Happy 30th Orion!

Last night our little family joined our extended family at Uncle Jim and Aunt Brenda's to celebrate Orion's 30th birthday. Violet was a perfect little charmer and Jeff and I were very proud. She spent a lot of quality time with her Great Grandma Robillard (see earlier post), and with Emily who took Violet for a "test drive". She was awake and alert most of the night and didn't mind at all that she was passed around like a party favor to a bunch of people she didn't know. 

QT with GG Robillard

Big girl outfit

Message to Aunt Ne'

A message from Violet to Aunt Rene'

1 Month Old

Violet is 1 month old and today she had her well baby visit. She has gained about a pound and a half since her last visit 2 weeks ago. This is well over the "expected" weight gain, according to the doctor. Since her weight the first 2 weeks of her life was such an issue we are very happy to know that she is thriving. Weight wise she is 50th percentile, length she is 10th.

She also has to have her Hepatitis B shot today and we're about to head back to the doctor's office for that. Violet is cool as a cucumber, but mom is a little nervous about it.

The doctor said that she should now be able to learn to put herself to sleep. I'm sure she'll be great at it but, let my baby cry?, is this doctor a mad woman?? Someone will have to lock me up to keep me from Violet. All I want to do is make her happy.   

Awareness

Violet is becoming more aware of her surroundings and spending more time in the "alert" state. She's really fun. This week I put her on the activity mat and she loved it. Lots of colorful wonderfulness to stare at, and flail her arms at.  

Pretty for the Persian New Year

I love our family

This is huge...I'm actually wearing makeup

Itze and Violet

Thank you, inventors of Baby Bjorn 

Dressed and ready for the party. She loves riding in the car.

Dump The Pump

Those of you who have talked to me over the last 3 weeks know that Violet hasn't exactly been a champion breast feeder. What with all the sleeping and refusal to suck and all. But over the past 4 days she (and I) have made significant progress. I'm happy to report that since last night she has not needed a bottle, and as a result I have not needed the evil breast pump. Today we'll see if we can keep this streak going.

3 Weeks Old

Today is Violet's 3 week birthday, and to celebrate I made her this stupid hat. Isn't she lucky? 

BFFs

Violet and her friend Lucy enjoying their first play date. Alright...so it was really a play date for the mom's, but so what?

She's Awake! (a rare sighting)

Polka Dot

Grandma & Grandpa Robillard

Grandma & Grandpa Robillard visited from NY, and they brought Violet her first life jacket. She's ready for the lake!

Tummy Time

Watching the Today Show

Violet loves her Aunt Rene

Aunt Rene left today and we miss her already.

March 8, 8:10 pm

Violet has a belly button!

Sleepy baby, screaming nipples

I want to throw this breast pump out the window.

Violet's First Clothes

No more birthday suit. Violet's first clothes.

Sleeping Violet

A peaceful, quiet moment I never want to forget.

Heavenly Epidural

This was taken at about 2pm, about 7 hours into labor, not long after the epidural took effect. 

The Christie's are here!

Jeff (Uncle Little), Jen (Auntie Fabulous) and cousin Zachary are here this weekend, and we are having fun. Even took a walk today. It felt great to be outside.

9 Days Old

Spoke too soon on the breast feeding...

Pretty Baby

Jeff was bragging about Violet to my Aunt Jenny who was not at all surprised by Violet's perfection. I believe she said "We don't make no junk." Couldn't have said it better myself.

Baby Blues

There are so many factors in play the first week with a new baby. I was warned of the so-called baby-blues, but thought I had the mental capacity and support to skip right over that part. Well, was I ever wrong. It sucker punches you and won't let up until you give in. Today is a better day thanks to some excellent advice from Denise, a great friend who also happens to be a mother-baby nurse. She was a great source of support and practical advice. And to the support of Violet's dad...he's the best.

P.S. the beer worked! 

8 Days Old

Nurse practitioner, Gwen, gave Jeff and I high-fives today at Violet's follow-up visit. On Monday Violet's weight was down from 7lb 10oz to 6lb 8oz (over a pound) and we ended up in the ER, but today we weighed in at 7lb 3oz. At this rate we're on track to be back at our birth weight by her second week birthday, which is the goal. It felt great. She's getting the hang of breast feeding and it's making all the difference. We still have the challenge of waking her up for feedings (not an easy task), but on the up side, she sleeps like a champ. 

Best dinner ever

Last night Uncle Jim and Aunt Brenda came over and brought a yummy pot roast, but that's not what made it the best dinner ever. What made it the best dinner ever is that they came over and we had a great visit and a real, sit-down dinner. I didn't even have to do any dishes (been doing plenty of that lately). Thanks for making me feel like a real person again, and thanks for the pot roast and homemade apple pie. It fed me for breakfast (the pie) and lunch today too. 

First Week Lowlight

This is Violet in her hospital gown getting IV fluids. The saddest sight I've ever seen.

First Week Highlights (con't)

First Week Highlights (con't)

All I wanted was a cupcake

Today I walked past the counter where a box of cupcakes from Hey Cupcake! were sitting (thanks Deanna), and I thought to myself "Ooo I want one of those", but first I have to sterilize the bottles, then I have to...Anyway, it's 8 hours later and I just walked by the cupcakes again and wondered when I'll have time to eat one. Maybe if they didn't take two hands to eat....

New Parent Initiation

Well...Jeff and I were officially introduced into the new parent club last night. Apparently they hold these initiation ceremonies in the Dell Children's Hospital ER at Midnight, 'cause that's where we were last night. 

Violet's pediatrician appointment revealed that she had lost over a pound from her birth weight. We were instructed to start her on formula immediately (and me to start pumping in the mean time). Of course I immediately cried. I was worried about Violet being so small and of course I felt like I failed her in some way too.

After getting home, we realized that she was not able to stick to the eating schedule the doctor prescribed for her. Who knew babies don't just love formula and want to suck it down in great quantities when a bottle is plugged in??? I didn't. I called the after hours number and they sent us to the emergency room for a check.

Short story is that she was dehydrated and needed to be topped off with some IV fluids. Tiny arm, big needles, hard night.

We'll see the pediatrician again this morning.  

Wondering Eyes

Before Violet was born we spent a lot of time wondering. Wondering if the baby would be a boy or a girl, wondering when he/she would arrive. And when I was in the hospital holding her in my arms and looking into her eyes I wondered if she wondered about us too.