Maggie: Two Months

Two months young and starting to show us glimpses into her personality!

Likes and Dislikes: Maggie is loving baths now that she is big enough to sit in the mesh bath seat. Also likes laying on her play mat, listening to daddy read books to her and Emma and watching the projector on her ceiling at night. For the most part, she doesn't mind so far the constant kisses from her big sister or being Emma's patient so she can use her doctor kit ;) She's not liking when she needs to poop and lets us know it or when she has to go to bed for the night.

Development: Our serious, chill girl finally gave us a smile, and boy is it sweet. Though they are few and far between, we soak them up whenever we can. Maggie always looks so serious and chilled out, it's like she is just sitting back watching life happen and soaking it in. That, or she's looking at her sister and parents thinking "You guys are nuts"! As far as a health development, Maggie was finally diagnosed with reflux. She was spitting up large amounts at least 15-20 times a day and though she seemed okay for the most part, there were times it really seemed to bother her. She's now on Zantac twice a day and seems to be doing good so far. She's also 25 inches in length (100th percentile) and 14 pounds and 4.5 ounces (95th percentile). But put her weight and height together for her age, Dr. Patten said she is actually in the 45th percentile.

Eating: She is drinking four ounces of formula every three to four hours with her last feeding of the day around 7:30 p.m. before bedtime. After trying regular formula, we switched to gentle for her tummy and it has been night and day difference.

Sleeping: Maggie is still sleeping in a rock n' play in her room. She takes four naps during the day with a catnap at some point and another in the evening and then two longer naps typically in the morning and afternoon. She's going to bed between 8:00-9:00 p.m. and waking up between 11:30-1:30 and again between 3:30-5:00 a.m. Her night sleep stretches are usually three to four hours, but this week she gave us TWO nights in a row with a six hour stretch and only one night feeding. It was glorious and I can't wait for another night like that!

Family transition/life update: We are doing well as a family of four and it seems like we are slowly getting into a groove. This groove will really start/adjust as I start back to work in a couple of weeks. We made the hard decision to switch daycares from Victoria's to a new in-home starting in August. We LOVED Victoria and her family and I cried many times about switching, but we wanted somewhere with kids the girls age and a little closer to home. Michele has an early childhood development degree and has spent the last several years working at a daycare center. Though we will especially miss the Smith family, we are looking forward to Emma (and Maggie) having others their age and going through similar things development wise.

Tumble Bugs

We signed Emma up for Tumble Bugs through the local community center. While she missed the age cutoff by two weeks, we were able to get her into this class for two and three year olds. It is 30 minutes of semi-organized chaos, like all recreational sports at this age. Nana, Maggie and I took her to her first class and while she refused to stretch, she thoroughly enjoyed holding the teacher's hand from station to station and doing each "event". For the most part she listened better than I thought, but did run over to check on Maggie a couple times. This last week, Matt was able to join us and she loved having dad there to watch.

Maggie: One Month

It has been a month (okay, 10 days past a month) since our Maggie Claire came into our lives. What a month it has been!

Likes and Dislikes: Maggie loves to be held and rocked to sleep (what newborn doesn't!) and hates trying to fall asleep without assistance. So it is a struggle finding the balance between those sweet newborn cuddles, playing with a toddler and needing to do some household duties. For now, I'm soaking the cuddles up. She strongly dislikes bath time but calms down the moment we start washing her hair. She despises her crib and being in the carseat for too long. She likes walks, being swaddled and watching her mobile on her swing or projector light in her room.

Development: Maggie definitely went through a growth spurt at two weeks and I think went through another one between four and five weeks. She's changed so much in the last month and although I love the newborn feel, I really love seeing how much they change and develop the first year.

Eating: Oofta. Where do I start? The good: She eats every three hours during the day, every two hours from 4:00-9:00 and then one or two middle of the night feedings. The bad: nursing never took off for Maggie. As most know, nursing in the hospital started terribly and from there never got better. We worked with a lactation consultant and although her latch was okay, it would take her anywhere from 10-30 minutes to get latched and when she did she tore me up, threw up throughout it and was angry during and after feedings. Feedings were getting longer, harder and there were more tears from both of us. Finally, I made the gut wrenching, guilt ridden decision when she turned a month to switch to formula (with a combo of breast milk). We were both unhappy and it was effecting the entire family. I so badly wish that I could have nursed her and it would have been easier for us, but I made a decision that was best for us and our family. For a week I nursed her once or twice a day and did our final feeding last week. She and I are much, much happier (so are Emma and Matt). She's taken to the bottle just fine and is still on the same feeding "schedule".

Sleeping: Maggie absolutely hates her crib and laying flat; it has been that way since the hospital. The first two weeks we could get her to do one stretch in her crib, but haven't been able to since. So, she sleeps at night in her rock n' play sleeper (located in her room) and naps in that as well or her swing. We try every day to see if that will be the day she will like her crib, but nothing yet. Please tell me the transition won't be terrible? When did you switch your kids to the crib? Anyways, her naps have been anywhere to 30-60 minutes in length with usually a good long one in the morning and/or afternoon. She's been going to bed between 9:00-10:00 with a feeding in the night and then waking between 4:30-5:30 in the morning. The morning wake time has been rough because it then takes an hour to get her back to sleep and by that time, you might as well stay up. So hoping she starts pushing it back soon. It's just a phase, right? :) Like I mentioned above, she only falls asleep by being held or rocked. I don't know how some people say that they can lay their child down awake and they fall asleep on their own. That wasn't the case with Emma and definitely isn't so with Maggie.

Family transition/life update: Matt, Emma and I are doing well since Maggie joined our little family. Matt was able to take a whole week off after she was born to stay home with us and that was really nice   and helpful. It is Matt's down time with work, but you wouldn't know it by the events of this last month (new basketball coach). Luckily that is all over now and we can enjoy the rest of the summer that is going too quickly. Emma seriously loves her little sister and is just the sweetest with her. She gives her a million kisses a day, is concerned when she cries and is really helpful so far with throwing away diapers. While Emma's meltdowns have been more intense since Maggie's arrival, she's easily bribed with getting to hold her sister. She's still going to my mom's during the day for the 1:1 attention and to keep with her routine. I am doing good postpartum and have been able to do a lot more this time around. With Emma I was too nervous to leave the house, but this time around you know that life needs to still go on and so we run errands and get out as much as possible. I started working out this last week and taking time for myself and that his been super helpful. All in all, we are doing great adjusting and just loving on our little Maggie.

Emma: 22 Months

Sleeping: We transitioned Emma to her big girl bed the first week of April and it went really smoothly. Nearly two months in and she's still going down/waking up at the same time and waits for us to come get her. Naps have been the same as well, taking two to three hour naps in the afternoon. The only sleep "issues" are more meltdowns since Maggie has been born surrounding going to sleep. But the moment we read a book, say prayers and leave the room, the crying stops within a minute (if not sooner). Emma truly loves her bed and is often found back in it reading or pretend sleeping with her baby dolls.

Eating: Eating is still hit and miss with Emma. There are days she can't eat enough and days I wonder how she is functioning on such little food. I blame it on cutting her two year molars. Her favorite foods at the moment are gold fish, granola bars, fruit and steamed broccoli. She's also loving salads!

Development: The last couple of months, I was slightly and quietly concerned on Emma's talking or lack there of. While I know you can't compare children and every one of them develops differently, I couldn't help but compare. Everyone tells you that first borns (especially girls) talk so much and are further advance in their speech. That's not Emma. While she speaks and we can understand her, others have no idea what she is saying. She also wasn't (up until the last week or two) learning new words or repeating things. I am now assured that one day she will blow us away and just start talking up a storm and probably not stop :) If that time is next week, next month or months from now, that is okay.

The last several weeks have been quite the transition for Emma. Matt and I are convinced that temper tantrums are inherent for the first born when a new child comes into the world. Boy does Emma have them perfected. We went through a stretch where there were no meltdowns, and now they are back in full force. Emma has always been our sensitive little girl, so with attention having to be shared, she's even more sensitive. She knows when you aren't paying attention and is doing things to get it or will just come up to you and say "hi" to make sure you see her. We make sure to include her in everything and ask for her help when we can, praising her for being a big girl and so helpful.

But, with the low of temper tantrums comes the high of seeing her doing and trying new things. She loves to jump, throw things and run. Next week Emma starts Tumble Bugs!

Likes/Dislikes: Books! Seriously, this girl loves herself some books. You can often find her in a chair or in her bed "reading" books. Some of her favorites are I Love You Through and Through, Press Here, Giggle!, Bubble Guppies or her big sister books. Along with her books, she continues to be obsessed with Bubble Guppies. Thanks to the Holtz family, Emma is hooked on this tv show on NickJr. She has since received a few Bubble Guppie toys and absolutely loves them.

Ever since Maggie arrived, Emma has become that much more motherly with her baby dolls. She likes to feed them, burp them, walk around "ssshhhh" them to sleep and giving them kisses. Emma also loves to help burp her sister, hold her and touch her hand. She truly is the sweetest thing and is really good with Maggie. She loves watching her little sister, especially now that Maggie is becoming more alert. I can't wait to see what Emma thinks of her little sister in the months to come.

Emma can't stand having dirt or anything on her feet. She loves playing outside and running around barefoot, but the moment she steps foot in the door she plops down to inspect her feet and pick off the smallest particle of anything on her feet. Along with that, she could find the smallest crumb on the kitchen floor and pick it up to bring to you or throw away. So I have used this to my advantage and she helps me "clean". She is her mother's child for sure.

{M} Newborn Pictures

Pictures taken by Destri Andorf of D&orfs Photography

Hospital Stay

First few hours: Our first couple hours went by fast and were quite hectic. Maggie was brought to my chest immediately after she was born and stayed there for nearly 90 minutes before being weighed, measured and cleaned up. While I loved the moment, I hated that Matt didn't get to hold her right away and he has said that is something he didn't like this time around. I understand the importance for skin to skin with the mom and I loved that I got to do that again, but I still ache thinking Matt didn't get to hold her for so long. Once we got me up and walking, we needed to get the room packed up and moved over to our new room on the other side of the hospital.

Weighed 8 lb 11.5 oz and measured 21.5 in 

Introducing Emma to Maggie: Because I didn't want to pass Emma in the hall as we were moving rooms without her meeting Maggie first, we brought her into our delivery room before we headed over. While Matt went to go get Emma from our parents, I moved to a chair so it would be easier for her to get up and see Maggie. As they walked in the room, Emma went right past me and started exploring the the bed and all the gadgets that were around. She had no interest until we sat her right next to me. She was a bit confused (we think she thought of Maggie as a baby doll) and just sat there and looked at her and then looked at me. After a few minutes, Emma finally touched her and just stared at her.

Visitors: Once we got settled in our new room, our parents and Emma came in to see Maggie. We waited until they saw Maggie to tell them her name and stats. Our poor families had to wait almost four hours before they knew any details which I am sure drove them crazy. On Saturday, Blake and his girlfriend Kinsey visited along with my co-worker/friend, Aimee and her daughter Simone.

Nursing: This is probably the most disappointing aspect of our hospital stay. Like Emma, Maggie didn't latch on well and when she did, it was constant biting. Through the night on Friday was the worst, I was sobbing from the extreme pain and knew this isn't what it was supposed to feel like. The nurse we had was super sweet, but she was a "floater" nurse and not a pediatrics nurse, so therefore she  just had me nurse through the pain before trying other things or getting a lactation consultant. It wasn't until the very end that I said I needed a shield, I couldn't do this anymore. By the time our next nurse started, she realized I was bleeding, cracked and starting to scab over and really worked with us on trying to latch with the shield. Even with the shield, it was beyond painful because of the damage done earlier. Luckily, we got a great lactation consultant that worked with us up until we left.

Heading home: We were itching to get out of the hospital and head home to Emma by Sunday morning (Mother's Day). Luckily this time around, we were able to leave at 11:00 a.m. Prior to leaving, Matt's parents came to visit again before heading back to Litchfield. We also got the all clear from my OB and the pediatrician. Then it was up to us to get packed up, Maggie ready and get the official discharge instructions from the nurse. Unlike her sister, Maggie slept the whole way home and didn't mind her car seat at all.

Maggie wore the same outfit home that my mom, myself and Emma all wore home from the hospital. 

Once home, big sister Emma (and Nana) were there to welcome us. Emma was so excited that she got right in the car to greet Maggie. My mom was nice enough to stick around and help for a little bit after so we could get unpacked, Emma lunch and get us all comfortable to do this on our own. Emma was able to hold Maggie and watch her a little bit before needing to go down for a nap, which resulted in her first major meltdown since Maggie's arrival.

Maggie's Birth Story

I was 39 weeks and 1 day on Friday, May 8, when we were scheduled to be induced to meet our second baby girl. It was just like any other day in our household: getting us all ready, out the door and Emma to Nana's. Except this day we were dropping her off as a family of three and next time we would see Emma, we would be a family of four with two daughters.

Let me say this on Maggie's delivery: thank goodness it was NOTHING like my pregnancy. To be honest, if we were to have more and I could be guaranteed not to have another pregnancy like I did but have a similar labor and delivery, I would have another in a heartbeat. (Ssshhh….don't tell Matt!) It was quick and pretty uneventful.

We checked into the hospital at 7:30 and were taken to where I would labor and deliver. The hospital is under construction, so you labor and deliver on the Birthways floor, but recovery is in the new part of the hospital so that construction isn't disrupting the baby and family. Our room had a window being installed next door and you could hear construction guys out replacing the brick, it wasn't crazy loud or bothersome since I was clearly pre-occupied, but can see why the move us once the baby is born.

Dr. Lines came in and broke my water at 9:05 a.m. and I was 90% effaced, five centimeters and her head was so incredibly low. She said again that she thought I would have had her by now and that while she was at the hospital the weekend before, she made notes in my files that if I were to come in with contractions 10-12 minutes apart, to keep me and call her. I was relieved when she said she wasn't wanting to do Pitocin (nor was I) and thought contractions would come on their own in the next two hours. She knew I wanted an epidural eventually and encouraged me that if I wanted to not miss the window of getting one, to request it the minute I start getting uncomfortable.

At 10:45 and by the second "lap" of the hallway, I started feeling a lot of pressure and felt like I could feel her head dropping. I was done and ready to hang out in the room for the rest of it. At 11:15 contractions were coming five to seven minutes apart and getting painful. I requested the epidural and started getting hooked up to fluids at 11:40. Matt told me I better request it now and reminded me that I could miss the chance for it if I waited much longer. The anesthesiologist came and administered the epidural at 12:20 (exact same time I had one with Emma) and by then the contractions were three to five minutes apart. This time around I couldn't feel anything - no pressure or urge to push.

Dr. Lines came to check me at 1:25 and laughed and said I was nine and half centimeters and pretty much complete. She said the epidural was the magic drug for me and must relax me enough to dilate so fast. Dr. Lines had our nurse get everything ready and call the baby's nurse to the room, she would be back in five minutes to deliver. Matt and I laughed and looked at each other not thinking it was going to be that fast again.

At 1:30 Dr. Lines was back in the room and we started pushing. Again, I had no idea when I was having a contraction, so she told me when to push. After 10 minutes and seven pushes later, our little Maggie Claire was born at 1:40 measuring 21.5 inches and 8 pounds 11.5 ounces. She was healthy and perfect.

I told you it was quick and uneventful. The most happened post delivery as I lost quite a bit of blood and my uterus wasn't contracting. I started getting light-headed and they handed Maggie to Matt while they gave me a shot (Hemabate) in both my cervix and thigh to help. It took about 30 minutes to get the bleeding to normal and for my uterus to start contracting. Honestly, this was the most painful part of day. By this time my epidural had worn off and they were pushing on my stomach constantly during this 30 minutes - I was crying and shrieking in pain. It's bad enough when they do it every hour after delivery, but to have it be constant right after was enough to send me over the edge.

The next few hours were getting everything under control, getting me up and walking around, Maggie cleaned up and measured and things together to move rooms.

Stay tuned for Emma meeting Maggie for the first time, visitors and the rest of our hospital stay…..