She's 3 Weeks Old!

Heres a ton of new pics -

Kalina being an awesome Big Sis ...

Still Nothing Sweeter than a Sleeping Baby ...

Sleepy Baby & Daddy ...

Brooklyns First (real) Bath!

My Post-Partum Plan

I bought this DVD while I was pregnant and I hated the prenatal part of it - so I used the Gabby Reece DVD instead. But today I checked out the post-partum workout DVD that came with it and so far I really like it! It starts out slow - which is what I need right now and shes funny - she says things like "oh I know you dont want to do this - but just ONE MORE!" haha. Sounds dreadful but I love it.

I'll let you know how it goes - I put on 40 pounds with this pregnancy. They weighed me when I came into labor & delivery (i know, nice, right?!). In the past 2.5 weeks Ive lost half of that. That means Im still 20 lbs. heavier than I was last thanksgiving. But 9 mos on, 9 mos off right??

The Exciting Life of a Post-Partum Mom

Before I had the baby I took Daisy (our dog) EVERY where with me. Since the baby has come it has proven more difficult but I still try to take her when possible. Today she was really exited as she saw me putting my shoes on & getting ready to go - I felt bad for the dog, so I brought her along on the trip to Target. ;-) Afterall, I only needed 2 things - diapers and milk.

Its overcast today and wasnt warm out at all so I new she'd be fine while I ran in. I parked in the back near the cart corral and loaded the baby and the baby's luggage into the cart. Daisy sometimes whines until I get far enough away for her to realize shes not coming in with me - today was no exception. I noticed as I was loading everything in a lady was STARING at me a few cars away as she loaded her stuff. I smiled awkwardly and kept about my business. I honestly had no idea why she was staring at me.

I get in & grab the diapers - after doing the math and realizing they were actually cheaper at Babies R Us and I should've bought them there - I proceed on to get the milk. Over the loud speaker I hear "Will the owner of a gray honda, license plate blah, blah, blah, blah please report to their car." OOOOOH - Thats why she was staring at me. Great - I thought. Is it illegal to leave your dog in the car now? It's not like its 80, 90 or 100 degrees out there for goodness sake - I mean the sun isn't even out yet.

Oh well - I continue to head towards the milk section, grab my cartons and head to the checkout lanes. Im thinking that the security guy is going to be waiting for me but at least I can cross this errand of my list. I head out of the store with diapers and milk in tow and see that no one is waiting for me at my car with the exception of my now quiet and well behaved dog. If only I could explain to Daisy that the whining spectacle she puts on scares people making them think shes in danger, when she's clearly not.

That was probably the most excitement I'll have this week - but that, my friends, is a day in the life of a post-partum mom ... all that excitement and no one to tell it to. The baby's asleep, the husbands at work, the older kid is at school, and the dog doesnt listen too well anyhow.

What happened to my ...

happy, sleepy, non-fussy baby?!?! Shes been REPLACED!

Here she is after she settles down ... :)

The Super Exciting Life of a 2 Week Old

Need. More. Sleep.

As of right now she sleeps about 3-4 hours at a time at night - which is more than I can ask for and I pray that it stays this way - HOWEVER ... getting no more than a 4 hours sleep stretch can have its effects on performing even normal daily tasks.

Yesterday, somehow, a diaper ended up in the hamper and then ultimately made it into the washing machine - only to be discovered after the wash was complete and the insides of the diaper were all over the washing machine and all over the baby clothes, baby blankets & crib sheets. 

I have no idea how to get all the little beads off of the clothes although they've been cleaned out of the washer. I still won't admit that I put the diaper in the hamper but who knows - like I said sleeping 3 .. 4 hours at a time (at best) has its consequences. and I don't recommend trying to function normally in this state. 

And yes - I know, it could be worse. I like to remind myself - it can always be worse. Some babies only sleep 1-2 hour stretches at a time. and I'll get used to it. Eventually. sigh.

How Long until I forget ...

As I watch a women birth naturally on TLC's A Baby Story, I can still remember very distinctly how bad it hurt when the baby's head was making its way through the birth canal. I remember feeling each contraction intensely - until they doubled up and it just continued to burn without reprieve. It is one of those pains Id like to say you will "never forget" - but thats not true. I will forget. I know I will, because I forgot until I was in the delivery room for the 2nd time the pain that I had felt with Kalina. This time I just wonder, how long will it take this time to forget again??? Will I ever fall ill with baby fever again after that pain? 

Eskimo Kisses

This is what we call Milk-Drunk ...

It is out of focus but you get the point. 

:)

Brooklyn's 12 day stats

We had a Dr appt today and the Dr said she is already 

8 lbs 12 oz and 21.5 inches! 

Thats almost a pound more than her birth weight and 1.5 inches longer!

Shes growing wonderfully and looks healthy as can be, he says.

Bathtime!

Brooklyn LOVES bathtime!

... and Daddy LOVES these toes! :D

After her bath she is ready for bed ...

I think shes a little annoyed by the constant 'paparazzi' ;)

Bestest Sisters

Oops - wrong norcal hoodie ...

LOL.

D will be so mad when he sees I put this up ... but I can't resist.

A Week Old Today!

You've come a long way baby Brooklyn   ;-)

Nov. 2nd @ 430am ...

Nov. 9th ~ ONE WEEK OLD !

Kalina went Sky Diving!!

...indoor, that is. With her cousin Jasmine!

My Blondie

Sisters

Im It.

Looks like I have been tagged by my buddy, Holly over at Life in the Fun Lane. 

So here are my 7 random facts:
1. I never cared for dogs - honestly, just didn't like em - until I met Daisy. Now Im a self-professed crazy-in-love dog owner.
2. There really aren't any foods that I won't eat. Im the polar opposite of picky. Its a problem.
3. I love the smell of my husbands deodorant. LOVE it. 
4. I never file away my photos or put them in an album. They rarely get printed or even make it to frames. Its sad really.
5. The high school I went to had computers at every desk and we had to pass an internet class in order to go on the World Wide Web. They even gave you a 'license to surf' when you passed.
6. 4th of July is my favorite holiday - its in the summer and theres fireworks - doesnt get better than that.
7. I love being a wife and a mom more than I ever thought was possible.

And now I am tagging these awesome ladies as well:
Mrs Cole at All Things Ordinary
Mindy at  A Bean in My Belly
My post-partum inspiration over at Running Through Life 

Expecting Mom at Our Family Is Growing By Two Feet

Stylishly Pregnant Mom at Baby Skiv

By far the Coolest Family at Rocking Our World

and lastly My Labor Buddy Jamie at SubURBAN Urbanite

Feel Like I Will Never Catch Up ...

The world is going on around me and I've lost all concept of whats going on in it - I cant even keep track of what day of the week it is.

Don't get me wrong - its all for a good cause ... and im enjoying every minute of it but will I ever catch up? 

My Sleeping Beauty

Brooklyn's Birth Story - 7lbs, 14oz, 21 inches

Saturday night was the only night I wasn't hopeful of going into labor. I felt nervous about it because of the rain and everyone that would be rushing to the hospital in those bad driving conditions. So sure enough, I woke up at 130am after only an hour of sleep with what I thought might be contractions. I decided pick up a little around the house a little, just in case. They started to get stronger so I took a bath and brushed my teeth - mainly to distract myself in case it wasnt the real deal after all.

At about 2am I started timing my contractions - they were about 3 1/2 minutes apart consistently but they were only 30 seconds long. I could talk through them and walk through them so I still wasn't convinced that it was anything more than early labor - if that.

But by 230am I called my mom to tell her what was going on. She told me to call the L&D and tell them and call her back. The L&D nurses told me to come on in and get checked out. I woke up Kalina and David and called my mom to tell her to head down here.

Kalina was so excited - in her half-asleep state she said, "I'm so excited! I thought this day would NEVER come!" David was very calm and collected as he grabbed the carseat, the bag and tried to calm Kalina for my sake. It took a quick 5 or so minutes and 2 contractions to get to the hospital.

By the time I got into the exam room, around 3am, the contractions were quite strong and it seemed they were coming more quickly. The pressure was intense and all I could do was focus and breathe through each contraction. After a couple contractions they started to double up on each other so the nurse finally did an internal exam. She determined that I was at least 8 cm dilated and would be moved over to the delivery room. I started to cry because I realized at that very moment what was *really* going on. I was going to have to get this baby out - come hell or high water. And trust me - it was going to feel more like the fires of hell than anything soothing like water. I cried "David - I can't do it. I can't do this. F*#$."

I whined like a little baby and then they moved me over to the other room.

My mom arrived, as did my cousin Vanessa to take Kalina out of the room. My mom and David stayed with me and helped talk me through the rest of the delivery. My mom reminded me to slow my breathing with each contraction and when I screamed she reminded me to focus the energy into pushing. David kept telling me I could do it - as I screamed, "ooooh noooo - I cant do this!!!" He reminded me that if I could put up with him - I could do ANYTHING. ;)

5 pushes later my sweet baby girl was born. Just like that.

No epi and no episiotomy, just a few curse words, awesome labor coaches and a lot of ... I dont know ... good luck? - It was just like I hoped for but wasn't sure could happen. It was amazing. I still hurt when I think about it.

She was born at 430am, a mere 3 hours after I went into labor. And worth every second of it. I couldnt be happier right now. I have been blessed with one of the greatest blessings in life - family.

Meet Brooklyn Ariela ...

Our First Family Picture -

Just moments after being born ...

We were so excited to finally meet her!!! -

Kalina is in LOVE with her new sis -

and Daddy is completely head over heels -

Look! Shes Blonde -

The best Dad EVER ... He's a pro from day 1.

Grandbaby #7 :) on my side AND his -

My awesome mom and amazing labor coach -

Time to take her HOME! -

... can't believe shes really ours!