SOS

Uh Oh! I'm having too much fun! Pink Pink Pink! Dresses! Oh my!

Christa 2 weeks old

Flossing Photo Shoot

Flossing his teeth

Jacob trying to "bloss sister's teef."

So, Picture this: Jacob is in a good mood, Christa is fed and awake. I plan on taking a quick photo shoot. I have a cute sweater to go over Jacob's dinosaur shirt....he lets me comb his hair (cause I bribe him with floss), everything is ready to go. We get all set, I go to put on his sweater and he says "No. Dinosaur shirt on!" I figure there is no reason to start a fight at the beginning of taking pictures...ok...I'll roll with it. So, I ask him to stand next to Christa's seat in the perfect patch of indirect sunlight. He says "No. Here." And proceeds to crawl into a corner between the wall and the crib. The small voice in my head tells me this is NOT worth destroying the peace and love in our home over. So, here you have it. Jacob just as he is, oh so cute and full of personality....and Christa all dressed up with no where to go but looking adorable. Love these kiddos!

Christa 2010

Jacob 2007

5 days old and still able to communicate perfectly. Babies are amazing!

Happy Valentines Day

Christa, 14 days old.

Wearing her first dress on Valentines Day 2010.

Shortly before John and I became engaged I read this quote. It has stuck with me all these years, and is especially applicable on valentines day when our hearts have expanded to include our newest baby.

" Love is the very essence of life. It is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Yet it is more than the end of the rainbow. Love is at the beginning also, and from it springs the beauty that arches across the sky on a stormy day. Love is the security for which children weep, the yearning of youth, the adhesive that binds marriage, and the lubricant that prevents devastating friction in the home; it is the peace of old age, the sunlight of hope shining through death. How rich are those who enjoy it in their associations with family, friends, church, and neighbors."
Gordon B. Hinckley
Faith, The Essence of True Religion p.44

Brotherly Love

Jacob loves his sister so much, and they both look so much alike. He is very attentive to her, and is interested in all the care I give her, from feeding her to changing her diapers. I have to watch him pretty close though.....he'll try to pick her up if I'm not close by...... I know these two will have much enjoyment and learn to love and forgive from each other.

Christa is growing...her cheeks are getting chubbier and her appointment on Tuesday showed she was up to 7 lb (that is 9oz in 6 days). But she is still a small little peanut....look at her nestled in the swing.

She really is her own woman. She only likes to curl up if she's laying on me, otherwise she loves to stretch her legs out all the way. She doesn't keep her hands closed in "newborn" fists either....she spreads out her piano playing fingers, and has yet to scratch herself. That could be because I keep her hands trapped most of the time....Jacob keeps trying to get her hands out, saying "oh no! hands stuck! Help Sister."

p.s. don't forget to comment on Christa's blog post over at Fabiana Beatriz Photography!

Sneak Peak

Listen up peeps......the photographer who took Christa's newborn pics/my new friend, Fabiana, is giving me a fun prize if I can send over 15 people to make comments on her blog....on Christa's blog post in particular.

Plus, if any of you are local....or are passing through and want to plan ahead.....you may seriously want to look into having her photograph your family too.

So head on over HERE to see a sneak peak at Christa's newborn pics....and leave a comment if you are so inclined.

Christa's Birth

I had such a wonderful labor and delivery, and I know I'd be curious, so here is the story.

As you know, we were induced at 40 weeks and 4 days. John and I arrived at the hospital at 7:15am. We had the BEST nurse, Kristi, and by 8:30 I was on the pitocin drip and we were all chatting and laughing away like best friends. Although I was on the pitocin I was still able to be on my feet and on the "ball" which was great. I really didn't want to be in the bed.


10:30 my amazing Dr, Bryan, came and broke my water....I was 2cm. No meconium thank goodness! My body took a lot of pit to start getting good contractions going. Finally at 12:30 the contractions were coming right on top of each other, and although each contraction was bearable, the frequency was enough to bring in the CRNA. She, Jody, was great....she listened to my concerns about my last epidural. We had a game plan. John stayed in the room to watch with great interest. He wanted to ask TONS of questions of Jody and chat with her while she was putting in my epidural....I had to be "rude" (but I was the laboring mom right?!!) and tell him to stop talking to the person who was sticking a giant needle into my epidural space!


The Epidural was perfect. My body seemed to relax and figure things out right after that, because the nurse was able to turn down the pit drip and let my body do a lot of the work of contractions. I was 4cm then.

I rested, chatted with Kristi and John. At 3:15 John said he was going to grab a bite to eat....I suggested he run down the street to subway. Kristi suggested he just run to the basement and get something made to order at the grill in the cafeteria (the hospital food is so gross). Good call on her part, granted she is experienced at this, cause at 3:40 I started to get "the feeling."

It isn't pain, but pressure.....sorry to use the word...but it is rectal pressure. Although I couldn't feel the contractions, I could feel that "feeling." I knew what it was. I told Kristi....we waited for a few more of those "feelings" to pass, then she checked me.....I was complete! WOW! I didn't expect that at all. Immediately I start crying, Kristi was so compassionate and wants to know what's wrong.....I replied, "I'm worried John won't make it back." Thankfully a quick call verified he was in the elevator on his way back. WHEW!


Kristi call Bryan, who came from his house 3 minutes away. I started pushing at 3:45. I pushed only with contractions, and at 4:12 my sweet daughter was born. Kristi was so awesome, and let me warm Christa up on my skin with warm blankets on top of both of us....which was so wonderful. Bryan tried turning her little body 3 times during delivery, trying to get her face downward, but she wouldn't have anything to do with that. She was born face up....causing her face to be very bruised and leaving me in need of ...... well lets just say..... a few stitches. Yikes!
Thankfully, I didn't feel that part with my wonderful epidural. Poor John saw it coming.....and I could see it on his face. I wasn't concerned....at that point, what can you do, nothing! I was so calm during the delivery, when Bryan told me I'd have a tear I was fine with it. But Poor John was so concerned Bryan had to reassure him several times that everything was going to be okay. Needless to say John has been very compassionate to me this week, not asking me go up and down the stairs more than necessary :)


Christa had wonderful apgar scores. She wasn't interested in eating at.....but she just looked at me and John for hours. It was so wonderful!



I continue to be amazed that I did it, and that women have babies. It is a miracle and hard hard work, but worth every second for positive outcomes. I'm so thankful for my opportunity to travel a scary road for my children....I know it isn't an opportunity that comes to all women.....and I'm thankful for my positive happy outcome....my beautiful children!

One Week Old

Christa is one week old today. She has nestled herself perfectly into our family.

Christa's first outing....to the Doctor's. She was 3 days old and a bit jaundiced....but oh so cute

I just couldn't resist tucking Christa in bed with Jacob.

Jacob thought it was so funny.

Daddy is loving having Christa so much, and I'm sure she loves

her Daddy, but since he doesn't have "baby's milk" she isn't

as attentive to him as she is to mom :)

Long and skinny feet. Maybe she'll share shoes with mom

one day.

Jacob holding Sister.

John turned his back (we are still getting used to a toddler

and newborn combo) for a second, just as Jacob decided he

was done holding her. Jacob just set her down on the couch

next to him. Thankfully I was there taking this picture, so I could

rescue Christa.....who didn't seem to notice.





Week One:

Well, this week....hmmmm where do I start. First, I"ll keep it real. I've been SORE and TIRED. I won't go into details there, if you've had a baby or your wife has had a baby you know the details. But I will say, I'm not as tired as I was with Jacob (my labor wasn't as long or hard this time around. I'm attributing it to that).

Christa is wonderful. She started to get hungry when she was 2 days old, after we were home. She hardly ate a thing in the hospital....but has turned out to be a great nurser. She discovered her voice on day 3. On day 3 she had her first Dr's appointment. She was down to 6lb 7oz. Jacob was never that small, and it has been fun to have a little tiny baby to cuddle.

She eats every 2-4 hours. She only wanted to sleep with mom for DAYS. Finally after several nights of trying everything (swing, co-sleeper, in bed with me which she loves and I hate), we figured out she will sleep in the pack n play that has a vibrate mode. YAY!

She also only wants to fall asleep if she is nursing, and since she is so cute and newborn, I let her.

But today finally she had some awake time where she wasn't desperate to eat (all week it has been sleep or eat or cry that she's not eating). So I helped her go to sleep not nursing, hopefully as the weeks go by she'll get better at that.

This weekend we had newborn portraits taken, I can't wait to share those!

Christa looks a lot like Jacob did, but she is darker and her nose is a bit more like mine. It will be fun to watch her develop into her own look as time goes on. She has lots of hair....I'm sure it will fall out, but until then it is so pretty.

I could go on and on. This daughter of mine has doting parents, brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. She's a dream!

CHEESE

After all my complaining that Jacob won't cooperate with picture taking, he is starting to figure it out. Now he says "cheese" when I try to take a picture of him. That is what he is saying in the second picture. I thought it was hysterical that he was holding a piece of cheese too.

Jacob has been so great this week. He is loving and attentive to his sister. When she cries, he runs to her bed and then runs to me and tells me she is hungry and that she needs to "drink." He has been a little more sensitive with me this week, but otherwise completely happy with his new sister.

He is so fun. Just the last two days he has been trying to figure out in his mind what "after" and "later" mean. He is getting it to.....but sometimes he'll just tell me, "After. After. After." and I have NO idea what he means. His brain is working hard to figure it out. He also started telling John and I that we have to get something at the store. I told him we didn't have anymore Raisin Bran this morning (his cereal of choice so he can pick out the raisins), and he told me we'd have to get it at the store. Again tonight, when I told him we were out of Soy Milk he told me I would buy more at the store. So funny!

We're Home

Headed to the hospital. John was tired, my dad was

making me laugh as he tried to figure out the camera.

We Are home now. Here are a few pictures from our first 48 hours as a family of 4.

Meeting her Grandparents. Yes, she has a Grandpa Jake, who was very

excited to meet her. Not sure how we missed the photo?

Meeting Beebon

Not even 24 hours old, curled in mom's lap.

My posterity

Coming home outfit

Coming home

New Arrival

Christa Anna Peterson
Jan 31, 2010
4:12pm
7lb 1oz
19 1/2 inches long

We are so excited Christa is here. Everything went great with our labor and delivery, and although Christa's face is a little beat up from being born face up, she is perfect and doing great.

Jacob came to visit, as well as all 4 grandparents and Aunt Beebon, last night. He loved her instantly! He wanted to hold her, hug her, kiss her, give her a binky, and comfort her when she cried. He also wanted her to "drink" but I told him we'd have to wait, since we had too many visitors. He is so fun. John was smitten the second he laid eyes on her!

I feel great, tired and sore of course, but this was so much easier and pleasant than my first delivery. Don't get me wrong.....it was still harder work than I'd choose on a daily basis ;) More on the story tomorrow.

This Big Brother means business. She has a protector already.

Popeye......from being born OP

p.s. this is my 200th post. I guess I love blogging :) Thanks for reading and commenting!