Friday, February 22, 2013

Miss Carolina - One Month Old and Dr Update

I know I have said it hundred times and I will probably say it a million more but it is crazy to think how something so small can change your life so much. It is so hard to believe that Carolina is already a month old. I honestly don’t even remember life without her being around. She is a pure joy to have around and she is the sweetest little girl.

(pardon the blurry picture)
WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO:
Carolina really enjoys riding in the car and always falls asleep the second the car starts moving. She still loves her flower swing and she just loves sleeping on mommy's chest at night. She is also starting to love bath time now.  She will sit in her flower bath the whole time and smile while you get her all soaped up but she gets fussy when we start to rinse her off. I think she realizes she is about to get out. Our little girl also LOVES for you to rub her feet, she smiles and giggles when you play with her little toes, it is so adorable!

NEW THINGS WE HAVE DONE:
To be so tiny she is doing BIG things. She is already holding her head up so good along with pushing up on her arms and is even starting to roll over, she is getting so good at it. This week we have been practicing our OOOO’s and she is super cute doing it. She laughs at everybody and loves to smile all the time. We also took a trip to NC this past Sunday - Tuesday so family can finally meet her, she did amazing in the car and slept the whole time there and back.

DISLIKES:
Carolina also does not like to be left alone, it seems like she knows when you walk away from her, even when she is sleeping. We have also found out that you do not like getting passed around and around. You become very fussy and then it takes forever to settle you down. 

SLEEPING PATTERNS:
She is finally getting in a better pattern. I am still having to sleep down stairs on the couch with her but she is doing wonderful and even sleeping up to 4-5 hours at a time at night. She usually goes to bed around 9 or 10pm and wakes up around 12 or 1am for a feeding and then she is back to bed till around 4 or 5. We usually have another feeding and then stay up for maybe 30 minutes or so before we head back to bead till about 8 or 9am or occasionally 11-12am. I am so proud of her! She LOVES sleeping on someone, as soon as you lay her down, she wakes up!

EATING PATTERNS:
She is still doing great with breast feeding. She is still eating every 2 hours and is now up to about 3 or 4oz. As you can see in the picture, our little squirt is starting to act growny... Whenever I pump and Nathan or my mother give her a bottle she is wanting to hold her own bottle up! 

DIAPER SIZE:
Still wearing newborns, her little butt gets swallowed when we put on a size 1. We are hoping to switch her to size 1 soon so we don't have to buy anymore newborns.

CLOTHING SIZE:
She is still wearing some newborns here and there but we are starting to get a little too long for them so we are having to start to wear some 3 months that are a little small. Some 3 months are a bit too big and they swallow her but most of her 0-3 months fit perfect. 

WEIGHT AND LENGHT:
She weighs 9 pounds 13 ounces
and measured 23 inches long
her head circumference was 14.2 inches (36 cm).

OTHER FACTS:
Your hair is finally starting to lighten up a little and I am praying it is going to be blonde, it is also starting to get a tad curly around your neck.
You currently have the most prettiest dark blue eyes that are really light blue in the middle and I'm hoping that they will stay that way.
You are getting very alert on what is going on around you and you are always looking around at everything.
You are holding your head up very well to be so little.
You love to blow bubbles and to stick your little tongue out.
You have found your voice and you like for everyone to hear it. You are constantly grunting and making little squealing noises at everyone.
You love smiling at mommy and daddy when we talk to you.


Mommy and Daddy love to watch you grow and learn everyday and we can’t wait to see what all you are going to be up to this next month. You are the light of our life's.



Dr update... At Carolina's one month check up, her doctor was very proud of her progress. She is in prefect health. Carolina is currently in the 80% percentile for her height, 65% percentile for her weight and 20% percentile for her head circumference. Our little girl had to get her second HepB shot and I must say she did not enjoy it too much. Unfortunately she did not take it like a big girl like she did when she was born, our poor thing cried bloody murder. I am so thankful Nathan was there because it broke my heart hearing her scream from getting a shot. 

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

3 Weeks and 5 Days

Carolina is changing and growing everyday. She doesn’t even look like the baby we brought home from the hospital. She is learning to do new things and her personality is coming out drastically. 
She is such a total sweetheart!

WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO:
She is still LOVING her flower swing and she has finally beginning to like tummy time. She has become very vocal, and it seems like she loves hearing herself.
I will post a picture of her doing tummy time soon.

NEW THINGS WE HAVE DONE:
We have finally started bath time and also we had our first family dinner outing and our little girl did amazing. Carolina is doing so well during bath time, I am so proud of my little girl. She starts to get a little cranky when the water starts cooling down so we have to run more water to calm her down.
I will try and post a video if I can.

DISLIKES:
She is definitely not a fan of diaper changes, she does not like having her little butt naked. Carolina also does not like to be left alone, it seems like she knows when you walk away from her, even when she is sleeping. 

SLEEPING PATTERNS:
Our little girl has definitely gotten a lot better about bed time, but unfortunately she will only sleep if someone is holding her or in her swing down stairs. That means no sleep for me, daddy or grandma!

EATING PATTERNS:
She is still doing GREAT with breastfeeding. Even though this little turkey butt likes to play at times, She eats anywhere from 15-45 minutes every 2 hours, depending on if she falls asleep while feeding. Our little girl is now eating up to 4 oz when I pump and give her a bottle. Some days it feels like all she is doing is eating.

DIAPER SIZE:
Still in newborn so far and I think we will be for awhile. Her little butt gets swallowed when we put her in a size 1. 

CLOTHING SIZE:
Mostly newborns still but she can wear some of her 0-3 gowns but she looks a little lost in the regular sleepers.

WEIGHT AND LENGTH:
As of her 2 week appointment she was exactly 8lbs. I am thinking she may be around 8lbs 4-5oz, give her a take an oz. 

Mommy LOVES you VERY much Miss Carolina Dawn!! 

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

My Pride and Joy


I know I am late again but I have good reason.
A few days after we got home from the hospital, once I started feeling better I started working with Carolina to get some Newborn photos. I must say that my little girl is the utmost pleasure to work with. She surely has made it hard for me to make a decision on which ones I want to order because they all came out so wonderful.
But here is a little peek on some of the pictures I had taken of Carolina.








I will post a few more shortly!

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Two Weeks Old!

Time really fly's by when you are having fun. I can’t believe Carolina is already 2 weeks old. I don’t even remember life without her around. Nathan and I are both so in love with this little miracle. Nathan has been so much help around the house and is absolutely wonderful with Carolina. 
He loves his little girl and he is the BEST daddy!

This past Monday was Carolina's weight check up after her first appointment the Friday before. The doctor said she is doing wonderfully. She went from weighting 7lbs 3oz the day we left the hospital, to 7lbs 5.5oz at her first appointment Friday. At her appointment Monday she was weighting in at 7lbs 10.5oz and now at her appointment Thursday was exactly 8lbs. That means no more appointments for two weeks, she will be a month old then! Our little girl is already getting so big. There is thankfully no popping or clicking in her hips even though she was breeched for quite a while in there. Her doctor is very happy with her weight gain and her health since we left the hospital. 

EATING PATTERNS:
Breastfeeding is going GREAT… Carolina LOVES it. She has set her on schedule to every 2 hours and will eat for a good 20-30 mins. This past week she has even been taking the bottle from grandma and daddy a few times.

 NEW THINGS WE HAVE DONE:
To be so tiny she is doing BIG things. She is already starting to hold her head up and she is also trying to roll over. Carolina laughs at daddy all the time and loves to smile at everything. She found our dog Honey Bee and my mom's dog Baby, she will sit there and watch them run around after each other. We are going to try our first big girl bath tonight since her cord has finally fallen off and healed up wonderfully. 
I will post a video tonight to show the outcome, keep your fingers crossed and wish us good luck!

SLEEPING PATTERNS:
We LOVE our afternoon naps and most nights she is a pretty good sleeper. Last night she did amazing and slept up to 4 hours, even though she slept on mommy on the couch the whole time. Occasionally she will want to be a tad nocturnal and get mommy to stay up with her. Other than that she has been pretty great... She wakes up to be changed and eat and then she is usually right back to sleep for a couple more hours.

WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO:
Carolina LOVES her flower swing… She could sit in it all day long and be the happiest little girl.

DISLIKES:
So far Tummy time is not something we quite enjoy yet. We are still working at it but it's not turning out too good so far.

DIAPER SIZE:
We are still wearing newborn diapers and thankfully now that her cord has finally fallen off, we can start using our Charlie Banana reusable diapers!!

CLOTHING SIZE:
As of now we are wearing all newborn clothes and even some of them seem to be too big. Occasionally we will wear a 0-3 month gown but other than that, just newborns for now!

WEIGHT AND LENGTH:
Exactly 8lbs and 22 in long!

Carolina's First Doctor Appt.

Friday, January 25th was our little girl's very first doctors appointment. Unfortunately Nathan was made to go to work due to some stupid range he had to attend. My mother went with me to Carolina's appointment due to me not being able to drive. Once we got to the office it only took about 5 minutes and we were seen right away. The nurse was great and the doctor was even more so. They were so wonderful with Carolina. Our little girl is now weighting 7 lbs 5.5 oz, her hips checked out great even though she was breeched, and her length was good as well. Also her heart and lungs sounded wonderful, no murmurs, holes, or etc...

We have to come back Monday for a quick weight check to see if she is gaining normal weight from breast feeding. The doctor is wanting her back up to her birth weight of 7lbs 13oz by her two week appointment.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

A Newborn's Conversation with God

A Newborn's Conversation with God

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"
God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."
The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."
God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."
Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"
God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."
"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"
God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."
"Who will protect me?"
God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."
God said, "You will simply call her, "Mom."

Carolina Dawn Penn


Carolina Dawn Penn
Born on January 17th at 8:41pm
7 lbs 13 oz
21 1/2 inches long

Sorry for the image not being very good, we didn't get to take many pictures in the hospital due to my recovering from surgery. 


More details later...


Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Doctor's Update on Our Little Chunky Monkey!

Well today has been a little nerve racking... Today we got up at about 9am to get ready for our appt. at the Perinatology Center at Mary Washington at 10:30am, even though we had to be there 30 minutes early to fill out paper work. I think we ended up sitting in the waiting room for like an hour until we were called back. They called us back to check my weight and blood pressure and get a little history about my pregnancy so far since it was my first time there. After being asked a MILLION questions, we were back to the waiting room. My mother was on her way there from NC, she had been in NC visiting family for a few days prior. She got there at about 11:40-11:50 and we were finally called back for our sonogram maybe 20-30 minutes later. A nurse did the sonogram first to check on a few things before the dr. had come in to talk to us about our options. We were finally able to get a little profile picture of our little girl so I will post that shortly as well. After spending about 30 minutes or so looking at our beautiful little girl with the nurse, the dr. came in and took a look at all of the images the nurse had taken. Right away the dr. noticed that we had a little chunky monkey that is currently weighting about 8lbs 1oz, give or take a pound or so... Also he had noticed that the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck and arm and that made him a little nervous due to her moving and being able to hurt herself. Unfortunately they were not able to turn her, nor did he even suggest moving her due to all of the issues present. I am not too happy about having to have a c-section but at this point I am only thinking about my little girls safety. The high risk dr. recommended doing an amniocentesis procedure to see if her lungs are fully developed. The only thing standing in our way as of right now is talking to our regular OB about scheduling a c-section. Hopefully she is ok with doing one soon and if so then there is a high chance of scheduling the Amniocentesis for tomorrow and then the c-section for Friday and us having her by this weekend! I promise to keep family and friend's updated on what is going on and I guess my appt. tomorrow will tell us what is going to happen these next few days!

Monday, January 14, 2013

38 Weeks!

How far along? 38 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Same as last week
Maternity clothes? All maternity clothes these days
Stretch marks? Same as last week
Sleep: I wish I could get some sleep, I haven't slept in a long time!
Best moment this week: Getting Carolina's nursery together… I LOVE IT!!! 10 times better than what I thought it would be, I could stay in there 24/7 and be one happy camper.
Movement: Some days she is a little wild child in there and some days she is slow moving… But I still get kicks and jabbed daily and honestly I am going to miss that 

Food cravings:
 Apple juice, water and yogurt!
Gender: We had an ultrasound this past Thursday and she is still a little GIRL!!!
Labor Signs: I feel like EVERY DAY / ALL DAY!!! Last night was another bad one. I was having some really strong ones but that are not close enough to go to the hospital plus I am being a little stubborn butt and waiting because I don’t want to just be sent back home.
Belly button in or out? IN but some days it's flat.
What I miss: Being able to just jump up and go… It takes me a second these days
What I am looking forward to: Meeting this little girl very soon!
Milestones: Having everything baby related done before miss Carolina is here!



I have a doctors appointment again this Thursday and I am praying this little girl will flip very soon. I have been having good strong contractions for awhile now but they come and go and to far apart to do anything about. I am seriously starting to consider the c section so this little girl will hurry up and get here. I guess we will see what the doctor says Thursday, hopefully something good soon!!

Monday, January 7, 2013

37 Weeks!

How far along? 37 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I'm up about 40 lbs since pre-pregnancy. I am ready for this little girl to get out so I can get my butt back into shape!!
Maternity clothes? Still the usual... Maternity jeans and tops, and leggings occasionally.
Stretch marks? Same as last week, thankfully none are getting worse.
Sleep: haha… What is sleep?
Best moment this week: Nursery done before baby... Woot Woot!!
Movement: She has slowed down dramatically! I still feel her 5-6 times a day but it is a change from last week.

Food cravings:
 Apple Juice and water!
Gender: GIRL!!!
Labor Signs: I feel like I am having contractions all day, every day. I swear they are not just Braxton Hicks, they are PAINFUL. And this pressure is going to drive me up the wall if she doesn't decide to bring her little butt on soon!!!
Belly button in or out? In but it is usually flat by the end of the day.
What I miss: Sleep!!
What I am looking forward to: Doctor’s appointment Thursday and hopefully meeting this little girl very soon. I am really hoping that she will decide to come sometime this week or possibly next week!!

Milestones: FULL TERM!! Now they can’t stop me... Bring it on little girl!!