital and got all hooked up to an IV. Dilated only to a 1.5. The nurse gave me three doses of cytotec over the course of the night to help soften/ripen my uterus since it was no where near ready for labor. I got absolutely no sleep because I was sleeping in a labor/delivery bed (SO UNCOMFORTABLE!). I was having contractions as well, which probably is what made my back hurt so badly (with the combination of the bed).

Monday (11/14): Longest day ever. Ate a few crackers and juice as my "breakfast." Given pitocin around 7-8 AM to induce labor. Contractions started getting more painful. Got an epidural around 10-11 AM. No improvement in dilation. Nurse had to ease off of the pitocin because the baby's heart rate kept decelerating after each contraction. Eventually, I was off of it all together for a while. Around 1-2 PM, the doctor broke my water. Nurse eased me back into the pitocin slowly and baby was doing much better this time. Doctor inserted an intrauterine pressure catheter to better detect the contractions. Dilated to about a 2 at this point. Also, informed again that my pelvic arch may be too small for a vaginal delivery. The catheter eventually stopped accurately working, and they had to take it out. A few different nurses kept trying to put a new one in (like 3-4 different times). My epidural wasn't really working very well at some point in the evening. Had to get the anesthesiologist to come back in to give me a bigger dose of the epidural. Started to feel much better. After all the trying to get a new catheter put back in to measure the contractions, I was dilated to a 2+. But that wasn't much progress. Baby's heart rate began to decelerate again after the contractions. Found out just before 9 PM that I was going to get a C-Section since I wasn't progressing and the baby wasn't doing well with the pitocin.... And Madeline was born at 9:24 PM. She weighed in at a tiny 6 lbs. 11 oz. and measured 18 in. long.

As I was getting sewn/stapled back up, both of my doctors were telling me that next time, I will just have to tell my doctor I have to get a C-section because they both decided there was no way a baby was going to fit through my pelvic arch. I have not liked hearing this news at all because I seriously hated the C-section. While, I didn't feel any pain (at least not until they were sewing me back up), I could feel everything else- when they were cutting into me, all the tugging, etc. I've never had surgery, and I just don't do well with blood and cuts (I wouldn't look at my incision for days afterwards). I was freaking out the whole time they were doing the surgery, and Jon kept trying to help me get my mind off of it, but it was pretty hard!!! Jon was amazing and stayed with me the whole time. I know he wanted to be with Madeline, but I don't think I would have survived without him. I'm just thankful that I had one of my favorite doctors there to do the surgery and that the anesthesiologist was very helpful in keeping me calm and making sure I wasn't in any pain. When I started to feel some pain as they were putting me back together, the anesthesiologist started pumping a bunch of medicine into me, which is probably why I am still swollen to this day (although, it's much better!!!).


Anyways, since then Jon and I have been enjoying getting to know our little girl. But we've also been struggling with almost no sleep. I don't think Jon realized how hard a newborn baby could be, and I'm pretty sure she's an easy baby compared to many others.... I can't believe she will be two weeks old on Monday already!!! I can't wait until she is one month because, hopefully, she will be doing better with sleeping at night and with staying awake while eating (she falls asleep too quickly, thus why she is always wanting to eat/keeping us up at night). Also, we can't wait for her to be a bit more interactive and alert instead of sleeping, eating, and pooping all the time.

Vegas, San Diego, and Everything Else

At the end of September, Jon and I went to Las Vegas as a last little "getaway" before our family of two became three. We were able to stay for FREE at Jon's parents' timeshare. Unfortunately, only 20-30 minutes after leaving for Vegas, we got a flat tire.



So we drove to the next town since we were in between towns and had to get ALL FOUR tires replaced (apparently, Jon was planning on doing this before winter anyways). There went $700-800 that we were NOT planning on spending. Thanks for ripping us off, Big O Tires. We would have gone to another tire place, but that was the only one in the town. That pretty much put me in a bummer mood the rest of the way.

We eventually make it to the timeshare, and we were MUCH closer to the strip than I thought we were going to be. But it wasn't too bad...

Our room:






We were both pretty tired from our drive down that we just got dinner at a restaurant downstairs and watched TV the rest of the night. The next day, we headed to one of the many outlet malls in Vegas to get Baby Girl some cute clothes! I loved it, and I think Jon was enjoying himself in the Carter's store but was done not much longer after that. Then we went swimming later in the afternoon, which didn't end up being as much fun as I had hoped because the pool was indoors. It was 90+ degrees in Vegas, and it would have been wonderful to be swimming outside under the sun instead of inside of a stuffy and humid room. Oh well. It was free- that's what I kept telling myself.

The following day, we got up, packed, ate breakfast downstairs at Einstein's, and headed off to my parent's in San Diego. I forget how much I hate eating out in California because they list the calories next to each item (I think Vegas was the same way at some places too).



See what I mean? Gross. It sure does make you think twice about what you order. At least I never finish a whole plate of food at a restaurant...

My Mom and I drove Jon to the airport super early Monday morning because he was headed to Arkansas, while I stayed with my parents in San Diego. We spent the whole week apart, which was not very fun. But I did enjoy all the shopping that my Mom and I did. She just loves buying clothes for her newest grand baby (and I wasn't going to stop her).

The loot baby got from the Carter's store from Grandma:


The left side is what Jon and I got in Vegas, and the right side is what my Mom bought (and there's lots more!!!):


The cutest ruffled pink dress ever (one of many dresses my Mom bought for Baby):


Pretty much the rest of my time was spent sitting in the recliner, watching TV and crocheting...


Yes, my Dad hung that stupid flag up for the BYU football game (and left it up for a few days). This was before they finally got a new TV stand for their new TV...

My first crocheted hat:


I went to Babies-R-Us one day by myself and got to park in the "Expectant Mothers" parking (my Mom was pretty excited to park in the same kind of spot when we went to the mall):


And I bought Baby Girl a San Diego Padres hat!


The following Monday, Jon flew back into San Diego, and I picked him up. We went to La Jolla for dinner, across the freeway from the beautiful San Diego temple (where we were married!). Then we went down to the beach to check out the glowing "waves." You can read what I'm talking about here. And that was pretty much the extent of our trip; we headed home the next day.

Since then, we've just been trying to get everything else that we needed still for the Baby and her room. I've spent a lot of time with my feet up because they keep getting pretty swollen (especially at church!).

Jon spray painted a few things for Baby's room:


The IKEA dresser with new pink spray painted knobs:


I read this book:


I have crocheted quite a bit:




And I wasn't kidding about my feet:




Thus, I have decided that I can only go to one hour of church. Otherwise, my feet look like that for 3-4 days afterwards.

I made curtains out of some sheets (not perfect, but they'll do):


Jon and I finally drove the Alpine Loop to see the beautiful fall colors:




Pink and green paper triangles for a bunting garland:


Baby's car seat is ready to keep her warm (now get here, Baby!):


What Baby Girl's room looks like during the day when the curtains are closed (VERY PINK!):


More crocheted goodies (there's a few more, but I'll wait until Em gets her package to share):




And the current state of Baby's room (still a work in progress- the walls at least):










My appointment this last week went okay. My blood pressure was up again (I think- they used the wrong cuff again). Still no dilation. AND the doctor told me that my pelvic bone structure may be too small to deliver baby. AWESOME. I was pretty depressed about that bit of news the rest of the day and following few days because I REALLY don't want to get a C-section.... And if that is the case, then all my other babies would have to be delivered by C-section as well. Ugh. Which also means I can only have like three safely (from what I've read). Ugh again. I want AT LEAST four of my own babies. The doctor said he wasn't sure though, so I'm hoping he's wrong.