Retired


Last night I went to put Shelby in her jammies and reached for my favorite of all her outfits. It is one I spotted on a shopping trip to Nordstrom Rack with my friend Katie before she was born and the first outfit I put her in at the hospital. Well, needless to say,  this one will have to be retired to the bottom drawer of the dresser as it is now far too small for her.

By The Numbers:


Today was our peanut's one month check up - here are the stats:

1. Weeks Old: 4
2. Weight: 11 pounds
3. Weight Percentile: 90%
4. Length: 22 inches (although we measured her fully stretched at 23)
5. Length Percentile: 90%
6. Head Circumference: Mom doesn't remember
7. Head Circumference Percentile: 50%
8. Shots Received: 1 (Hep B)
9. Tears Shed: Many

Time is starting to go by much faster now. The first couple of weeks were tough, but we're getting the hang of things now. The doctor suggested trying to get her on a schedule and attempting to have her sleep from midnight to 6am. We'll see how that goes. I think she does pretty well sleeping for 4, snack, sleep for 3.5, but 6 in a row would be better.  I can hardly stay up until midnight; not sure how I'll keep her up!

Favorite Quote From Dad: "She's so cute, I want to just drink her through a straw."

Happy Friday!

Just Some Sweetness From This Morning:

Kick Kick Kick

As a former swimmer, I can't help but think about laps and laps and laps in the pool when I see Shelby kick her little legs. She normally kicks when she's really happy or really annoyed. The other thing that comes to mind are all those jolts, bumps and thumps I would get to the belly when I was pregnant - now I understand why they could rocket me out of bed.

Kick kick kick....

This is one of her favorite places to be, second only to the arms of mom and dad - her changing table. She's not knocked out with the actual diaper changing, but she loves to look out the window that the table is positioned in front of. The view faces South, so it doesn't bother me that she looks out - she'll never be looking directly into the light. Sometimes after changing her I'll let her stay up there for 15 minutes or so, as she entertainers herself and soaks in some vitamin D (she is not found of the drops and I'm not either).

Is that a Paw?

Jack's parents gifted us a lovely keepsake for Shelby's arrival.  An adorable shadow box, featuring her baby photo and hand/foot imprints. It arrived several days ago, but I wanted to do it over a weekend when Jack could lend a hand because I knew it would be tricky....but I had no idea HOW tricky it would be.

This is the product/project we were attempting to complete:

http://gifts.redenvelope.com/baby/deluxe-baby-keepsake-kit-30000224?ref=REDorganicgglgeneric_&prid=rbseogg&viewpos=1&trackingpgroup=rbbsl


We started with the foot. I took Shelby out of her sleeper (which ticked her off) while Dad prepared the molding dough.  We finally corralled her foot and took the first imprint. Of course, she curled her toes all up and it looked more like an animal print, than a baby print.  We can't have our baby's footprint immortalized resembling an animal! Attempt 2: Great toes, but foot didn't make a mark. Attempt 3: Dad tried to make it deeper, but the foot was not lined up exactly; result = big foot baby. Attempt 4: Success! A perfectly printed, kissable foot.

Now onto the hands.

I took Shelby upstairs, changed her, nursed her and calmed her down. Meanwhile, Dad prepped the other dough. Mind you, the foot exercise consumed about 45 minutes,  when it was all said and done. Jack came upstairs and tried to get the hand print. No such luck. Shelby has an iron grip, I am not kidding. Her hands were clinched and there was no changing it. After a while she became fussy, so I walked her around and tired again 30 minutes later. No dice. Another round......diaper, nurse, calm, no go. Finally, she was zonked, out for the night. Worrying that the dough would start to set, we gave it another attempt. Her whole body was a noodle - except of course her hand! Meanwhile the whole thing is making me giggling, so I can't help but laugh and continue to disrupt my baby girl. We thought we could try a fist, so we gave that a whirl and then determined it looked redicualous, so Jack re-rolled the dough. FINALLY, after 4.5 hours of failed attempts, we were able to get a flat hand on the dough. Is it perfect, no way, but I love it. The story that goes along with it, makes it perfect.

A perfect hand for spiking volleyballs!

Splish Splash, I Was Takin' a Bath!

 I had always heard that bathing an infant is terrifying, however I kind of like it and Shelby seems enamored with the process too. The hair washing component is a little scary since I try to avoid getting water in her ears, but we do that sparingly.

In any event, my dear friend Diana suggested this great product called the Puj Tub  and I would highly recommend it to any new mom as well.  I sent her a text long ago. inquiring about her "baby products she could not live without" and this topped her list. The Puj Tub is a foam piece that folds up nicely into any sink, creating a cozy baby seat. The baby can be perfectly propped up so you don't have to worry about him/her slipping. Additionally, the water logically flows out the bottom, so you don't have to fret about it pooling up at the bottom and becoming dangerous.

I've yet to snap a photo of her actually being bathed, as that would require another person and bath time normally takes place while Jack is either still sleeping or at work.  The closest I have are a couple of "after" photos.

Regardless if you love or hate bathing an infant, the smell of a freshly washed baby is indisputably, the best!

Dad's Favorite Onesie

A gift from one of Jack's clients and his favorite in-the-gym saying......