So, I could go into a lot of detail about the house situation, but it would be long, and I have approximately 30 minutes before Annabelle wakes up to make this post, wash my hair and put my makeup on.
So here's the run down:
Beginning of December--felt like God was telling me to fast from reading facebook and blogs, and pray for our house to sell. We had a few showings in the month of December.
December 23rd--Buyer came through the first time--really liked our house, but couldn't make an offer until after the first of the year.
December 31--Jason's side-job that he produced got canceled officially. 1/3 of our income was cut with the canceling of that show. (Me trying not to panic).
January 2nd--Buyer came through the second time.
January 5th--We got an offer on our house!
January 6th--Signed a contract with our buyer. Praise Jesus! We would close March 30th. But, we weren't sure what we were going to do since we didn't have enough money to stay in this house, let alone buy another one. Also on January 6th, Jason got a potential job offer to be a youth pastor in Morrison, IL. Could that be from God?
January 15th--Went to visit the church in Morrison, and both of us felt confirmation that we were to stay in Champaign. Still weren't sure what we were going to do.
Mid-Januaryish--God brought us a couple of miracles that equal the exact amount we lost from All Worship being canceled. WOW, God is good!!!
We started looking for houses again.
January 27th--fell in love with a house at 509 Dunbar in Mahomet, and made an offer.
January 28th--someone else fell in love with the same house, and made an offer.
January 30th--the seller went with the other offer. But God is STILL good, and we weren't worried.
January 31st--Went out to look at a few more houses. Fell in love even harder with 1307 Farley Ln. in Champaign. The Mahomet house doesn't even BEGIN to compare. Thanks to a blessing from my parents, after crunching the numbers we decided that we are going to make an offer.
...and that brings me to today! February 1st. My parents and Jason's parents are coming into town this evening to be extra eyes and walk through the house with us again. If it looks good, we are making an offer tonight!! Praying this one goes through.
2.01.2012
1.26.2012
Annabelle is 5 Months Old!
I am sorry that I have been horrible about posting pictures! I have tons, but the computer that I keep them on is in her nursery. I usually post when she is sleeping, so that doesn't work out so well! I promise I'll get to them soon...
Likes:
Sitting up! She can't do it completely by herself yet, but she would much rather be sitting up than laying down.
Her exersaucer
Reaching for everything in sight
Mojo--everytime she looks at him she laughs!
TV. We were trying to avoid having her watch TV (and still do), but every time it is on, or a computer/ipad/phone is lit up and within her view, she can't take her eyes off of it!
Being worn in a wrap. Everytime she is upset, if I pop her in a wrap, she immediately calms down.
Dislikes:
Car seat (seriously, will she ever grow out of this?!)
Going to sleep
Having something taken out of her hand
Weight: Right around 15 pounds. She seems to be growing longer and skinnier.
Length: 24.5 inches
New things:
Laughing at everything! I LOVE IT. She has the cutest little squealy giggle and it makes me smile every time.
She is reaching for me, which is so neat. Unfortunately for Jason, she reaches for me when he's holding her, but that's okay. She is really doing loads better at being with Jason when I'm not around. He's been holding her a lot more often when she sleeps at the beginning of the night, so I think that is helping her get used to just being with him. Last week I went out with the girls for almost three hours, and she did great. It's so nice to be able to leave her with him now and not worry about it. Though, she still won't take a bottle, so I can't leave for very long. Oh well. I love her too much to want to be away from her very long anyway.
She has tried mashed potatoes, kiwi, and banana. We put little mashed up bits on her tray at dinner, and she gets some in her mouth just by playing with it. We are doing baby led weaning, so we aren't going to actively feed her. We will give her little bits of food we are eating and if she eats it, great, if not, great. My breastmilk can provide her all of the nutrients she needs, so we aren't going to be actively feeding her anything else.
Her hair is getting really long, it's fun. Her bangs are actually in her eyes if I don't clip them back, so we got lots of super cute bows from Emily's Etsy store, and they are the BEST bows I have seen, and super duper affordable (which is very important to our tight budget!). Annabelle rocks a great bow almost every day now.
Other:
She sleeps in her crib for every nap now, and--wait for it--she actually has a schedule!! She put herself on a nap schedule, and I didn't have to do anything. She takes 45 minute naps at 9:30, 12:30, and 3:30, and goes to bed between 6:30 and 7, usually. Around 9 p.m. she wakes up again for about an hour, then goes to bed with us. Since we co-sleep it's hard for me to remember how often she wakes up during the night, since we both barely wake up for her to nurse. I think she nurses 3 times between going to bed and the morning. For the hour before she wakes up she nurses a lot, and I think it's her way of staying asleep a little longer. She's up for the day around 7:30. Anyway, I am thrilled with her nap schedule, because I can legitimately plan for when to go out without worrying about her missing sleep. Granted, I am not strict about it, and if she is starting to get tired earlier or later, I follow her cues and put her down when she seems ready for it.
My baby is growing up so so fast. I just can't believe how old she is, and how much she is growing and learning! I held a newborn yesterday, and literally couldn't remember Annabelle ever being so small. And...it gave me a little baby fever, I'm not gonna lie! Since she still nurses all the time though, another baby is not even a thought, or possible. :)
Likes:
Sitting up! She can't do it completely by herself yet, but she would much rather be sitting up than laying down.
Her exersaucer
Reaching for everything in sight
Mojo--everytime she looks at him she laughs!
TV. We were trying to avoid having her watch TV (and still do), but every time it is on, or a computer/ipad/phone is lit up and within her view, she can't take her eyes off of it!
Being worn in a wrap. Everytime she is upset, if I pop her in a wrap, she immediately calms down.
Dislikes:
Car seat (seriously, will she ever grow out of this?!)
Going to sleep
Having something taken out of her hand
Weight: Right around 15 pounds. She seems to be growing longer and skinnier.
Length: 24.5 inches
New things:
Laughing at everything! I LOVE IT. She has the cutest little squealy giggle and it makes me smile every time.
She is reaching for me, which is so neat. Unfortunately for Jason, she reaches for me when he's holding her, but that's okay. She is really doing loads better at being with Jason when I'm not around. He's been holding her a lot more often when she sleeps at the beginning of the night, so I think that is helping her get used to just being with him. Last week I went out with the girls for almost three hours, and she did great. It's so nice to be able to leave her with him now and not worry about it. Though, she still won't take a bottle, so I can't leave for very long. Oh well. I love her too much to want to be away from her very long anyway.
She has tried mashed potatoes, kiwi, and banana. We put little mashed up bits on her tray at dinner, and she gets some in her mouth just by playing with it. We are doing baby led weaning, so we aren't going to actively feed her. We will give her little bits of food we are eating and if she eats it, great, if not, great. My breastmilk can provide her all of the nutrients she needs, so we aren't going to be actively feeding her anything else.
Her hair is getting really long, it's fun. Her bangs are actually in her eyes if I don't clip them back, so we got lots of super cute bows from Emily's Etsy store, and they are the BEST bows I have seen, and super duper affordable (which is very important to our tight budget!). Annabelle rocks a great bow almost every day now.
Other:
She sleeps in her crib for every nap now, and--wait for it--she actually has a schedule!! She put herself on a nap schedule, and I didn't have to do anything. She takes 45 minute naps at 9:30, 12:30, and 3:30, and goes to bed between 6:30 and 7, usually. Around 9 p.m. she wakes up again for about an hour, then goes to bed with us. Since we co-sleep it's hard for me to remember how often she wakes up during the night, since we both barely wake up for her to nurse. I think she nurses 3 times between going to bed and the morning. For the hour before she wakes up she nurses a lot, and I think it's her way of staying asleep a little longer. She's up for the day around 7:30. Anyway, I am thrilled with her nap schedule, because I can legitimately plan for when to go out without worrying about her missing sleep. Granted, I am not strict about it, and if she is starting to get tired earlier or later, I follow her cues and put her down when she seems ready for it.
My baby is growing up so so fast. I just can't believe how old she is, and how much she is growing and learning! I held a newborn yesterday, and literally couldn't remember Annabelle ever being so small. And...it gave me a little baby fever, I'm not gonna lie! Since she still nurses all the time though, another baby is not even a thought, or possible. :)
1.16.2012
Annabelle is 4 (and a half) Months old!
This should have been a 4 month post, but I didn't get around to it until now. oops.
Likes:
Playing on the floor with toys
Rolling over (but not getting stuck)
Blowing raspberries
Sleeping with mom and dad
Being naked
Dislikes:
Car seat
Going to sleep
Sleeping alone
Weight: 14 pounds 14 ounces at her 4 month appointment. She's dropped down into the 50th (ish) percentile for both height and weight.
Length: 24 inches
New things:
Rolling over really well! She rolls front to back and back to front, and can make her way around a blanket pretty well now. If she sees something she wants, she can roll to get it. So neat!
She is also wanting to sit up more often. We sit her in her high chair now for dinner time and she plays with a spoon and some toys while we eat. The other day we gave her a blob of mashed potatoes on her tray, and she got some of it in her mouth. She seemed pretty indifferent to it, but it was cute :)
Talking up a storm! Annabelle is so vocal, and it is neat to listen to her sing or talk to anyone listening. When she is falling asleep now, she will usually "sing" herself to sleep in our arms.
Other:
As you have already read, Annabelle had her first trip to the hospital last week. That was so scary for us, but all of her tests came back clear. We don't know what happened, but whatever it was, we believe God healed her.
That's about all! Pictures to follow...
Likes:
Playing on the floor with toys
Rolling over (but not getting stuck)
Blowing raspberries
Sleeping with mom and dad
Being naked
Dislikes:
Car seat
Going to sleep
Sleeping alone
Weight: 14 pounds 14 ounces at her 4 month appointment. She's dropped down into the 50th (ish) percentile for both height and weight.
Length: 24 inches
New things:
Rolling over really well! She rolls front to back and back to front, and can make her way around a blanket pretty well now. If she sees something she wants, she can roll to get it. So neat!
She is also wanting to sit up more often. We sit her in her high chair now for dinner time and she plays with a spoon and some toys while we eat. The other day we gave her a blob of mashed potatoes on her tray, and she got some of it in her mouth. She seemed pretty indifferent to it, but it was cute :)
Talking up a storm! Annabelle is so vocal, and it is neat to listen to her sing or talk to anyone listening. When she is falling asleep now, she will usually "sing" herself to sleep in our arms.
Other:
As you have already read, Annabelle had her first trip to the hospital last week. That was so scary for us, but all of her tests came back clear. We don't know what happened, but whatever it was, we believe God healed her.
That's about all! Pictures to follow...
1.11.2012
A Crazy Week
Thursday: we got an offer on our house!
Friday: we sold our house, and Jason got a job offer we are seriously praying about.
Sunday night/Monday morning: both of cars were "broken" into. I say that in quotes because we actually left them unlocked. We got lucky for two reasons...others in our neighborhood were literally broken into, and they didn't take anything except my toll change. I even had my passport and social security card in the glove box because I had forgotten to take it out after going to the DMV. They didn't touch it. WOW. Praise God for that! Also for our dog barking wildly which we think scared them away.
This morning: oooooh this morning. This morning I called 911 for the first time relating to me, and took my first ambulance ride. Annabelle woke up from her early morning nap about 8:30. She hadn't even opened her eyes when she started fussing, then arched her back and went rigid. I picked her up and she let out this blood curdling cry that I have never heard before. Then she started grunting. I ran over to the changing table and took off her pjs, and she was soaked with sweat. Still hadn't opened her eyes, and kept going between the horrible scream and grunting. I picked her up and she stopped breathing for what felt like an eternity but was only probably 10 seconds. Foam started coming out of her mouth and I screamed for Jason to call 911. She let out this huge cough gag and started grunting again, not breathing normally. I laid her on her side in the changing table and her stiff body went limp, eyes rolling around and starting to close. It was the most terrifying moment of my entire life. Jason was on the phone with the dispatcher who told me to tell him when she breathed. Her breaths were shallow and far apart and I just kept yelling "breathe in the name of Jesus!" Her lips started getting pale and the dispatcher told me to put her on the floor on her back. I was ready to do CPR but as soon as I got her on the floor she started screaming again, thank God. Screaming = breathing. That was when the paramedics got there, and we ran outside barefoot with my pale naked baby in a blanket. They gave her oxygen on the way to the hospital which seemed to perk her up. After a few minutes she seemed almost back to normal, just tired and staring around.
Throughout the day they have done an EKG, chest X-ray, EEG, blood and urine test, and echocardiogram. They are checking her heart for any abnormalities and her brain for seizure activity. My thinking is that she had some sort of seizure, without convulsions, but there is no way to really know. So far her blood, urine, X-ray, and EKG look fine, and she seems back to her normal, happy self. We won't know about the other two trsts until morning.
Jason is at home tonight, and I am still in the ER with Annabelle because the whole hospital is full. No room at the inn. We are waiting for a pediatric bed but probably won't end up in one since they don't typically discharge patients in the middle of the night. So we made the best co-sleeping arrangement we could, putting the hospital bed up high next to the hospital crib, and that will have to do. Annabelle is sleeping soundly, and I am hoping a margarita magically shows up.
I'll post tomorrow when we know everything there is to know. Until then, we thank you for any prayers you can send up for us.
I hope the rest of the week calms down.
Friday: we sold our house, and Jason got a job offer we are seriously praying about.
Sunday night/Monday morning: both of cars were "broken" into. I say that in quotes because we actually left them unlocked. We got lucky for two reasons...others in our neighborhood were literally broken into, and they didn't take anything except my toll change. I even had my passport and social security card in the glove box because I had forgotten to take it out after going to the DMV. They didn't touch it. WOW. Praise God for that! Also for our dog barking wildly which we think scared them away.
This morning: oooooh this morning. This morning I called 911 for the first time relating to me, and took my first ambulance ride. Annabelle woke up from her early morning nap about 8:30. She hadn't even opened her eyes when she started fussing, then arched her back and went rigid. I picked her up and she let out this blood curdling cry that I have never heard before. Then she started grunting. I ran over to the changing table and took off her pjs, and she was soaked with sweat. Still hadn't opened her eyes, and kept going between the horrible scream and grunting. I picked her up and she stopped breathing for what felt like an eternity but was only probably 10 seconds. Foam started coming out of her mouth and I screamed for Jason to call 911. She let out this huge cough gag and started grunting again, not breathing normally. I laid her on her side in the changing table and her stiff body went limp, eyes rolling around and starting to close. It was the most terrifying moment of my entire life. Jason was on the phone with the dispatcher who told me to tell him when she breathed. Her breaths were shallow and far apart and I just kept yelling "breathe in the name of Jesus!" Her lips started getting pale and the dispatcher told me to put her on the floor on her back. I was ready to do CPR but as soon as I got her on the floor she started screaming again, thank God. Screaming = breathing. That was when the paramedics got there, and we ran outside barefoot with my pale naked baby in a blanket. They gave her oxygen on the way to the hospital which seemed to perk her up. After a few minutes she seemed almost back to normal, just tired and staring around.
Throughout the day they have done an EKG, chest X-ray, EEG, blood and urine test, and echocardiogram. They are checking her heart for any abnormalities and her brain for seizure activity. My thinking is that she had some sort of seizure, without convulsions, but there is no way to really know. So far her blood, urine, X-ray, and EKG look fine, and she seems back to her normal, happy self. We won't know about the other two trsts until morning.
Jason is at home tonight, and I am still in the ER with Annabelle because the whole hospital is full. No room at the inn. We are waiting for a pediatric bed but probably won't end up in one since they don't typically discharge patients in the middle of the night. So we made the best co-sleeping arrangement we could, putting the hospital bed up high next to the hospital crib, and that will have to do. Annabelle is sleeping soundly, and I am hoping a margarita magically shows up.
I'll post tomorrow when we know everything there is to know. Until then, we thank you for any prayers you can send up for us.
I hope the rest of the week calms down.
12.20.2011
Jesus turned out okay.
For the last, oh, 12 weeks, I have been worried about Annabelle's sleep and eating habits. The question that every.single.person. asks is, "is she sleeping through the night?" (WHY everyone asks that, I have yet to find out). And, every babycenter.com email, the bump.com email, and parenting email says that by now, baby should be STTN, and eating once or twice at night. Well, that stresses a momma out, let me tell you. My answer has been "no, she isn't, but that's okay!" but secretly I panic a little wondering why my child isn't "shoulding" like apparently everyone else's are.
Annabelle is not on a schedule. She eats when she is hungry, sleeps when she is tired, and doesn't particularly care to be without her momma. She won't take a bottle. She won't go to sleep without nursing 75% of the time, sleeps horribly in her crib, not great in her co-sleeper, and best in our bed with my boob close by at all times. She wakes up to snack many times at night. She doesn't have a consistent bedtime, and she naps only 45 minutes at a time unless I am napping with her.
I was pretty worried about those things. "They" say those things need to be "fixed," as if they are broken, or bad habits that will ruin her. I have read a zillion articles and books trying to figure out how to "fix" my daughter, never feeling like the solutions were right for her, or me, or us. We tried a bedtime for weeks and weeks, frustration building because she wouldn't stay asleep. We tried getting her to fall asleep on her own without nursing, but she clearly wasn't interested. We tried to get her to nap longer, but that was an uphill battle. I kept feeling worse and worse, like I was ruining my baby.
Then I started thinking about Mary and baby Jesus. Mary didn't have sleep books. Or the internet. Or a clock to time naps or plan bedtimes. She had her precious baby, her breasts to feed him with, and the maternal instincts that the Father blessed her with. They didn't have a crib, they didn't have pacifiers, they didn't have white noise machines or "baby tracker" apps on an iPad. She most likely slept with Jesus, nursed him whenever he cried, and carried him around most of the day.
And you know what?
Jesus turned out okay.
It may not be the norm, but Annabelle is doing fine. She is thriving, happy most of the time, and apparently is well rested, even if I am not always. We are doing what works for us, what feels right. We won't let her cry it out, give her formula to make her full, or make her sleep in her crib. God gave ME a maternal instinct, and it says we are doing okay. These days won't last forever, and I am positive that I won't look back and say, "man, I wish I would have cuddled her less, or breast fed her less, or napped with her less!" Quite the contrary, I'm sure.
So for now, no, she is not sleeping through the night, and no, she is not on a schedule. I'm done worrying and reading and "shoulding" my baby, and am happy to follow her lead, since she knows what she needs.
Jesus turned out okay, and I am pretty sure Annabelle will, too.
Annabelle is not on a schedule. She eats when she is hungry, sleeps when she is tired, and doesn't particularly care to be without her momma. She won't take a bottle. She won't go to sleep without nursing 75% of the time, sleeps horribly in her crib, not great in her co-sleeper, and best in our bed with my boob close by at all times. She wakes up to snack many times at night. She doesn't have a consistent bedtime, and she naps only 45 minutes at a time unless I am napping with her.
I was pretty worried about those things. "They" say those things need to be "fixed," as if they are broken, or bad habits that will ruin her. I have read a zillion articles and books trying to figure out how to "fix" my daughter, never feeling like the solutions were right for her, or me, or us. We tried a bedtime for weeks and weeks, frustration building because she wouldn't stay asleep. We tried getting her to fall asleep on her own without nursing, but she clearly wasn't interested. We tried to get her to nap longer, but that was an uphill battle. I kept feeling worse and worse, like I was ruining my baby.
Then I started thinking about Mary and baby Jesus. Mary didn't have sleep books. Or the internet. Or a clock to time naps or plan bedtimes. She had her precious baby, her breasts to feed him with, and the maternal instincts that the Father blessed her with. They didn't have a crib, they didn't have pacifiers, they didn't have white noise machines or "baby tracker" apps on an iPad. She most likely slept with Jesus, nursed him whenever he cried, and carried him around most of the day.
And you know what?
Jesus turned out okay.
It may not be the norm, but Annabelle is doing fine. She is thriving, happy most of the time, and apparently is well rested, even if I am not always. We are doing what works for us, what feels right. We won't let her cry it out, give her formula to make her full, or make her sleep in her crib. God gave ME a maternal instinct, and it says we are doing okay. These days won't last forever, and I am positive that I won't look back and say, "man, I wish I would have cuddled her less, or breast fed her less, or napped with her less!" Quite the contrary, I'm sure.
So for now, no, she is not sleeping through the night, and no, she is not on a schedule. I'm done worrying and reading and "shoulding" my baby, and am happy to follow her lead, since she knows what she needs.
Jesus turned out okay, and I am pretty sure Annabelle will, too.
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