Pinterest Pays Off

How has it been almost 6 weeks. This is crazy. I think the more I keep up with blogging/journaling the easier it will be to see "where time went" because I'll be able to see that I do something other than nurse Blakely in PJ's while watching the latest episode of Modern Family.

So I've been "pinning" on Pinterest a lot lately... but I've actually been trying out the stuff I pin. For example:

Monday- I made Chicken Tacos. Ok I can't actually remember if I made them Monday or not but I DID make them this week.

Tuesday- Can't really remember... but I think we went to the grocery store.

Wednesday- Brock and walked to the Grocery Store to get milk. (It's $1.88 on Wednesdays... it's basically a ritual for us).

Thursday- I made Orange Chicken and Bowtie and Spinach Pasta, Brock's parents had dinner with us. It was quite delicious.

Friday- I made "Man Pleasing Chicken". I don't think I'd make it again, but it was a fun surprise for Brock. (Too much mustard for my taste).

Saturday- Went to dinner with Adam and Maria. We always have such good conversation with them, and it's always hilarious. When I think of them I can't think of too many times when we aren't laughing.

I also made Sausage and Cheese Muffins for Breakfast, as well as tried out this Polar Express Hot Chocolate Recipe. Both were delicious except I'd probably make a few changes on the chocolate.

Well, all is well and Blakely is still so stinkin' cute!

5 Weeks Old

Update...

Blakely is 5 weeks old today. 

Her nickname is "sapo" which means "tree frog" in Portuguese. Max coined the nickname when he said she looked like a tree frog while cuddling with Uncle Chad.

She is definitely the cutest baby ever.

We think she has a nose like Trey Ryder Vaughn, her cousin. 

She's getting stronger at holding her head up.

She makes the cutest noise and it almost seems like she's trying to "coo" and "talk" to us. 

She still fits her newborn clothing... in face some newborn sizes are still too big for her. 

The longest she has slept at night is over 5 hours. 

Now for the boring updates. Yesterday our furnace went out, it was a cold night (it had snowed for the first time yesterday) but Blakely had a warm room because we got a space heater for her. Fortunately it was an easy fix. 

I cooked dinner yesterday and today. A new personal record!! Yesterday was fiesta/salsa chicken tacos, today was orange chicken with bowtie spinach pasta salad. Pinterest = my new best friend.

We watched conference and it was awesome. 

I parted my hair down the middle today. I haven't done that for literally a dozen years. 

It's been a good month. I'm loving my time with Blakely Rio. I know, I know... I need to post pictures. 

Christmas Wish List

So I thought I'd keep a Christmas Wish list for things I'd like for Christmas, and also things Blakely wants for Christmas (yes, we already have our own secret language so she can tell me stuff like this). Don't think I'm in any way trying to get you to buy me a gift... this is just helpful for me to track the stuff I'd like somewhere and if someone happens to need an idea for something to get me then... they've got a resource.

Also I've got a confession... sometimes I'm totally lame and I like to get "practical" gifts. But that's ok with me. (Perhaps I'll leave my birthday open for non-practical gifts hee hee).

NATALEE'S WISHES

GIFTS OVER $100

• Ju Ju Be Be Prepared Diaper Bag in the color "Licorice Twirl". Available at Amazon and Diapers.com (and other places but those are the most convenient in my opinion).

• CHI Flat Iron (size: 1 inch) I'd love black or even pink. These can be very expensive but I've seen some on Amazon.com for like 70% off.. not sure if they're knock-off's or what though.
• Flat Screen TV for our bedroom (32" or bigger)
• Covers for our Love Sactionals... which I won't even link because it is basically just as expensive as buying new furniture. But one day that would be so awesome. 
• A vanity... not sure exactly what, but I'd like it to be white

GIFTS OVER $30

• Luxury Deluxe Wood Cosmetic Box w/Mirror by Lori Greiner in WHITE  UPDATE: Ok so this used to be available on QVC but now it's not!!! AHH :( But i've seen it on eBay, maybe it's on Amazon?

• Fireproof box for family documents (I don't know what kind I'd like, I just know it would be a good thing to have one or a family safe. Problem is I'm sure I'd lose the keys to it, but I'm guessing the kind with a key code are kind of expensive).

GIFTS UNDER $30

• Subcription to DIY magazine
• Maxi skirts 
• Small cosmetic bag
• Cute wet bag (for my diaper bag)
• Tri pod for camera
• Ergo Baby (Grey or Black... or the super cute Petunia Pickle Bottom styles)
• Large Crockpot... mine is a decent size but i'm starting to cook more and in larger quantities
• Small scentsy for Blakely's room
• Bowls that fit within each other... you know the cute mixing bowls that are each a different color and fit nicely within each other... you can use them for popcorn, or baking... those :)
• Enjoy Shaping Lotion (hair product) I think it's around $20-$25
• Body Wash, I like sweet/citrusy/clean smells... nothing to musky (Bath and Body Works is great!)
• Non-Alcoholic Hand Sanitizer... now that I have Blakely I use this a lot. The kind with alcohol drys out my hands, I'd love to have some to throw in my purse when I need clean hands!
• Bare Minerals Concealer in "light". Can be found at Sephora or Ulta (new store in Logan). 
• A game called "Sedarahc" oir Reverse Charades... I can't find it in stores, but it is online at Amazon.com 

BLAKELY'S WISHES

• A new camera so mom and dad can take high definition picture and video of me all day long :)
• A Macbook Pro so Daddy can edit videos of me all day long
• An iPod Touch, so I can have music in my room and download fun games to help me learn 
• Rockabye Baby CD's : These are fun because they take modern songs and make them into lullabyes. They can be found locally at Stork Landing, or online. Also an iTunes card would be great to be able to download the songs. 
• Coldplay is favorite...

• A humidifier
• Diapers and wipes are always great, Blakely says she likes a clean bum :)
• A gift card to Diapers.com... because there is always good stuff on there for babies

More ideas to come... I just wanted to get this started!

Two Weeks Old

Today is Blakely's original due date. She came two weeks early, so of course this makes today her two week birthday! I was definitely surprised she came so quickly, but I'm glad she's here.

Today was rough. It looked a bit like this:

8:10 AM - woke up (late) for Blakely's two week doctor appointment that started at 8:50 AM. My mother in law was kind enough to come to the appointment with me. I was going to walk Blakely over in a stroller but A) I didn't have time, B) she HAD to eat before the appointment or else she would have been crying the whole time and I had about 20 minutes to feed her before I'd have to leave. I seriously got dressed, my bag packed, her outfit picked out all while nursing her. It's crazy awesome being a mom.

8:50 AM We get to the hospital for her appointment. Her some stats:

Weight: 6lb 10oz (back up to her birth weight... yay)
Head: 34 cm
Length: She grew .25 inches since she was born! She was 19.75 inches long.

She had to get both heels poked, one for her wellness screening and one for her billiruben test.

We got home and Linda held her while I ate breakfast and got a few things situated. Right as she was walking out the door I heard my phone ring. It was the doctor about her billiruben test. Her levels had gone up to 18.9 (from 17.9). If it gets over 20 it's not good. They said our doctor, Dr. Brown, wanted us to put her on formula till Thursday morning then test again.

I got off the phone and started balling.

So much was going through my head. First off, I love nursing Blakely. It's such a bonding experience, there's a connection I can't really describe. Second, I hate formula. Its smelly, Blakely doesn't like it, and I've been very pro breastfeeding. Lastly that meant I'd have to pump... which is just downright weird.

I called Brock in tears. He tried to calm me down but it really didn't help. I gave her a bottle and then my mom called to see if her and my dad could stop by with lunch. I told them about it and they were so helpful. My mom stayed for a while and tried feeding her (she really didn't swallow much, and isn't used to a bottle... she is loyal to her mama). I got quite a bit of sleep in today. Two big naps.

When Brock got home I just wanted to have him hold me and help me feel better. I'm so anxious about formula because she spits up and I don't want her to choke in the middle of the night. I'm so paranoid, as I'm sure any new parent would be. My mom and Brock's mom will be helping me tomorrow with Blakely. I honestly don't even want to be the one to give her a bottle. But I will if I have to.

We got a super cute video of Blakely today. I'll have to post it. She also mega threw up/spit up all over Brock and the rocking chair. It was semi-hilarious.

Oh and I got her social security card in the mail today! Yay! As Brock says, she's an official American now!

Well, I'm going to attempt at making a photo book of the thousands of pictures we have of Blakely. Wish me luck!

Stay At Home Mom: Day 1

I consider today to technically be my first day as a stay at home mom. The reason being, Brock has been with me since Blakely was born and today was his first day of work.

Things looked a little like this:

12:00 AM - 6:00 AM
Don't disturb Brock so he can sleep... and feed the baby a few times.

9:00 AM Finish feeding Blakely, put her down to sleep, do "mom/wife" things... fold laundry, clean up stuff, think about what to eat for dinner... etc.

At noon my mom came over to watch (aka hold) Blakely while I took a nap. I like it because then I don't have to have one ear on the monitor while I sleep.

3:30 PM Brock gets home from work, I shower and we take Blakely up to campus so I can show her off to my co-workers. They [of course] adored her.

5:00 PM Feed Blakely.

6:00 PM Make dinner (enchilladas..aye yi yi)

7:00 PM Pay all of Octobers bills (and realize how much money we don't have... grumble grumble)

8:00 PM Journal/Blog about the day.

So here we are. It was a great day. I love hearing everyone say how beautiful and perfect Blakely is. I 100% agree. Someone (who will not be named) even told me that Blakely was cuter than some of her own grandchildren. Dude - whoa. Most everyone says, some babies aren't that cute when they're born, but that Blakely is CUTE. They love her ears, and lips. She get's a lot of comments on those features, oh- and her awesome long brown hair and olive skin... okay and her cute cheeks.

Oh, and maybe the funnest part of my day (other than cuddling with Blakely and watching Modern Family) was that JJ Cole emailed me saying they're interested in using Blakely (and me) for a photoshoot. Dude, my baby already has a modeling job and she's not even two weeks old!

Here's a picture of her after her first bath we gave her last week.

Life is good. Don't forget to say a prayer of thanks for everything you have. Sometimes you don't appreciate it until something major happens, it's always nice to reflect on the positive things in life.

-Natalee