Isn't she lovely

I am so enamored with our baby girl. She is just so beautiful and sweet and always smiles with her whole face. I can't get enough of her. Here are some pics from the past week...

Over at the Finley's watching the super bowl:


Just finished a bottle:


About to wake up from her morning nap:


Hanging out with momma...


Eyelashes are getting long:


Fell asleep at George's 1st bday party:


We had a busy fun past few days. We visited family on Thursday and Friday and it was our first time to spend the night away from our house. She did great. Then Saturday we went to our first birthday party! Today we were just hanging out around the house. Now time for bed.
Good night!

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My Sunday

**this is from last sunday but blogger wouldnt work on my phone***I got caught up on some sleep this Sunday. Here is me in one of my glorious naps...




Keep in mind this is a king sized bed. Notice my head barely poking out of the covers on the edge of the bed. AdaReece in her luxurious nap nanny Chill, a super wedge sleeping device that I highly recommend. Carter is snuggled at her feet and pushing me closer to the edge at my back and Cash is on a pillow that is the actual center of the bed.
I love this pic. I could smile at it for hours...
But it's time for bed:)
Goodnight!
Dannis
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7 weeks old!

Slowly but surely I have a little more energy and a little more productive each day. Today, we got up and went to Target and Babies R Us! Then, we came home and I got her wrapped up in the moby wrap and took the puppies for a walk around the block! Big day:) here are some pics:


This is our book club pic for next month

She is all smiles lately...
All full, clean and ready for a walk- it was super warm and sunny this afternoon!









Sun was pretty intense!!


Then we came back and decided to swing!

Time just flies.
Stay tuned for more;)
XO,
Dannis
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Sweetness

Some pics of our beautiful brighteyed bambina...








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Precious

Life is so much more precious now. time, sleep, kisses, back rubs, singles, smiles, conversations, movies, showers, everything. Nobody can ever prepare for an event as precious as the birth of a child. Like I said we think we know but we have no idea. The past 5 weeks have been the most challenging and emotional weeks of my life. So much anxiety and so much joy.
After we brought AdaReece home we had tons of support and visitors, it was great, its just really exhausting caring for this tiny baby around the clock while still trying to host people and answer questions about food and photographs when your body won't let you relax and the only thing in your mind is when did she eat, is she still breathing, is she too hot, is she too cold, why are her lips chapped, when will she poop again, is she supposed to squeak that much? she's so perfect, she's so tiny. her fingernails are so small but so sharp....all in a split second.
There have been so many things that have scared me as a first time parent. I want to do everything perfect and it kills me because i have no clue.
We brought her home on Thursday. She didn't poop on Thursday or Friday. I started to freak because my milk had also not 'dropped' we had some formula but i didn't want to use it. I was waking her every three hours (even though all she wanted to do was sleep) to get her to nurse in hopes eventually something obvious would come out. Her big, beautiful lips were now very chapped and I was in a constant state of anxiety. Saturday morning, Shari, a lactation consultant and baby nurse came over. she weighed AR, showed me how to breast feed, weighed AR again and proved to us that she was intact getting some amount of milk. She also showed me how to use my pump and gave me a ton of reassurance. Monday we took her to her first pediatricians appointment. She had lost some weight but we had begun to see more milk in the pump and we knew she was getting at least an ounce or two from my breast plus the bottle that i would pump and then give her. So now I was pumping after every feeding. Michael had a ton of stuff going on at work and was such a trooper.
Thursday, December 15th was the day we planned for her to be here, it was also Michaels 36th birthday. We had Pleasant Vonnoh come and take newborn photos. I can't wait to post them, they turned out so great. Monday, we went back to the pediatrician and AR was up a few ounces past her birthweight, I felt some relief! The rest of the days are really a blur, then it was Christmas Eve. Debbie came over and we had Egg Drop soup and egg rolls and Beef and Rice. It was delicious. Christmas morning we got up and opened presents and ate a huge breakfast with biscuits and sausage gravy and eggs and fresh squeezed orange juice. AR slept through most of that:) The next day, my mom and brothers and their kids came over to open more presents and mom made lasagna and Kayla made pineapple casserole and we had salad bread and cake. A few more blurry days and then New Years our friends, the Tedfords made hamburgers for lunch and then our friends the Swansons came over for dinner and we had steaks. We bought gas drops because AR had been getting pretty fussy after eating. They didn't seem to be helping so on Tuesday January 3, I called the pediatrician and asked about what the best kind would be, after a few questions, she had me come on in with some poopy diapers to check. When I left, I almost had a breakdown, she told me there were traces of blood in her stool from her being milk soy protein intolerant.(MSPI) From the dairy I consumed, her little body couldn't process it and upset her intestines and was making her scream. So that is the last day I have eaten any dairy or soy. It has not been too bad so far and she is already much better. We tried some Nutrimagin formula and it smells like dog food mixed with potatoes. I know she will take it if necessary but i really want to breast feed her. SO, I thought we had finally gotten past all the drama and then my boob starts KILLING me. After some googling and a discussion with the pediatrician and the OB nurse we think it was a ductal yeast infection. I'm finally over that hump and feel like the newborn fog is clearing. I went and got my hair done yesterday and today I went and had a massage, so I really feel like a new person. Here are some photos and hope to be more regular with posts from now on. She really is growing up too fast, she is looking all around and I swear she smiles at me. she makes tons of faces and has her eyes wide open and gazes at me. We just love her so much.

making egg drop soup

First Christmas

First Family Walk, New Years Day 2012

XOXO, Dannis

Tuesday's Child

AdaReece Elaine Weathersby decided to surprise us and make her appearance early! She was born on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 9:06am. Weighing 7lbs 1oz and 20 inches!! She came out with a head full of dark hair and looks just like her daddy! She has already brought more joy to us than we could ever imagine. I plan to post more soon but here are a few pictures of our angel.















Thanks for your prayers and stay tuned for more:)
Love,
Dannis
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Let the countdown begin!

Well, she can come any day now and we are READY.  At least we think we are ready but I know we have no idea:) We cannot wait for her to be here and hold her and rock her and look at her sweetness!!!!
Today, we put the carseat bases in each vehicle and figured out how to het the carrier in and out and put the stroller together and cleaned out the garage so we can get around the cars while carrying baby plus tons of accessories:) We were so productive because we slept in this morning! I could not believe it, Michael NEVER sleeps in, and lately, I have not been able to either. So, when we finally got up we were busy bees. The garage looks great and I feel like I am truly caught up on everything I just HAD to have done.

One of my friends suggested i do a post on what I packed for the hospital (something else I got checked off my list on Friday) so, here is what i have packed and some pics of the essentials that were recommended to me. *These are in no particular order*

Boppy pillow- We got this from our friends the Belitz's who told us (along with many others) that it is the best for baby from newborn through many stages, including when I feed her in the hospital for the first time! I was also told to bring a pillow for me and Michael to use while we are there so I will try my best not to forget to pile those in the car when we head to the hospital!

Gownie- I saw a picture on Facebook of a friend who recently gave birth to twin boys and she had on this cute gown, I looked on etsy and found several people who make custom hospital gowns, you can really get fancy with them. I chose this pink polka dot with green trim, OBV. And when it came in the mail, i was surprised at how nice the fabric was and i really love it! Supposedly, i can wear it after i come home and put the buttons in the front and make it easy for breastfeeding too! I will probably just pack it away with my maternity stuff but I will definitely be getting these as an expectant mom gift in the future!

Pajamas- I got a set of PJ's at motherhood maternity that I plan on wearing ALOT. They are SUPER soft and it is a set: pant, camisole top and robe-like top. They were a little pricey($50) BUT I got a $50 restaurant gift card when I bought them and a few nursing bras, so I felt like they paid for themselves:)

I also packed a mommy and me matching set of PJ's! I got these as soon as we found out AdaReece was a girl, they are another great maternity gift! From Old Navy, the top on this one has slits under that fold in the center for easy breastfeeding too! There is a navy version for baby boys, zoo cute!

I also packed a sports-style nursing bra from Motherhood (white) and a Medela (nude) one. I have 2 other different styles here at home but just packed these two for the hospital. (Motherhood had a buy 3 get 1 free sale on bras and the Medela one was 33% off at Babies R Us).

I also packed plenty of granny panties, thick socks, a pair of my fave black yoga lounge pants and a couple of tops. 

In my toiletry bag, I packed the basic bathroom stuff PLUS Tucks pads(to help relieve the mess down there) and some thick maxi pads (recommended from a friend, who said get the cotton style ones, NOT the ones with that vinyl-ish shield thing with the holes in it.) MOVING ON>>>

Aquaphor Healing Ointment- I swear by this stuff. I recommend it to everyone. It is the best thing for peeling and chapped lips. Everyone says you really need some lip balm and this stuff is the jam. I have heard it is also good for babies when their skin is chapped but I'll have to get back to you on that;)

Blankets for the baby, I packed two of the awesome blankets that my friend Billie got me they are so precious and super soft. Michael will be the best swaddler, i already know it!

I also packed a few gowns and mitts and socks for AdaReece as well. AND

I packed her a few pacifiers, wipes and diapers in my fabulous Timi and Leslie diaper bag: 

I love it! I got it off Zappos and it has tons of extras and space and is so stylish!

And we will be packing our awesome camera to take LOTS of pictures!!!

Well, thats about it, let me know if I forgot anything!

XOXO, 

Dannis