Emerson is Two Months

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

I'm a few weeks late, but Emerson is another month old. It is still amazing to me that we've survived two months with her in this world! Our lives are so much richer than they were, but it hasn't always been easy with a newborn.


She's starting to smile a lot more and get a little personality which is so much fun. I can only imagine how much her personality will grow in just a few short weeks and months. 



I just want to mention a few milestones so that I can look back on this because I won't want to forget them. 

The biggest milestone she had this past month was transitioning from her pack n play to her crib at 7 weeks. This was not easy on me because I was so used to just looking over at her in her pack n play and checking on her constantly. Just knowing that she was safe in our room made me comfortable. We knew it was time to transition her because she was able to begin rotating her full body at least 90 degrees in her pack n play. So, the next night, we made sure the monitor was working properly, made sure she had a fresh diaper and was full of milk so that she could sleep soundly. We put her to bed and she actually slept for a longer stretch than I thought she would. However, when I went into her room to feed her, her body was a complete 180 degrees rotated. See pictures below (sorry for the terrible quality but they were taken at night). At her two month check up, our pediatrician, who also happens to be a friend of ours, told us to stop swaddling her. I've been following Moms on Call and they say to stop at 3 months, so I was a little on the fence when she told us this. I did what she said to do and E didn't sleep at all that night…and neither did I! I got her a sleep sack and again, didn't sleep well. So, I began swaddling her again and she's doing much better. I've ordered a magic sleep suit so we'll see how that goes! Another milestone is that she slept through the night a few days ago at 9 weeks. It was so nice but I'll be honest, I had to keep checking on her to make sure she was breathing because this was the first time she had slept that long.

I've been trying to put her down for naps in her crib during the day but she's still fighting naps which makes it hard on me to get anything done. Hence, the late update.


At her two month check up, she weighed 9 lbs 7 oz which puts her in the 10th percentile. She is gaining weight and gaining about .5 ounces per day, but our pediatrician would like to see her gain a little bit more. We are hoping that since my staph infection is gone, she'll be eating better. At that same appointment, she had more shots and it just killed me to see her cry. She took it like a champ and she didn't cry for long, but I sure did have tears falling down my face.

She's got that pouty lip down pat.



She honestly doesn't really take a paci. She'll sometimes take it if she's desperate, but she really enjoys sucking on my thumb. Yes, that's right. Not her thumb, but mine.



She is getting more used to bath time and although it's still not her most favorite part of the day, it's becoming more manageable. My mom told me to put more water in her bath and that has seemed to help. Little girl doesn't like to be cold! She still enjoys getting her hair massaged. 

She is beginning to outgrow some of her newborn clothes. She's still in all newborn, but I can tell that she'll be ready for 3 month sleepers soon. She's still in newborn diapers as well. They are a little snug, but the size 1 completely swallow her, which makes my heart a little happy. 

We visited the day care she'll be attending so that she could meet her "teachers." This was a very unique experience for Andrew and I because neither one of us have ever stepped foot into a daycare center. Growing up, my mom worked weekend nights at the hospital so she was home with my sister and I during the week. Andrew's mom stayed home with him and his siblings, so neither one of us really knew what to expect when stepping inside those doors. After leaving, we felt at peace that E would be in good hands when she begins in just a few weeks. I can't believe I'll be going back to week in just 1.5 short weeks! Where have the past 2 months gone?

She is finally enjoying the bouncy and swing for longer periods of time which is nice. I usually put her in the swing when I'm cooking dinner and then she sits in her bouncy next to the dinner table so that we can all be near each other.





I had our birth announcements for about 3 weeks and FINALLY got them sent out! I'll be sharing that soon. I also need to finish up some Thank You notes.

I am doing really well. My staph infection is gone and my milk supply is up. I've pretty much been pumping since she was born so that I could build up a supply for when I go back to work. Andrew has been very helpful and is still busy at work, but cherishes the time that he has with her when he comes home.

And, here are just a few more pictures of our sweet girl. 


Hanging out with some of my boyfriends. 







She begins school next week and I'm dying a little bit inside. Please pray for me!! I know she will do great and will adjust just fine, but it's me that I'm worried about. I'm so used to spending all day with her and have cherished those moments and sure will miss it. 




Emerson is One Month Old

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

I'm a few days late, but I've been a little busy with a one month old! I cannot believe she's already been in this crazy world for one month. She has given us so much joy and love in the short amount of time she's been on this earth.


She's already gained 1.5 pounds since her birth weight and is considered in the 21st percentile for weight and something crazy like 90th percentile for height. She got her second shot at the doctor's office this week and took it like a champ. She is passing a lot of gas (sorry E if you ever read this), and only has a few bowel movements a week which is completely normal for a breastfed baby, but not something we were expecting!

The next few pictures are from the day she was born and then the day we came home from the hospital.


This was taken about 5 minutes after she was born!




Daddy holding E for one of the first times!










She is sleeping about 5-6 hours during the night, but gets a little fussy when going down for naps and trying to fall back asleep after feedings. I'm currently trying to get her on the Moms on Call schedule and it is working pretty well for feedings, but falling asleep at the right time for naps has been challenging. I was getting in the bad habit of holding her until she fell asleep then would put her down, but I've transitioned her into her crib for naps. She doesn't like it so far but I'm hoping because it's an environment change that she's just not used to yet.

I haven't been able to get much done. At all. I thought I'd be able to blog more regularly or catch up on thank you notes, but I sure was wrong! Hopefully I'll get to a point soon where I can just lay her down and try to be productive but until then, I'm just enjoying snuggling with my girl.

She has such great head control and just bobbles her little head around but can already move it around so well. She can also stand up on her feet and jump (obviously with us holding her). I'm thinking she's a genius. Ha.

She hates bath time! I really hope that changes because I love baths. She hates being cold and prefers to be snuggled in a warm blanket.


Her first sponge bath! 

We've been getting out more and more, aka Target runs and lunch with girlfriends, but most days are spent lounging around at home. I love those lazy days but sometimes itch for adult conversation or just a longer stretch of where I don't feel like she's constantly attached to my boob. Too much? 

Daddy has been great with her. She's already got him wrapped around her little finger. Everyone we come into contact with says that she looks just like him, and, they are right. We actually pulled baby pictures out the other night and I'll post some soon but I think she's a good mix of both of us :) They love snuggling together and take lots of naps together on the weekend.



Mama is doing well. I'm down 6 pounds my pre-baby weight which I never expected to weigh less than when I got pregnant. I totally blame gestational diabetes. I guess it was good for something? I have had clogged ducts and it actually got infected and turned into an abscess. I had to go to a surgeon and get it drained and it came back as a staph infection. I have to go back to get it drained again and if that doesn't work, I will have surgery.



She's met a lot of special people in her short life so far and we can't wait to meet more!



Grandparent Paparazzi for the first time seeing their granddaughter.











     



We enjoyed our first holiday, Valentine's Day, and spent it with takeout and wine on the couch and probably the trashiest TV of all time. Don't worry, mama and daddy went out on a date the next night.



We're hanging in there and just happy we survived the first month…both she and mama and daddy!



I apologize for the picture overload, but she had a pretty eventful month! I'm embarrassed to say that this is not even like 1/4 of the amount of photos I have…but I'll spare you, for now at least.








Introducing Our Baby Girl

Friday, February 3, 2017

Hi friends and Happy Friday! If you don't follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you might be wondering if we've had our little girl yet, and the answer is yes! I wanted to jump on here real quick because I realized I hadn't introduced our sweet miracle baby yet! She is 3 weeks old, and we couldn't be more in love with her! We are all still getting to know each other but from what we do know, she is absolutely perfect. But, we're not biased at all…

I introduce to you, Miss Emerson Mills. I've never shared our last name on my blog and will continue to keep it private, for her safety. I was induced at 39 weeks plus 1 day because my amniotic fluid was extremely low. She was 7 pounds 2 ounces, 22 inches long. 


I will be sharing her birth story, maternity photos and newborn pictures soon but just wanted to let all of you know that mama, daddy and baby are all healthy and doing well! 

E, we are so thankful for you and you continue to bless us each and every day. Thank you for choosing us to be your parents. We love you so much! 


38 Week Bumpdate

Sunday, January 8, 2017

This could potentially be my last bumpdate picture I post! How crazy is that? Words can't even describe how excited, anxious and nervous I am right now. I went to the doctor last Friday thinking I was going to be induced that day because my amniotic fluids were low. They were still low, but not low enough to go to the hospital. I was thankful because I want the baby to be healthy and have my fluids up, but I was then kind of disappointed because I was just so ready to meet her! My emotions have been up and down and now, we just play the waiting game…the hardest game ever! We got our first snow of the season and at nearly 3 inches, we spent this weekend cuddled up on the couch by the fire. I needed a relaxing weekend because I have a feeling that the ones coming up won't be as quiet!


How far along? 38 weeks, 3 days

Baby's size? Spaghetti squash

Gender: All girl 

Total weight gain/loss: 10-11 pounds. I go back tomorrow so I'll know for sure then.  

Maternity clothes? Mixing and matching.

Sleep: I am getting to the point where I'm having a difficult time getting comfortable. My back is bothering me and my ribcage is still stretching out so it makes falling sleep harder. Once I'm asleep, I'm okay and it doesn't keep me up. I'm only going to the bathroom once a night, if even that. 

Best moment this week: Spending a relaxing weekend in with Andrew. It's always fun seeing the first snow of the year. We thought we might have a snow baby but no such luck. 

Miss Anything? A lot of things by this point! A cold turkey sandwich, spicy tuna sushi and carbs. 

Movement: Constantly. I'm really going to miss having her in my belly! I've gotten so used to her movements that I'm not sure what I'm going to do when she's not in there! 

Food cravings: Since it's been so cold, I've loved soups…spicy chicken tortilla and broccoli cheddar have been my favorites!

Anything making you queasy or sick? No.

Symptoms: Lower back hurts, ribcage is stretching and just pressure. All normal but just uncomfortable.

Looking forward to: Watching the Tigers play tomorrow night in the National Championship! We had tickets (obviously it was never in the plan for me to go since we knew I'd be so far along) so we sold them. Obviously we would much rather be here meeting our baby girl but it's still hard to see all of our friends and Clemson fans travel for the big game. Also, we are getting closer and closer to meeting our angel so that's something to definitely look forward to!

Gestational Diabetes Check-In: It's going. Still checking my sugars and they are going well. Still managing my diet and that is getting harder and harder since I know I am so close to the end!

I hope y'all had a great weekend and cheers to a new week! 

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37 Week Bumpdate

Wednesday, January 4, 2017


How far along? 37 weeks, 6 days

Baby's size? Honeydew

Gender: Sweet baby girl

Total weight gain/loss: I went to the doctor today and my fluids are low, therefore I've lost a few pounds so my current weight gain is 10 pounds. 

Maternity clothes? Same as usual…maternity pants but normal dresses/tops. I've been loving maternity tights and leggings though!

Sleep: It is becoming more difficult to get comfortable while sleeping. I toss and turn a lot because my ribcage is stretching out and my cartilage is starting to tear so I have to be really careful when switching sides. 

Best moment this week: We hosted our third annual New Years dinner with close friends and it was so fun to catch up with them. It was our last dinner with us being the only ones without kids! Also, I got to see my girl on ultrasound today! 

Miss Anything? I made a batch of homemade cookies this weekend for our NY dinner and everyone raved about them and how they were some of the best cookies they've ever had and of course, I couldn't enjoy one. I might have taken a small bite just to make sure they were edible, but that was about it. 

Movement: A lot! Her head is still down, and bum is in my ribs and she is all sprawled out! 

Food cravings: I haven't craved much lately but have enjoyed salads and Mexican taco salads and burrito bowls.

Anything making you queasy or sick? No.

Symptoms: Still have a ton of pressure and most recently, my ribcage is beginning to stretch and I feel a burning sensation in my upper abdomen. It feels like a bad sunburn which is so odd but it's normal.

Looking forward to: Potentially meeting our girl sooner than we originally thought! My fluids are low and if they continue to stay low, I will be induced. I really don't care to be induced and want her to come naturally, so let's pray my fluids come up. I've been coming home from work every night, getting straight in bed and just relaxing and drinking lots of water. Andrew has been super helpful with cooking dinner, cleaning and just helping out around the house.

Gestational Diabetes Check-In: My doctors have seemed to forget that I have GD because they never ask for my sugar levels anymore and I was even told that they don't really think I have it…I about freaked out. Really? You don't tell a 37 week pregnant woman who has been super careful with her diet for the past 9 weeks that you might have misdiagnosed her. I am glad that I have monitored my diet because that is healthier for the baby, but it would have made me less stressed this entire time! 

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36 Week Bumpdate

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Merry Christmas everyone! I know I'm a few days late but I hope that everyone enjoyed this Christmas holiday with family and friends. Andrew and I went home to Columbia and it was nice seeing our family since we don't get to see them too often. 

Well, we are one week closer to meeting this baby girl of ours, and I'm just getting so excited, anxious and nervous. 


How far along? 36 weeks, 5 days

Baby's size? Ripe Papaya

Gender: Sweet baby girl

Total weight gain/loss: I went to the doctor today and I'm at 12 pounds total. 

Maternity clothes? Still mixing and matching. I'm thinking that's not going to change. We are so close to the end! Today I wore all non-maternity, but I'm obviously showing a lot more!

Sleep: My back is what is starting to keep me up at night. I sleep with a heating pad most nights but I've just started tossing and turning a lot more here recently. Once I fall asleep, I'm pretty much asleep other than rotating a few times and an occasional bathroom break. 

Best moment this week: Celebrating Christmas with our families last weekend. This was a very bittersweet holiday for us as it was the first Christmas without my grandfather and my father-in-law. However, I just tried to remind myself of how much we have to be thankful for right now, but it was still very hard to get through. 

Miss Anything? Carbs and holiday cookies. 

Movement: Very active. Her feet are still pressing against my ribs so I'm having a hard time breathing at times! 

Food cravings: Diet Dr. Pepper (caffeine free) over ice, still. I've been pretty addicted to my Nature Valley Protein bars for breakfast but other than that, not too much.

Anything making you queasy or sick? No.

Symptoms: Pressure, hip pain and my back hurts. Also, this might be TMI but my OB checked my cervix today (completely closed so she'll be baking for a bit longer), and that is no joke. It is extremely uncomfortable so I have that to look forward to for the next few weeks...

Looking forward to: Spending NYE at home and watching the Tigers in the semi-finals this weekend!

Gestational Diabetes Check-In: Going well. Obviously it was difficult this weekend with Christmas, but I grazed and my sugars were great. I've noticed that in the past week or so, my sugars have seemed to come down. I'm not sure if that's just because I'm monitoring or if it's because I'm getting towards the end and it should be going away soon. Pricking my fingers 4x a day has become second nature. Still not comfortable, but not as bad as I once thought.


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34 & 35 Week Bumpdate

Sunday, December 18, 2016

So, I totally skipped last weeks bumpdate and yes, I did take a picture but it turned out terribly because of the lighting, so I'll just post week 35.

Plus, as we get closer and closer to my due date and Christmas, I feel like I've just had less time to do anything. We have put most of our focus on the nursery and just getting ready for the baby so that hasn't left us a lot of "down" time so to speak. However, we did get a chance to go on a baby moon this past weekend to Highlands, NC and it was wonderful. It was our last trip as just the two of us and I couldn't have asked for anything better. We stayed in the cutest cottage at the renown Old Edward's Inn and it was the perfect spot. The town was perfectly decorated in all things Christmas and was just so magical. We spent time walking around all of the shops, each had spa treatments and just relaxed. My favorite part was probably getting in bed at like 8pm and watching Christmas movies by the fire. We have decided that we are going to make this an annual trip!


ow far along? 35 weeks, 3 days

Baby's size? Bunch of carrots

Gender: GIRL 

Total weight gain/loss: I am up two pounds from my last post, so a total of 13 pounds. 

Maternity clothes? I hate to say it, but still mixing and matching. I wore all non-maternity clothes today.

Sleep: My hips are still really bothering me and so is my lower back. When I had my prenatal massage, she focused on those parts of my body but I am currently laying on a heating pad in bed right now so I'm thinking those pains are here to stay. It's made sleeping a little more difficult. 

Best moment this week: Definitely our babymoon! There were no interruptions and lots of quality time with my love. 

Miss Anything? I would LOVE a Christmas sugar cookie or really just anything that involves sugar and carbs. 

Movement: All over the place! She is currently head down with her feet still jabbing my ribs. 

Food cravings: Ice and anything warm!

Anything making you queasy or sick? No.

Symptoms: A ton of pressure and constant pressure. I feel like every time I get up and walk around, it hurts. Also, my ribs, lower back and hips.

Looking forward to: Spending time with family this Christmas week.

Gestational Diabetes Check-In: I go back to the specialist this week so we will see her growth measurements. I've emailed the dietician and she said that I've been doing well with my sugar levels. We'll get to see another 3D ultrasound!





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