Precious Girl

Precious Girl,

You're in our lives,

making every moment right.

Your Mom and Daddy love you.

You fill us with delight.

Precious Girl,

so special too.

God has got a plan for you.

We can see it clearly,

as you shine His light.

Do you realize when you shine 

everyone sees you.

The lives you touch,

you're worth so much,

That's just how God made you.

Mom and Dad,

when I'm sad,

you're still proud of me.

God put us together now.

I know He must love me.

Precious Girl,

Can you see?

You're part of our family.

This will be my promise:

God's plan for you is true.

You are worth so much, and 

It's just by being you.

(Song found here)

Happy (Belated) 1 Month!

Ashlynn Marie, 

I cannot believe you are 1 month old! It seems like just yesterday we found out we were expecting your arrival.  The past month has been unlike any other time in our lives.  You have changed your mommy and daddy forever.

Most people say you look just like your daddy!

On your 1 month birthday!

You love:
 To "bite" your daddy's nose
Being swaddled
The moby wrap
Eating
Tummy time
Laying on the boppy
Your paci

You are not a fan of:
You are not a fan of the swing
The car seat (unless we are driving on the highway)
Your clothes being taken off

Tummy time on the boppy

Ever since we brought you home from the hospital, you have been an excellent sleeper.  You normally only wake up 1 time during the night, and have slept through the night 3 times.  You only cry when you are hungry (normally as soon as you wake up), when we have to undress you, or when you have a dirty diaper.

Naptime!

We had a few feeding problems in your first weeks, but that has not hindered your growth! You eat 3.5-4 oz. every 3-4 hours, and mommy has had to pack away most of your newborn clothes.  You were having some bad spit-up problems, but a new type of bottle seems to have fixed that. Last week you had your first shot and you did great!

Food coma

This month held a lot of firsts for you! You went to church for the first time, and went on your first road trip and stayed in a hotel with G-Ma!

Making funny faces...just like your daddy!

Here are your 1 month stats:

Height: 211/2 inches, 64th percentile

Weight: 9 lbs. 6 oz, 50th percentile

Wearing size 1 diapers and 0-3 month clothes

We love you SO much! 

Mommy and Daddy

3 Years

3 years ago tonight, I married my best friend.

I wasn't anxious that day. 

I was excited. I was ready to see what the future held.

Little did we know that 3 years in the future, we would spend the morning cuddling with a precious baby girl. Or that our "night out" would include a trip to Target for toilet paper.

There are a lot of things that we could be anxious about tonight.

But we aren't.

We are excited. And cannot wait to see what the future holds.

Doctor's Appointments

1 Week Check-up:

We went for Ashlynn's 1 week check-up the day after we got home from the hospital.  Mark was off of work for the week, so he got to join us.  

Ashlynn weighed in at 7 lb. 3 oz. (the same as when she left the hospital).  She measured 19 3/4 inches (1/4 of an inch shorter than when she was born??) Her weight and head measurements were in the 35th percentile, and her height was in the 50th percentile.

Her skin had become a bit more yellow, so the doctor did a test on her jaundice levels while we were there.  I was so glad that Mark was there to hold her...it was terrible watching them prick her little foot!

2 Week Check-up:

On Monday, January 16 we went for Ashlynn's 2 week check-up.  This was our first outing with just the 2 of us.  I managed to get us out the door and to the doctor on time, even if I was a little frazzled when we got there! There were quite a few sick kiddos in the waiting room, and I discovered that I have a new fear of pediatrician's waiting rooms.

Ashlynn weighed in at 8 lbs! This was a huge relief to me after some of the feeding problems we had been having. She measured 20 (and something?) inches.  Her head and weight were still in the 35th percentile and her height was in the 64th percentile.

Since I was on my own, I had to hold her while they pricked her heel for her 2nd newborn screening. Thankfully it didn't last too long!

She was tired from our first big outing!

Our Hospital Stay

During the few days after Ashlynn's arrival, she got to meet some very special people! Our friends and family got the chance to meet her, and fell in love as quickly as we did!

Just a few of the family members who came to visit! 

She also got some good one on one cuddle time with mommy and daddy!

We made the decision to have Ashlynn sleep in the nursery at the hospital, and it worked out great for us.  They brought her in every few hours, but we were able to get a little rest after 14 hours of labor.  We also had ample "quiet hours" to bond as a family of .

Our stay at the hospital could not have been better. While I was in labor, they brought Mark meals the entire day.  The nurses made sure that we were educated on everything we wanted to know about, and were so encouraging and positive.  On our last night there, we even got a steak and lobster dinner from the executive chef!

Monday morning as we were leaving, I looked at Mark and asked him if they were really going to let the 2 of us leave with a baby to take care of on our own! It was a surreal, yet exciting moment!