Let It Snow...

Well, as many of you know we had over 12 inches of snow yesterday! Nate and I sure picked a good time to not get gas for the snow blower!!
Around 1pm, Nate headed out with a single shovel to conquer 12 inches of snow that covered our 3 car driveway! After getting a few strips cleared, it was beginning to look like this was going to be an all day job!! However, our trusty neighbor Fiesel and his CAT appeared to save the day!! Please note: This is the only time the CAT logo is allowed on our property (Nate works at Cummins and CAT is their #1 rival).

See the pictures below!! It was a monster plow!!






















Thank heavens for AWESOME neighbors!! What a HUGE blessing for us!!

Allyson and Sophia

The Big Move...

Wow, two posts in two days!! You must be proud!!

Well, last night we made the big move... Sophia slept the full night in her crib. She has been so loud at night that Nate is having a hard time getting sleep on work nights... I nursed her in our bedroom and decided to put her in her own room/crib last night. She did awesome. I think she likes her crib better than the bassinet b/c it is more comfortable.

I didn't do so bad myself. I kept putting this MOVE off for a long time b/c I was nervous and liked to have her with me so I can sneak a "peak" to make sure she is still breathing (the common worry of all 1st moms).

Guess I better prepare myself for a little more "walking" at night b/w rooms!!

Allyson and Sophia

Yes, we are still alive!

Is this how you feel??? Where on earth is Allyson????

Sorry everyone for the lack of blog posts!! I can't believe almost a whole week has gotten away from me without a blog post! I know there are some of you that are probably pretty upset with me (LM?). I wish I could say we have been out and about doing so many things... but that isn't the case.

How about a recap since last Wednesday's post? It is a long one... you might need a potty break in b/w reading....

Last Thursday we went over to play with Sophia's new best friend that is only 6 days older than she.... Miss Lila Jane White (Michelle and Justin's little girl). We had a great time. Michelle and I laid Lila and Sophia on a blanket on their backs to look at each other. They probably laid there for 40 minutes. Wish I had my camera ... so precious!! We hung out for a few hours with Michelle and her boys and Miss Lila. I decided to be brave and call and schedule a haircut for Friday morning as well! I figure... making a 2:45pm haircut should be no problem at all b/c Nate was home all day long on Friday.

(There might be a little TMI for some people... so if you don't like hearing... skip down to the next paragraph -- but I am just trying to be real!)

Friday I woke up with horrible sharp pains in my right breast. Since Sophia wasn't up yet, I decided to pump. The pain wasn't much better. When she got up, I nursed her... which was horrible pain on the right side for the full 30 min nursing period. Tears actually fell from my eyes. I thought... heavens, what is wrong with me? Do I have a clogged duct? After trying massage, heat, warm compresses... the pain was still there. I call the lactation specialist at Methodist and she called back to confirm that I most likely had a few clogged ducts. Lovely!!! She gave me a few other things to try to relieve the pain and get rid of the clog... thank heavens by 1pm, I was on the road to recovery and was feeling some relief. I already had my morning plans (of a workout) ruined... and was beginning to think I wasn't going to be able to get out and go to my haircut. However, I was FINALLY able to get a shower and rush out the door. It was such a relief to get my haircut and have a little "ME" time. While I was gone, Sophia and daddy got bundled up and went for a short stroll around the neighborhood in the stroller. She loved it!! I think Daddy loved it more though!!

Saturday I was finally able to make it back to the gym... thank HEAVENS!!! In the afternoon, Aunt Sarah came over to help Sophia get a bath and get ready to head out on the town. Saturday night Sophia and I left Daddy at home to dine with the nurses that took care of me at the hospital. Mom, Sarah, and I met my two FABULOUS nurses at Dunnaway's for dinner. It was a really nice time....however, nothing is without drama with our family! My main concern with a dinner reservation at a nice restaurant at 6pm was a fussy baby... however, she slept the WHOLE time!! Couldn't even believe it!! (And even slept that night!)... The drama was with the adults!! We ordered our food and one of my nurses was craving steak... so she ordered a New York Strip Steak VERY well done. She said she didn't want any pink in her steak AT ALL. The waitress said that wouldn't be a problem. When we FINALLY got our food (after waiting FOREVER), she cut into it and it was very pink/red. She sent it back and said this is supposed to be well done... NO PINK. We suggested they fillet it or do a butterfly cut (since the meat think). Poor Lois, we all had our food and she didn't have anything... FINALLY they brought out her steak and it was very black on the outside (very very crispy). She cut into it again and it was still PINK!!! Are you kidding me? At this point, we stopped laughing and got a little ticked off. How hard was it? She asked for a new piece of meat and for it to be cut in half to cook it WELL DONE. The waitress felt really bad and took it away back to the kitchen. At this point we were all done eating and Lois hadn't even had her meal yet. We all felt so bad... mom really did... so she went downstairs to talk with the manager... He pretty much was a COMPLETE JERK and this was the conversation (for the most part)... (can you believe it, at such a nice, upscale restaurant)

Mom: Can I please talk with the manager?

Girl #1: Sure, let me get him...

Manager: Is there a problem mam?

Mom: Yes there is. My friend ordered a steak to be WELL DONE (no pink/red) and it has been brought out to her twice and it is still pink/red. We suggested they butterfly it and put it back on the grill... however it still wasn't done. We asked the waitress to bring her a new piece of meat that wasn't BLACK on the outside and pink inside... one that was actually done.

Manager: Mam, to tell you the truth, I didn't even want to give her a new piece of meat, but I had to b/c the waitress already told her that we would. When you order a steak well done at this restaurant, it is pink inside -- that is just the way it is...

.... AND then the manager just turned and walked away?????????????

Are you kidding me? Who does this? If the price of a 14 oz steak (the only size they have) is $36, don't you think it is their responsibility to cook it how the patron ordered it?? I don't care if most people may like it pink... no 14 oz hunk of meat is going to cook all the way through without being cut in half or full of black cancer causing particles on the outside!!

In the mean time, the rest of us are upstairs and her new piece of meat comes out FINALLY after what seemed like 30 minutes and looks great on the outside, but when she cuts into it... it is even WORSE than the first piece. It is bloody red inside! Lois just told the waitress to take it back and take it off the bill.

Then it came time to order dessert... poor Lois only had two pieces of bread and a wedge salad, so she ordered two desserts: banana pudding and fresh mango sorbet... Our dessert came and they only brought her one dessert... the waitress claims she didn't hear the second dessert.

Needless to say, our LONG night at Dunnaways was quite eventful and at least we were able to laugh about it by the end of the night.. well, most of us were!! My poor mother was so embarrassed... here she was trying to create such a wonderful evening out for the girls to celebrate Sophia's birth with the women that helped bring her into the world and it went up in flames!!!

Sunday we had church and Sunday school and it was pretty uneventful. Monday, Sophia and I had Becky and Isabelle over from church. We had a great time together. Isabelle is 10 1/2 months old and is just such a doll. I should have taken a picture of them together too!! We made organic white chocolate oreo balls! (Or I should say Becky made them while I nursed) YUM!! We had a great time relaxing and talking!!

Today, Tuesday, Grammie and Grampie Kiesel came up to spend the day with us. Nate ended up staying home and working from home b/c the weather was so questionable. I was able to escape to the gym and have a little "ME" time while Grammie and Grampie help Sophia and helped around the house! The 5 of us headed to Subway for lunch b4 the weather started getting worse and Grammie and Grampie had to leave to get home....

So that was our week... maybe you can understand why I haven't blogged in awhile... the other reason is that she isn't sleeping more than 10-13 hours/day TOTAL! Needless to say I am busy with her so much that I don't have much time alone to myself!!! She sure doesn't sleep the 18-20 hours/day that all the books say a newborn sleeps!!

I will leave you with a few pictures for your viewing pleasure....












Sophia is getting the hang of the paci... but she doesn't keep it in long... and it doesn't quite calm her down yet...














Great Grandpa Kiesel holding Sophia last Monday after our doctor's appt!











Great Grandma Kiesel

Well, thanks for reading if you made it to the bottom!!

Allyson and Sophia

Memories

My first "REAL" bath!











Once mommy started pouring warm water on me, I loved it!! Aren't I so cute?














I am looking at daddy videotape me! I also decided that I wanted to drink the water... so my tongue started moving and I tried to get the water until mommy moved me up so I couldn't get to it!














Hold me up mommy b/c I keep sliding down!

On Sunday, Jan 18th we had Baby Dedication at our church, Plainfield Christian Church. We had a really nice time. Grandma and Grandpa Long (seen below), Grammie and Grampie Kiesel, Aunt Sarah and Uncle Brandon were all there to watch her be dedicated to the Lord. We had a wonderful brunch afterwards at the church. Although, Miss Sophia was off her normal Sunday schedule and had a few meltdowns, so we had to leave so she could come home and eat!! She was very happy to be back on a schedule the rest of the evening! Mommy was too!!














Daddy tried a breast milk bottle for the first time tonight since she is almost 4 weeks old. I figured it would probably be a good idea so that mommy can be free to run errands and leave Sophia with daddy at times without him feeling left helpless without a way to feed her. The first time was a disaster and she had a meltdown and wouldn't take it. Nevertheless, we tried it again later in the evening, and she did well and sucked down the 2oz. I was really nervous b/c she still won't take a pacifier! Here is hoping she will take a pacifier now that she conquered her first bottle!











Here is daddy trying my first bottle. I am really trying hard to like it... but it just isn't the same as mommy's boob!!

Allyson and Sophia

Answers and Updates

First things first... This mama went to the doctor yesterday and everything is healing nicely and I got a clean slate! Just gotta get my last 7-8 lbs off. I asked the doctor when I can start lifting weights again (b/c you know I have already broken rule #1 and was at the gym at 1.5 weeks post-op). She just looked at me and smiled... I take it not too many people ask her that question! Next week I can start lifting again and at week 6, I can start running again. Good thing since I am doing the Mini this year!! Should be interesting, needless to say!

Also, Sophia weighed 8lbs! (Remember she was born at 7lbs 8 oz, then dropped to 6lbs 15 oz, then back up to 7lbs 4 oz at week 1) Yipee!!! The doctor said her weight is PERFECT and that means she isn't getting TOO MUCH food or TOO LITTLE. This mama is still doing her job correctly in terms of feeding!! Rock On!!!

Now to the answers of the quiz. I was sad to see we only had 1 star pupil that answered the questions... I know most of you probably took the quiz in your head!!

1. You CAN'T nurse too often--you CAN nurse too little. TRUE

2. Breastfed babies should have at least 5-6+ wet diapers every 24 hours. TRUE

3. Most newborns need to nurse 8 - 12+ times per day (24 hours). TRUE

4. Common growth spurt times in the early weeks are the first few days at home, 7 - 10 days, 2 - 3 weeks and 4 - 6 weeks. TRUE

5. From 0-4 months, a typical breastfed baby should gain 8-10 ounces per week FALSE (5-7 oz)

6. The average breastfed baby doubles birth weight by 2 months. FALSE (3-4 months)

7. By one year, the typical breastfed baby will increase birth length by 50% and head circumference by 33%. TRUE

8. A mom's milk (aka breastmilk) will only stay in a newborns stomach for about 20-25 minutes. TRUE

So, how many did you get correct? You can leave your score on the blog comment section!!

Stay tuned for pictures from Sophia's first "REAL" bath from last Saturday night!!

Allyson and Sophia

Pop Quiz... how will you do?

Breastfeeding Quiz Time -- how many will you get correct?

True or False

1. You CAN'T nurse too often--you CAN nurse too little.

2. Breastfed babies should have at least 5-6+ wet diapers every 24 hours.

3. Most newborns need to nurse 8 - 12+ times per day (24 hours).

4. Common growth spurt times in the early weeks are the first few days at home, 7 - 10 days, 2 - 3 weeks and 4 - 6 weeks.

5. From 0-4 months, a typical breastfed baby should gain 8-10 ounces per week

6. The average breastfed baby doubles birth weight by 2 months.

7. By one year, the typical breastfed baby will increase birth length by 50% and head circumference by 33%.

8. A mom's milk (aka breastmilk) will only stay in a newborns stomach for about 20-25 minutes.

Answers will be posted tomorrow... feel free to leave your answers as a comment!! We can see how well you do!

Allyson and Sophia (aka mama's milk lover)

Welcome to My World... Says Sophia

My new sleeper that Chad and Leslie brought for me!! I love it!!













Snoozin' this morning after getting my tank filled up with milk!! Yum!













Trying to snap a picture before bed in my new outfit to show Leslie and Chad.













VERY mad at mom for making me take a picture when all I really want to do is EAT!!!! Come on mom, show me that boob! Daddy always says, "Sophia, honey, there is more to life than a boob like daddy's hugs and kisses." She seems to forget that at times like this!!


Allyson and Sophia

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

"Brrrrrrrrrrrrr, it's cold out there.... there must be a Toro in the atmosphere!!!"

Anyone know what movie that line is from?? Mel A., my movie buff probably knows? I know Aunt Sarah knows!! It is really a personal favorite movie!

Today has been just down right freezing!!!! We have been watching our indoor/outdoor thermometer and the high in Avon was 1.6 degrees and the low was -7.8. YIKES!! I don't think I have ever seen -7.8 before??

We had a great night last night. I was a little worried about how it might turn out b/c Sophia was up pretty much from 3:30pm yesterday afternoon until she went to bed after 11pm. She was so cranky and fussy yesterday evening when Aunt Sarah came to visit. Poor Aunt Sarah isn't going to want to come back!! Nevertheless, my child surprised me by sleeping from 11:30pm to 5:30am. It was awesome!! (And no, I didn't wake her up to feed her... she and I both need our sleep, goodness knows I feed her tons throughout the day). I woke up, looked at the clock and thought it was probably 2am.... nope, it was 5:30am. Needless to say, this mama was on milk overload and had to feed my princess right away. She probably would have slept a little more if I didn't fully wake her up.

Daddy has been home with us today. He watched Sophia and kept her busy while this mama hit the gym. It is so good to be back in somewhat of a routine. Especially getting back to the gym makes me feel so much better... kind of like my old self again!

Someone from church made us dinner tonight. We had an awesome beef stew. She also made us homemade truffles -- which were AMAZING!!! It is hard to stop eating them b/c they are soooo good!!!

Tomorrow is supposed to be another cold day! I am hoping to get out again and head to the gym. My only freedom outing!!

Enjoy this picture of Sophia I took tonight after she fell asleep nursing! Isn't she precious?













Allyson and Princess

Fun times with Grams and Gramps

Grammie and Grampie Kiesel were up yesterday to spend the day with Sophia! We had a great time. They arrived around 10:30am and after a quick feeding, I escaped to the gym with Sophia in grammie's arms. I knew that when I got home from the gym, Sophia would still be in someone's arms!! She is spoiled! :) My workout was awesome -- it felt so good to be at the gym exercising! When I got home, I found grampie holding Sophia and in her bedroom! So precious, I had to take a picture... or two... or three....





















Aren't those precious? I think Grampie was rocking her for hours!! She loved that! :) I think he might have loved it more though! He is crazy about this little girl!! But who wouldn't be, right? Cause she is so stinkin' cute???

Since Sophia was sleeping, grammie and myself cleaned lots of the house. (Mostly Grammie though to give her credit). It is so nice to have a clean house. Towards the end of the pregnancy, I just didn't have the ability or energy to clean the house!!

We were supposed to venture out today, but with the weather as bad as it is... and the road conditions less than optimal... I decided to cancel and reschedule my OB F/U appt today. I was bummed b/c Sophia was supposed to make a grand appearance at my downtown office today after our appt... needless to say, that will be postponed until Monday. I sure despise this crappy weather!!

I will close with a random shot of her that I got last Friday.... isn't she so precious?













Gotta love those bright blue eyes!! And of course her mouth is open... wonder what four letter word she is looking for???? HaHaHa

Well, speaking of my little precious... she is stiring in her bed... better get her up!

Allyson and Sophia

More firsts...

Oh yeah, mama Al made it to the gym this morning for the first time and it felt GREAT! I know I am a nut job---not too many people count down the days when they get back to the gym!!! However, I am one of those crazies that goes crazy without a little gym time!! My peeps at the gym said, "Wow, you look a lot different than you did the last time I saw you" and "Oh my goodness, you didn't stay away long." For those of you that are worried about me, I took it VERY easy and didn't overdue it. I can't wait to get back this week!! Daddy did a good job watching little Sophia. She slept the whole time mommy was gone. Good thing b/c daddy worried about a meltdown without mommy's boob nearby!

Also, due to daddy's prompting and excitement (to see if mommy's great "idea" was going to cost us money or save us money) ... we did a trial run on the cloth diapers. As many of you may or may not know, we are going to cloth diaper Sophia. We are using up all the Pampers Swaddlers NB size that were given to us, but we are getting close to the bottom of the pile. Daddy wanted mommy to try the cloth diaper b/c he didn't think it would work as well as mommy had hoped or invisioned. He wanted to take pictures to document this monumental event... so, below you will find some pictures. If baby poop bothers you, you might skip the rest of the blog!!










Mommy putting on the cloth diaper!













I know, it looks huge... only takes up half her body!! She will grow into it!










Sweet Success through one of her blowouts!!! The cloth diaper inside the water proof wrap absorbed EVERYTHING and she didn't leak!!

Mark one up for mommy's cloth diapering success!!

More stories to come with Sophia and our adventures with cloth diapering!!

Allyson and Sophia!

Mama and Sophia

Not much time to write due to a screaming Princess in the background... but here is a picture of mama and Sophia. Many have requested one... this mama has so much fun taking pictures of daddy and Sophia, she forgets about herself...

Anyone have any captions for Sophia's facial expression??

More later... if a nap allows!

Allyson and Sophia

Lots of "Firsts"

Yesterday was a day of many "firsts." The most exciting first for this mommy was the fact she was able to get back into her OWN jeans!! I hadn't tried a pair on until yesterday when we were getting ready to go to the doctor. They fit!! A little snug in the belly where my ab muscles are still retracting, but they fit!!!! I was thrilled. Talk about a self-confidence/esteem booster!!

Sophia and daddy had their first workout together yesterday morning. Daddy laid on the ground and lifted weights and Sophia was there for moral support. She likes laying on the ground with daddy.









Sophia had her first visit to the doctor yesterday. Everything checked out A-OK. She is still 7lbs 4 oz, which is awesome and the doctor was pleased with that! Basically we have a long, skinny child on our hands!! Probably has Nate's frame -- which is awesome for her!! :) Below you will find some pictures that daddy took at the doctor's office.












The nurse had us get her down to just a dry diaper. The second picture is on the way to the dry diaper... however, when we got the dirty diaper off and starting putting the dry diaper on, Sophia started peeing all over the exam table. She must have a thing with getting on the scales b/c each time in the hospital they weighed her, she peed all over their scales. She didn't have a diaper on those times either!! Poor thing -- must be the exposure to the cold!!












The last picture above is Sophia snoozin' after the doctor's appt on our way to Target! Daddy and mommy had a Target GC that was burning a hole in our pocket to spend. Mommy found Sophia two cute clearanced Newborn outfits. She is swimming in her 0-3 month clothes!!

Today we hope to make a venture out to Babies R Us for some returns and to look around. Also, we need to make our monthly Trader Joe's run!!

















One Random thought --- and this will be very random... Why are cashiers at the grocery stores so mean to bananas? Even though they have a thick peeling, don't you think they should be nicer and handle with more care???? We buy LOTS of bananas every week (I am talking 4 big bunches) and everytime I spend at least 2-3 minutes in search of bananas with the perfect color and without brown spots or bruises... when the cashier weighs them she plops them all on the scale then she pretty much tosses them into a bag... I want to scream... "Please be gentle with my bananas... when you are so gruff/harsh you are bruising them and they taste bad...." Ok, so that is my little vent for the day. I have been meaning to comment about that for months and keep forgetting... what better time than now...

Allyson and Sophia

Mama is pullin' her weight...

We had our home visit yesterday, a wonderful service for all new mom's that deliver at Methodist Hospital. A RN comes out to your house to check on mom and baby to make sure everything is going ok. Our nurse was our yesterday and Sophia looks wonderful. She is already back up to 7 lbs 4 oz! Her birth weight was 7 lbs 8 oz, but then dropped to 7 lbs 3 oz her second day, then 6 lbs 15 oz the day we left to come home. They usually like to see them back to their birth weight in two weeks. Sophia should be back to hers by her first doctor's appt Monday morning! Guess this mama is pulling her weight and putting out some good milk huh?? She has no jaundice which is a blessing for a breastfed baby!

Nate and I are doing well. We are both actually getting lots more sleep than I ever expected! The past two nights Sophia has done a series of 2-3 cluster feedings b/w 5-9, but rewards mommy and daddy with a long first sleep stretch. Last night she last ate at 9:20pm and didn't wake up till 2:20am to eat again! I fed her at 2:20am, put her right back down and she slept till 5:45am this morning!! I know they say you should wake them up Q 3-4 hours at night if they don't wake up to feed so the milk supply isn't hurt... but she is still getting in her 8-12 feedings/day and has plenty of milk. So this mama thinks a 5 hour stretch is fine! (One of the lactation consultants told me that 1 - 5 hr stretch at night was fine... as long as her day feedings are Q 2-3 hours.

So needless to say, we have been blessed with a wonderful child in many ways, sleep being just one of them!! Hope she keeps this up and she will have VERY happy parents!!

We both have really enjoyed getting to know her. She loves to be in daddy's arms on her back looking up at the bright kitchen "can" lights in the ceiling. She loves having daddy time in the morning after her 5-6 am feeding. She really likes laying on her side with mommy and daddy right there on the ground with her, patting her back!!

This next picture below will melt your heart... this is after a feeding while mommy's is in the kitchen getting some grub! Can you see the cute little red spot on her chin? She has a little facial irritation after going to town eating each time...











Much love from Sophia and Mommy Al

A bit overdue...

19, 25, 31, 36, and 40 Weeks!

Wow, I can't believe my little basketball!
Thank heavens it turned into a beautiful little Princess!!!

Going home...

Greetings everyone!! This is Sophia Grace! We made it home!! Mommy rode in the back seat of the car with me. Daddy had a nice warm car waiting for me and mommy at the hospital front entrance. It is a good thing b/c it was very chilly and windy outside. Wouldn't want to catch a cold on day #3 of my life!! I really enjoyed my car ride home. Didn't even open my eyes!! When we got home, there was a giant wooden stork in the yard to welcome us!!! It was 100x bigger than me. Now all the neighbors know they have a new addition to the neighborhood! I could fit in the storks beak though!!













Aunt Sarah brought mommy and daddy some supper last night!! She wasn't feeling so well, so she couldn't stay and play with me. I was sad that she had to leave!!

I slept pretty well in mommy and daddy's room last night. We all went to bed about 9:30pm last night, but I woke mommy up just in time for the ball to drop so I could eat!! She kept falling asleep while she was trying to feed me!!! I thought I would go easy on mom and dad last night and give them some good sleep stretches! Who knows what I might do tonight!!!

Daddy is playing with me right now as mommy is trying to catch up on her emails and updating her friends!!

Grandma and Grandpa Long might come over and see me today!! I hope they do b/c I love them!! I hope Grandpa brings his autoharp to play for me. Daddy tells me he is very good!!

Well, it is time for me to play again! Here are two of daddy's favorite pictures of me before I left the hospital!!