Two Weeks Old

Well we survived another week as a family of four! We're all still making minor adjustments as we each find what works best for us, but honestly I still feel like I'm on cloud nine. Don't get me wrong, I crave sleep and could fall asleep at any given moment. But that's what coffee is for, right?!? And as Rian grows, so will her sleep patterns and all will be fine in a few short months... fingers crossed.

I can't believe how much one little person can change your whole world. I always thought I wanted a big, giant house (you know the ones in Pasadena with the giant manicured lawns) with a big family to fill it. I wanted tons of kids that I imagined would come running down the stairs in the morning and crowd the kitchen table at breakfast time. That is how I envisioned my family. And as Randy and I grew as a couple and started to plan our family I knew that having a ton of kids was probably not in the cards. I mean who can afford to have five or six kids these days, not to mention a mansion too? So in my mind I knew for sure we would have two kids (God-willingly), maybe three. I might have to talk Randy into three kids, but I thought that three was doable. Rory was the start to our family and I knew regardless that another pregnancy was in my future and that we were not done. But once Rian arrived, I've had this overwhelming feeling that our family is complete. We are done. And I'm just fine with that. I have two beautiful children, my crazy little boy and my tiny little girl. God has blessed us with perfect, healthy children and I'm thankful for that every single day.

I don't want to sound like everything is Mary Poppins-like in our house, because that's so not how it is. But my world is pretty good right now. I mean it doesn't get any better than is...

 ...two snuggling kids

...and it's never too early to learn to bake

Yesterday I had my two-week post op appointment and I was finally cleared to drive!!! Whoo Hoo! I haven't driven for three weeks (Randy "took away" my driving privileges a week before I had Rian) and I was dying to drive myself around. My doctor said that I was doing great healing from the c-section and I was doing great at dropping my baby weight (24 pounds down, 10 to go)! So I'm feeling fantastic and looking forward to my six-week postpartum appointment when I can be free of any restrictions and can finally workout. I mean who wants to be squishy???


Rory

Rory has been absolutely amazing with Rian. I can't believe how much he loves his little sister. He loves to shower her with kisses throughout the day. And I'm totally loving every minute of it. I know a couple of years from now my days will be filled with the two of them picking on each other and annoying the crap out of one another (and us too!). And when that happens I'm going to bust these pictures out and reminisce of the days when they "loved" each other.

Besides Rian, Rory has a new obsession with eating apples whole. If I let him, he'd probably eat the core and seeds too.

Chomping away on an apple

Rian

And our little girl is getting so big. She's spending more time awake and I love her beautiful grey-bluish eyes. She sits in her pillow and looks around and listens to the chaos in the house. And she likes when I sing to her. She doesn't know bad singing yet, so I'm good for now.

I could eat her up! She's as sweet as a strawberry!

In deep thought or deep sleep???

Rian with a smile

How old: 2 weeks

Weight: 6 lbs 7 oz 
Height: 19 ins

Clothing size: Preemie/Newborn 
Sleep: Great and her sleep patterns are getting longer from 2-3 hours to 2-4 hours. The only problem is that her 4 hour stretches of sleep are in the evening and late morning. Not exactly the times of day I can sleep with a very energetic three year old!

Food: Formula, formula, and more formula. This week she is eating about 1 1/2 - 2 oz of formula at a time.

Activities: Eat, sleep, poop... and look cute! She now sits in the boppy pillows. And she loves to listen to people talk. <---- Doing more of this. And staying awake for longer periods of time. 

Likes: She loves her boppy pillow (and so does Rory and Maggie... I'm actually considering buying them their own pillows)

Dislikes: She HATES to have her diaper changed. She has been dealing with a mean case of diaper rash for almost two weeks. Poor baby and her little tushie.

Mood: Happy!
Best moment this week: Having her "bake" with Rory and me! And going shopping for her today. I love shopping for her! I have way too much fun. I actually made my first solo trip out and about with the two kids today and it was successful! Go Mama!!!

Looking forward to: Everything that is in store for my family. I look forward to all of it... even the sleepless nights. 

Our first week

Wow! I can't believe Rian is already a week old. She's such an amazing baby and things around here are going great. I remember when Rory was a baby people would tell me that because he was such a good baby that our next one would not be. Well those people were wrong! She's identical to Rory as a baby, even down to the way they sleep.

This past week had our parents ending their week-long stay with us. I was so sad to have them leave. I sobbed when my parents said good-bye. I just wanted us to all stay together. I am so thankful for all their help and support as we welcomed our new little girl into the world and as we settled into the house once we were home. We couldn't do it without them. Thank you, thank you, thank you to our wonderful parents!

Rory

Rory has taken on his role as a big brother and he has been fantastic with Rian. He continues to love her and take care of her everyday. He wants to help feed her and he likes to hold her hand. I'm so very proud of him.

He loves to help feed her

Snuggling together

Rory was in desperate need of a hair cut. He looks so handsome now!

Rian

There's an old wives tale that says little girls "steal" their mother's beauty during pregnancy and I completely agree. While I'm not sure how much beauty there was for Rian to steal, I can say that my slow-growing nails have been growing like a weed this past week and a half. And my thin hair now feels a lot thicker, thicker than normal. Both of which grew at an extra slow pace during my pregnancy. But after looking at my beautiful angel, as far as I'm concerned she could have taken every last once of my "beauty".

My beautiful little girl. I'm so in love with her! <3

Her head measurement should be 33 1/2 cm... NOT ins. Mommy fail moment!!!

How old: 1 week

Weight: 5 lbs 13 oz 
Height: 18 1/2 ins

Clothing size: Preemie/Newborn 
Sleep: Great 

Food: Formula, nursing and pumping didn't work out :0(

Activities: Eat, sleep, poop... and look cute! She now sits in the boppy pillows. And she loves to listen to people talk.

Mood: Happy!
Best moment this week: Her first bath

Looking forward to: Continuing to watch Rian grow, explore her new world and helping Rory and her bond.

Even though Rian is itty-bitty and she's in the low percentile (especially her weight), her pediatrician says she's a CHAMP!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Happy Father's Day to the three most important men in our family...

My husband has spent the last week not only going back and forth to the hospital with Rory in tow, but also hosting our parents as we got settled at home with our newborn daughter. On top of dealing with his hormonal wife (ME!) and my minute-by-minute mood swings, he has played chauffeur to me and has made numerous trips to the market to keep all of us fed this week.

And as I type this he is upstairs giving Rory a bath because having me do it was not part of Rory's plan. He insisted that Randy give him his bath tonight.

Thank you for being such a loving and devoted dad to our two beautiful children.

Like father, like son

Like father, like daughter???

Randy's Father's Day gifts from Rory and Rian...

The back side of Rory's gift. He made it at school this past week.

Rian hearts her daddy <3

My dad is the greatest! If you read his birthday post, you know why he's the greatest. But it's worth repeating. My dad supports me and my decisions and loves me unconditionally. He has always been there for me and continues to show me what a great dad he really is.

Rory is his biggest fan.

Rory and Big Papa

And now there is another girl in his life...

His face says it all!

My father-in-law is a great example of strength and everyday he proves he is stronger than most. What he endures everyday is more than most will in a lifetime. As my sister-in-law says, he's the real Superman.

Celebrating his birthday with his grandkids last fall...

...And Rian makes four

Happy Father's Day Randy, Dad and Chuck!

Introducing...

Introducing Miss Rian Allison Harrington

It's a girl!

Rory had a blast visiting his little sister at the hospital. He would stay late to spend time with her.

Being at the hospital wore him out

First family photo

My two babies

Rian's first night home

Rory's comforting Rian
"It's OK baby!"

"Yay! I get to go home!"

How old: 3 days

Weight: 6 lbs 2 oz 
Height: 17 1/2 ins

Clothing size: Newborn 
Sleep: Great once we changed her diet

Food: Formula for now, hopefully pumping will work out and we can adjust her diet to breast milk and formula as a supplement

Activities: Eat, sleep, poop... and look cute!

Mood: Happy!
Best moment this week: Bringing her home 

Looking forward to: Getting to know our little princess

Week 38

Well if last week was all about hurry up and wait, this week has been all about hurry up and count. I have spent much of this week timing constant, unproductive contractions. Let me tell you, between the actual contraction, the adrenaline rush that comes with it, and just being nine months pregnant, I'm exhausted! But things around the house have seemed to have settled down in the project department. What got done, got done and what didn't, well it will just have to wait. So instead of focusing on projects, I have taken my OCD and nesting to a whole new level lately. Since there will be people coming and going to the house while I'm enjoying my hospital stay, I want to make sure my house is as clean and neat as possible. So throughout the day, whether I'm leaving the house or relaxing or heading to bed for the night, I have one reoccurring thought... "Is my house clean enough"? And well the answer is always no. So I've been focusing on keeping the house as clean as possible, you know just in case I go into labor while I'm a Target or in the middle of the night. And you know if it's in the middle of the night, I'm gonna make the bed before we leave for the hospital. And the funny thing is that I know for a fact that my house will not look like this when I get home. Oh well, what are you gonna do?!?

And Panda Express has done it again...

This was my fortune over the weekend. If a baby isn't a miracle, I don't know what is.

Rory

Rory has been running around here like a caged monkey. He can't get out of the house fast enough. Each morning he gets ready and waits for me to tell him that we're going somewhere. The only problem with that is that the weather lately has been insanely hot with 100+ degrees and it's only continuing to climb in the next few days. And all I want to do is sit my preggers butt on the couch in the air conditioned house. So finding a balance for both of us has been a little tough.

What's with the 100+ degree weather, Vegas?!? You couldn't wait one more week?!?

A little Rory story for you...

Yesterday Rory and I were running errands and as I was getting out of the car I said to Rory, "Hurry up, Mama has to go potty". So he jumps out of the car, grabs my hand and tells me, "Come Mama, hold it!" Thanks Rory, I know to hold it until I get to the bathroom.

Showing off his golf swing

Pregnancy

So my cankles have come back with a vengeance. I literally watched my ankles swell in a matter of minutes the other night and I have not been able to reduce them. No matter how much water I drink or how elevated my feet are, the water will not leave my legs and feet.

Apparently mama's cankles = a pillow for Pinky. I'm glad someone is enjoying them, because let me tell you I'm not liking any part of them!

How far along? 38 Weeks & 1 Day
Total weight gain/loss: 33 lbs 
Maternity clothes? Anything that fits over the bump 
Stretch marks? Very faint ones. It could be worse.
Sleep: Good once I fall asleep. But I'm having trouble falling asleep. I'm insanely tired of sleeping on my left side. I can't wait to lay on my back and my right side. Always laying on my left side is leaving my left hip a little sore. 
Best moment this week: My doctor's appointment today. I can't believe the next time I see my doctor will be in the operating room. Yikes! I can't believe this journey is almost over.

Have you told family and friends: Yes!
Miss Anything? Being smaller, moving easier
Movement: Still tons of movement. The baby's little butt sticks out on my right side. It's really cute!
Food cravings: Nothing really this week

Anything making you queasy or sick: Eating too much!!!
Symptoms: Heartburn still lingers, and minor rib pain.

Have you started to show yet: Yup. 

Gender prediction: A girl

Labor Signs: Contractions, contractions, contractions!!!
Belly Button in or out? I think I can officially classify it as an outtie. A very tiny outtie.

Wedding rings on or off? On 
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: Oh my gosh, I'm about to burst with excitement waiting for our little one! Looking forward to meeting our baby doesn't even begin to describe how we are feeling right now.