1st Bath

Last weekend we gave Anna Riley her first real bath. She liked it better than I thought. She kept trying to raise her head up like she was looking to see what she was sitting in! :)

Beautiful Weekend

The weather was perfect this weekend! I just wish that it would stay that way for a while!! We definitely took advantage of it and got out of the house. We have been trying to stay in for the most part since it has been so cold and with all the sickness but we just couldnt resist getting out this weekend. Saturday we went to visit Nana and Papa Doug (Rileys parents) and then came home and took a stroll around the neighborhood. This was her first time in the stroller and she seemed to like it because it put her right to sleep. Sunday we took her out to eat for the first time. We met my parents at Cypress Inn for lunch and she did great...she once again slept the whole time! haha I hope everyone else enjoyed the weekend as much as we did!!

Colic update: She is doing much better (knock on wood) with her fussy time. I think we are just finding better ways to soothe her. By the way, thanks for all the suggestions. She does not like to be swaddled...but I keep trying thinking she might decide she likes it! haha She does like to be rocked and sang too and the pacie helps. I have the worst singing voice but at least my baby likes it! :) I need to think of some more songs...I just keeping singing "Jesus Loves Me!" But hey whatever works!

2 week checkup

Yesterday we took Anna Riley for her 2 week checkup. We changed to a different pediatrican at the last minute and they were able to get her in the next day! She weighed 8lbs. 12 oz. (her birthweight was 8 even and her discharge weight was 7lbs. 4 oz.) so that was great! They said they like to see them back at their birthweight and she did that plus more...what can I say I have a hearty eater!! :) She was 21 1/4 in. long (birthlength was 20 3/4). They had to prick her foot again and she did so great, barely even cried! Dr. Roberts said everything looked great. However we are having a bit of a colic problem. She cries for about an hour or so everynight around 8:30. I am nursing as well as giving her formula because my milk supply is still low (but increasing). So we had changed her formula this week and also started giving her the Mylicon drops. But Dr. Roberts said it probably doesnt have anything to do with the bottles or formula or anything I am eating seeing that she only does it for that period at night. Last night we tried the Gripe water and it seemed to work pretty well.

Newborn Pictures

Last Friday Kim came to do Anna Riley's newborn pictures. The morning was quite eventful: snow outside, pooped and peed on, and the fact that she HATES being naked made things a little complicated but I loved the way they turned out!!! Thanks Kim for getting out in the snow to capture these precious moments with us!!

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Baby's got her blue jeans on

Valentines Day

Hope you all had a wonderful love day. We had a great weekend here at the Hollyhand house...who wouldnt with a precious baby around to love on?! I have never been one to think much of Valentines Day. I think it is a day that Hallmark and flower shops make lots of $$. I mean it shouldnt be about one day that you show your special someone how much you love them. Shouldnt you do that everyday?? Valentines day shouldnt be about gifts but about spending that time together. Riley feels the same way but always does a little something special anyway. This year was very different for us because we had one more to love on! I think Valentines day will be so much fun with her when she is older! **I had her a cute little Valentine onesie and before I could take her pic in it...well we had to change her! haha...so needless to say no Valentine picture!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1st Corinthians 13:4-7

Special thanks to Granna

My mom came to help out last week since I was still recovering from my C-section. We really appreciate all her help. It was great not having to worry about cooking and laundry for the week so I could focus on Ms. Anna Riley! :) Thanks Granna!!! We love you!

I love this one because you can see how big her yawns are...

it makes us laugh everytime she yawns!

Lil' Dumplin

This is the name 'Papa Doug' (Rileys dad) has came up with for Anna Riley and its no wonder...check out those cheeks!! haha I love it!

This was taken after Kim had taken her newborn pictures--needless to say she was tuckered out!

1st snow

Well Anna Riley didnt have to wait long to see her 1st snow. Too bad we couldnt play in it. However we did enjoy watching it out the window and cuddling in our soft, warm blanket! :) We did step on the back patio for one quick picture!

1 week birthday

I can not believe that my baby is already a week old! It is amazing how much they change daily. We have loved every minute of being at home with her!! She has definitely stolen our hearts!! She sleeps a lot as most newborns do and it is the cutest thing when she is trying to wake up. She will stretch for at least 15 mintues. She is sleeping pretty good at night. She usually wakes up every 3 hours or so to eat and sometimes longer...but when its time to eat boy does she eat! haha. She is also a very good cuddler...we love to cuddle with her. When Riley leaves in the morning it is usually time to feed her so he puts her in the bed with me and we cuddle until time to get up!! I also love when she "smiles." I know they say they dont really smile this early but I like to think so! :) We thank God everyday for giving us such a perfect little blessing!!

First time out...

We had to take Anna Riley back to the hospital on Monday to get her weighed and to check for jaundice. Before we left she had lost some weight and was down to 7lbs. 4 oz. due to my milk not coming in yet. We started supplementing with formula Sunday and on Monday she had gained 4 oz. already! So now she is at 7lbs. 8 oz. and no jaundice!

Bringing Home Baby

We were so excited to be able to come home on Sunday. 

A few picures

She has a lot of her daddys features such as his long fingers and toes, dark hair and dark complection. Some say she has my mouth and nose...

Arrival of Anna Riley

We are so excited that our beautiful girl is finally here. I am going to try to summarize what happened Thursday.

We were admitted to the hospital at 5 am. At 6:15 they started the piticoin and at 7 am they broke my water.  Thursday was a very busy day in L&;D so it took a little longer to get my epidural. I had started having contractions pretty bad and was definitely ready for the epidural. They finally came in to give me one at 11. This was very bad for me because they had to take it out and put it in a notch higher. The first time was horrible and the second time wasnt much better. I had been dilating about a cm an hour and was 100% effaced by lunch. Dr. Poist thought I was doing great and progressing at a good rate. I was enjoying this time resting and visiting with family. A little before 5 he checked me again and I had not made any progress in 2 hours. He said that her heart rate was getting too high and thought her head might be stuck and he suggested  a C-section. I was upset at this point. Not because I was having to move to plan B but I was just worried about her of course. The surgery prep started right away and we met Anna Riley at 5:41 pm. She was just beautiful! She weighed 8lbs even and was 20 3/4 inches long with dark brown hair.

ABCs of me

Saw this on a friends blog and thought it was cute...

A – Age: 26
B – Bed size: King
C – Chore you hate: Folding Laundry!!
D – Dog’s name: Don't have one
E – Essential “start your day” item: Right now it is anything that will help me not to be sick! But I am sure in the near future a cup of coffee will be great!
F – Favorite color: Typically pink but I love green too
G – Gold or Silver: Its according to the outfit! :)
H – Height: 5′3
I – Instruments you play(ed): I took piano lessons from K-5...wouldnt say I play but I do know how to read music somewhat
J – Job title: Degree in Elem. Education but currently a Stay At Home Mom-to-be
K – Kid(s): one on they way! :)
M – Mum’s name: Mama to me...Kathy to others (what happened to L??)
N – Nicknames: Crystal Red, Crys...cant think of the others
O – Overnight hospital stay other than childbirth: Yes, once
P – Pet Peeve: Lately it is people that STILL have their Christmas lights and decor out and to make it worse...they still turn them on!! Come on its Feb!! But I have others too such as stupid drivers, people that cant put down their cell phones to do anything such as check out at a store...and many more.
Q – Quote from a movie: I dont have one lately...
R – Right- or left-handed: Right
S – Siblings: 1 brother
T – Time you wake up: Usually around 7ish if I am lucky...lately its been like 2, 3, 4 am (dont think that will be changing anytime soon either)
U- Underwear: Really? Yes I wear them! haha
V – Vegetable you dislike: English peas
W – Ways you drink your coffee: a little bit of cream or milk (i really like the flavored cream)
X-rays you’ve had: ummm I think just a catscan and MRI of my head for my migraines
Y – Yummy food you make: Lots...I make some really good lasagna but it is so fattening we dont eat it much!
Z-Zoo favorite : I would say the elephants and zebras and I always love watching the monkeys!

38 week appointment

Well let me first start out by saying that I am very envious of those that have never had morning sickness or furthermore have it for only the 1st trimester! UUGH..I have not been able to keep much down since yesterday at lunch. But I do have to say that I dont always have it this bad it just seems to be worse right now! I feel horrible though! (not to complain or anything! :) ) Now on with the appointment...
We had our 38 week appointment today. I had lost 2 1/2 lbs. since last week (could have something to do with being sick). Dr. Poist said it could possibly be a GI bug and gave me something for it. I was dilated about 3 cm and he said I was thinning out very well and everything was measuring great. He gave me the option of induction and I had lots of questions for him concerning the subject. We made the decision to go ahead and set an induction date for Thursday. (He had Thursday and Monday available and Thursday is my father-in-laws bday so we went with that). I know there are lots of mixed feelings with induction but I have prayed about it and we are good with our decision. Plus who knows she might decide to come before then! We will be at the hospital at 5 am on Thursday morning...please keep us in your prayers for a safe delivery and a healthy baby!!