Changes

Lately, I think Halle's look is changing. I know it will a ton throughout her lifetime, but I'm excited because I actually think she's looking more like me. In her pictures her hair looks reddish, which in person, I don't think it does, but we'll see! Here is Halle in her Bumbo chair that she can fit into now and her bathing suit from Great Aunt Patsy! It is really for next summer, but I couldn't resist having her try it on! She is sleeping better at night and if she doesn't I'm going to try and cramp down and let her cry. :( I hope she just naturally falls into it! I don't like hearing her cry! She is such a joy!

Home again, home again...

Back again from visiting the grandparents! They can't get enough of Halle. I was able to get with my 2 cousins and their babies. All born within 2 months of each other. They are all adorable and did not get as much a kick out of our photo shoot as we did. Halle's update- she's doing great on formula and pooping!!!

A sad day...

So today was Halle's last day of breast milk- first day of formula. I have been pumping and bottle feeding Halle for about 4 weeks since she refuses to breastfeed after we had to bottle feed her for a few days because of thrush. After about 4 weeks, it really started to wear on me and I started to think about formula. Now, I know nothing is wrong with it, but I have been really disappointed since breastfeeding was my first choice. It's been really encouraging talking to people who have been in the same situation as me and made the same choice, but I can't help but feeling guilty. I felt like her last bottle of breastmilk was like a funeral and all day I dreaded the formula. Not to mention worrying about it she'd take it or throw it up. I didn't want to have to go through changing formula 10 times to find one that works-plus the cost.
Well 2 bottles later, she's eating like a champ! So there's no turning back now. I appreciate everyone who says good job for sticking it out, and not to worry about the decision we made. She'll never know how much I worried over what she ate!! So I guess I can be at ease!! Plus I am excited to have my body back to normal- well it's still taking awhile, but we'll get there- man it just takes forever!! But it was worth is while it lasted. Goodbye to breatmilk!

The many faces of Halle

We've just returned from all of our travels! Wow, it feels good to be home!! Halle gets cuter everyday. I spend a lot of time sitting with the camera trying to get her to smile. She is precious! But she hasn't pooped in 5 days- we've tried all the remedies! They don't work! Poor thing! Any ideas??

The Great State of MI!!!

Halle's second road trip= MI! We went back to Grand Haven for a few days for a wedding and to see many friends there! It felt like home again. It was so much fun and so great to be there and to show Halle off! One of my sorority sisters got married and it was so great to see a bunch of friends. Halle met many people who couldn't get their hands off of her. Grandma and Grandpa even made the drive to babysit!! They didn't mind a bit!




Looking like tourists in our old town!



Delphi's at Sarah's wedding



More girls



Girls from small group



All of our kiddos!



Lake Michigan- it doesn't get any better than that!

Halle's first road trip

We just got back from visiting Grandma and Grandpa! Halle loved being there and had soooo many visitors!! It was great to see so many friends and family. And of course, nice to have my parents help so much! Halle's first smile happened a few times at her grandma!! Bri and I are still waiting for our turn. Halle did such a good job in the car as we traveled and it seems that we are getting her reflux under control. She still has thrush- so we have been bottle feeding which is a pain, so that she doesn't give it back to me. Hopefully it will go away soon! Our 6 week check-up is Monday. She's getting so big!

Pics!

Here are some pics from our family get together. The 4 generations on my mom's side and Halle's new cousin Josiah

Visitors!!

Two of my best friends came to visit! One from MI, one from WA. It was so great to have them here. Very different to be with friends now that I have his huge priority in my life. It was so great to hang out with them and have them just blend into our life here. We took some fun pics- especially when it was bath time! Every baby has to have a butt shot! So now Halle and I are being treated for a yeast infection, which has been soooo incredibly painful and she also is on medicine for reflux. It seems like first one thing then the next. I could not have imagined all of these issues with a new baby. So it's been hard and I'm praying that these issues get better so that we can get more normal around here!

WHAT TO DO....

Ok, so here's the dilemma- what to do as a parent??? We've been trying to get Halle on a schedule. Well actually up until this point, it's mostly been- how do we survive. But I decided, it's time to get some regularity and attack some of our problems. So I talked to my lactation consultant and she gave me a few suggestions, and thinks I may have a yeast infection. SUCK!! So I'm going to try and work on that. She told me to let Halle eat whenever she wants. But this book that I have that everyone swears by, says basically the opposite- you as a parent set her schedule. I know it depends on your preference. But it's so hard to know what to do. So as I sit here, Halle is screaming in her crib and I'm just letting her cry. Brian keeps looking at me with this sad face like we're torturing her. I don't like it either. But I think we have to start to do something, bc I don't want to feed her every time she's fussy just so she'll sleep. And tips??!!

Happy Father's Day!

Brian is enjoying his first year as daddy! He was gone all day yesterday and surely missed his little girl. He is rocking her at the moment. I tried to capture her with her eyes open today playing, but she always closes them, or focuses so much that she looks silly. Her cheeks are getting so big!!! We were pushing her in the stroller the other night and were noticing her cheeks shaking! She's a good eater!

Thank you Grandma!!

So my mom is gone! It was the hugest blessing to have her here with us. She is such a servant! She cooked, cleaned, ran errands, helped with Halle, and just did whatever we needed. My mom is the very best about being respectful of me and space, and she just did her own thing, and I never felt like she was looking over my shoulder or anything!! She definitely knows how to balance the mom act. Yes, I cried when she left!! Thank you mom- we love you so much!!!

So now it's just the 3 of us. We are enjoying our time just us- learning how our family works. Brian is the best dad ever! He loves taking care of Halle, and holding her. I hope she's not spoiled already! It's been so amazing to see him as dad and how happy he is! I couldn't ask for more!

First Bath

Halle loved her first bath. She did not budge. Now she smells even better! Isn't it crazy how good babies smell. Halle's second night at home was much better than the first. I hope she continues to adjust to being at home. I am feeling better each day. Still moving slow, but feeling better as long as these pain pills work! I did not anticipate coming home and feeling so helpless with not being able to do much. But my husband is 100% a servant and my mom is wonderful. Sometimes it's hard for me to not be so independent. So I'm trying to let people serve me. But we're doing well, and are open to visitors this week!

Finally Home

Here are some new pics...we finally got home today at noon. YAY! We are very very tired but hanging in there. Shannon is doing ok but still doing the grandma shuffle around the house. Funny how Halle basically just poops, pees, sleeps, and eats. That is the extent of a 4 day old babies life!