Harper: 2 Months

Today Harper is two months old!  The past two months have gone by so fast.  It seems like just yesterday I was super huge and cranky just waiting for her to be born! 

Here are the stats straight from the doctor's office today:

Height:  21 inches
Weight: 10.2 lbs
Clothes:  0-3 months
Shoes:  0 (yes, they do make size 0 shoes and yes, my daughter wears them)
Diapers:  1

She is almost sleeping through the night.  She gets her last bottle around 7-7:30 PM and usually wakes up between 4:30-6:00 AM.  Every once in a great while she'll stay asleep until 7:00 but right now she's pretty determined to wake up at 6:00.

She might also have reflux.  Yuck.  She spits up A LOT!  According to her doctor she was being over fed (my bad).  So we're knocking back her feedings to 3 1/2 oz and we'll see how that goes.  If she is still spitting up a lot then we'll go for an upper GI to see if she has reflux.

Other than the reflux junk she is perfectly average!  Here are some pictures of the cutest 2 month old little girl I know:

For real, have you seen a prettier little girl?!

8 week shots!  Not so fun.

Starting to calm down just a little bit.

Harper is 1 Month Old!

Today Harper officially turned 1 month old!  She is growing like crazy!  Some people still say she is "so tiny."  But compared to where she started I think she's doing great. 

She drinks about 4 ounces of formula at every feeding.  I thought she might have reflux issues but we switched her formula to soy and she seems to be doing much better!

She is starting to out grow her NB Carter's onesies.

She has also gone from newborn diapers to size 1.

April 20, 2011

May 20, 2011

Boredom, Shutterfly, and Camera Bag

This afternoon while the kids were alseep I was chatting with my friend and photographer, Liz Chivvis, and ended our chat because I thought both kids had woke up.  But in fact Eli was still asleep and Harper was awake.  So I decided to take some pictures of just her.  I wanted to get some pictures of her with the quilt my mom made and since Eli was asleep it proved to be the best time.  I also got a new app on my phone so I had some fun with the colors and cropping too.

Harper's Arrival

Instead of updating you on week 38 I'll be updating you on Harper's arrival!  Wednesday, April 20th my mom came to town to watch Eli while me and Chris went to the doctor.  After the appointment me, Mom, and Eli were going to do some much needed shopping.  However...my blood pressure was 150/100 at the doctor's office (that's super high in case you didn't know).  Dr. Martinelli said we could either induce that day or put me on bed rest and probably induce in a couple of days.  Chris and I decided induction that day would work instead of just postponing the inevitable.

Off we go to Mercy hospital in Rogers.  We checked in around noon.  And that's when the chaos started.  Apparently, there was a full moon or something because babies were being born too fast for the hospital to keep up.  They were having to call nurses in on their days off and call doctors in off stand by to come deliver because it was too much for the doctor that was on call.  They did not want to start my induction meds until a nurse could be completely devoted to me to watch me.  Fast forward 5 hours to 5:30 and I have induction meds, fast forward to 7:30 epidural FINALLY arrives!  Now, let me take a break here.  I am a total chicken--I do not like to feel pain.  With Eli I had an epidural before I felt any pain at all.  With Harper my epidural didn't come until I was feeling WAY MORE pain than I EVER wanted to.  My nurse literally had to chase the epidural man in the parking lot so he wouldn't go home.  We thanked him repeatedly for not going home and apologized that he would be late for dinner.  Fast forward to 10:16 PM Harper arrives! 

10:16 PM, 6 lbs, 10 oz, 18 1/2 inches long

The Next Day

Now, Thursday (the day after) started off really good.  I had put some make up on, had some pictures taken, etc.  One part I left out of Wednesday was the whole blood pressure issue.  When you are pregnant and get high blood pressure you might have to get some magnesium so you don't have a seizure after birth.  I had avoided the mag bag (as I lovingly call it) up until the actual time of my delivery.  The doctor was concerned about the seizure issue so she put a bag on right before I started pushing.  The good thing about doing it this way is Harper didn't get any so the effects it had on me it didn't have on her.

Back to Thursday, my blood pressure was still high so they started a second round of the mag bag.  Mag makes you feel like you have the flu.  It is not good at all.  So...let the melt down begin.  The combination of hormones, exhaustion, and mag made me insanely weepy Thursday.  I feel sorry for anyone that came to see me Thursday because it was not a pretty sight.  Around noon my nurse kicked everyone out of my room, turned out the lights and gave me something that basically put me in a coma for about 7 hours.  I remember waking up on and off but other than that I don't have any idea what went on during those 7 hours.  Thank goodness my mom and Chris were there to inform me later.

This picture was taken the morning after Harper was born before the meltdown started.

The Last Day

Friday was the discharge day!  Apparently, a 7 hour coma can really make your blood pressure drop so when the doctor came in Thursday morning he said as long as my blood pressure readings kept coming back low I could go home Friday afternoon!  I was a good girl almost all day and laid on my left side for most of the morning so all my reading came back normal!!! We got home around 4:00 Friday afternoon. 

Eli is spending the weekend with my parents while we get Harper adjusted to life outside the womb.  He'll be back Sunday and I can't wait.  He's pretty interested in Harper like she's a new toy or something.  We're trying to teach him what "gentle" means.  It is still a work in progress.

Thanks to everyone for all the well wishes, visits, and meals we've received so far.  We are truly blessed!

Harper at 36 Weeks

I had a doctor's appointment today so this update is hot off the presses!


How far along: 36 Weeks

Size of baby: According to "What to Expect When You're Expecting," Harper is about the size of a watermelon (pleasant thought isn't it) and weighing about 6.5 lbs.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: +23 pounds. Considering I had gained 37 lbs w/ Eli by this point I'm okay with 23 lbs.
Maternity Clothes: It occurred to me a couple of days ago that Easter will be here while I'm huge-o pregnant. That should be interesting I'm sure. Trust me, no cute floral dresses this year! Pretty sure I would look like a flower garden!
Gender: Girl! Harper Lee Plunkett!
Movement: Harper's not really moving around a lot anymore but when she moves it is a big move and super uncomfortable.
Sleep: Sucks.  It is getting harder to fall asleep and recently Eli has decided that he wants to start waking up at crazy times so that is no fun.
What I miss: Going a whole night without having to get up to go to the bathroom and not having heartburn 24 hours a day.
Cravings: I don't think I have super weird cravings but sometimes the mood strikes for ice cream or something. And I do love a good Coke Icee!
Symptoms: I have that annoying restless leg junk and the heartburn is crazy! I am not kidding--I get heartburn around 8 AM! Usually, I haven't even eaten anything at that point! It seems everything gives me heartburn, I'm averaging about 8 Tums a day at this point.
Best moment this week: Taking a two hour nap last week!
What's happening next: My next doctor appointment is April 20th.  My mom is going to come up that day and watch Eli while I go to the doctor's office.

Harper at 34 Weeks

I had a doctor's appointment today so this update is hot off the presses!

How far along: 34 Weeks

Size of baby: According to "What to Expect When You're Expecting," Harper is about the size of a pineapple and weighing about  5 lbs.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +20 pounds. I know right!  I was so proud of myself for maintaining that pretty little number of 9 lbs for so long then BAM!  A growing baby and little water retention makes for a puffy girl.  Which is great when your husband starts a new job and you're meeting new people everyday and their first impression of you is 20 pounds heavier and a puffy face.
Maternity Clothes: It occurred to me a couple of days ago that Easter will be here while I'm huge-o pregnant. That should be interesting I'm sure. Trust me, no cute floral dresses this year! Pretty sure I would look like a flower garden!
Gender: Girl! Harper Lee Plunkett!
Movement: Harper is pretty active. She's usually on my right side and sometimes I think she's trying to stand up! We've reached the stage where she's trying to stretch out and I'm holding her back.
Sleep: Once I fall asleep it is GOOD sleep and some crazy dreams! It is getting harder and harder to fall asleep though. But my doctor says I can take Tylenol PM so if I feel a sleepless night is approaching I will take one.
What I miss: Going a whole night without having to get up to go to the bathroom and not having heartburn 24 hours a day. By omitting some things from my diet my heart burn has gotten better and I also keep Tums in my purse at all times. Sadly, the things that cause heartburn are some of my absolute favorite things, like tomato products (spaghetti sauce, pizza, BBQ), coffee, carbonated beverages, and acidy things (orange juice).
Cravings: I don't think I have super weird cravings but sometimes the mood strikes for ice cream or something. And I do love a good Coke Icee!
Symptoms: I have that annoying restless leg junk and the heartburn is crazy! I am not kidding--I get heartburn around 8 AM! Usually, I haven't even eaten anything at that point! It seems everything gives me heartburn, I'm averaging about 8 Tums a day at this point.
Best moment this week: Taking a nap one day while Eli took a nap.  It is the simple things.
What's happening next: My next doctor appointment is April 13th.

House Projects

Once we had an address and each kid was going to have their own rooms I started working on some projects for their rooms.  Eli's room is a little difficult to make stuff for because it's done in Arkansas Razorback stuff but he also has old trucks in there too so I'm always looking for something to make that doesn't look too girly for him.

Eli's project board

A friend of mine used window shutters for her daughter a project board but shutters seemed kind of girly so I had to think of a manly project board.  Enter--chicken wire!  I found this open back frame on clearance at Hobby Lobby for $12.00, spray painted it red and stapled the chicken wire on the back.  I have some little clothes pins packed away some where to use instead of that giant clip in the picture.

Harper's door sign

This is an idea I took from an Etsy seller.  Her product was just the chalkboard used as a photo prop.  I asked my uncle if he could cut the shape out of wood and I would do the rest.  Instead he cut two boards and painted them for me!  I hot glued the tulle on the front and finished it off!  The second board he cut for me is in my kitchen.  It's nothing fancy so I didn't take a picture.

Harper's mirror

My same aunt and uncle that did the boards for me had a massive indoor yard sale and once the dust settled I went "picking" (you know the show American Pickers) in what was left over!  No one bought this mirror so I took it off their hands.  I spray painted it purple and tied some tulle at the top.  Right now it's hanging over Harper's dresser/changing table.

Harper's bow board

This is currently the most colorful thing in Harper's room (until her bedding is done anyways).  One of my mom's friends made Harper all of these adorable bows!  I bought the open back frame at Hobby Lobby for $7.00 (I think), spray painted it green, stapled ribbon to the back then the main fabric from Harper's bedding, and of course, added the tulle! 

This is all I have done right now.  I still need to re-finish a dresser for Harper's room.  I'm planning on doing it this weekend.  I'm also on the hunt for a cheap, simple desk to re-finish for our bedroom.  I thought I found one on Craigslist but by the time I e-mailed the seller it was already gone!  But I'm still hunting!

Harper at 32 Weeks

Since we are moving I had to find a new doctor that would deliver Harper.  Who knew that could be so complicated?!  Apparently, when you are 32 weeks along it gets a little tricky.  Through some references I found a doctor at the Mercy Women's Clinic in Rogers.  Her name is Dr. Martinelli and she is great!  My first appointment with her was yesterday.  The office staff is so friendly considering we are not only changing doctors but also insurance plans!  So here's the low down on Harper:

How far along: 32 Weeks


Size of baby: According to "What to Expect When You're Expecting," Harper is about the size of a honeydew and weighing about 4.5 lbs.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: +12 pounds. I'm okay with 12 lbs right now considering I gained 37 POUNDS total with Eli and there was only one of him!!!
Maternity Clothes: I still wear a couple of non-maternity shirts but all my pants are maternity or extremely stretchy!  However, it occured to me a couple of days ago that Easter will be here while I'm huge-o pregnant.  That should be interesting I'm sure.  Trust me, no cute floral dresses this year!  Pretty sure I would look like a flower garden!
Gender: Girl! Harper Lee Plunkett!
Movement: Harper is pretty active.  She's usually on my right side and sometimes I think she's trying to stand up!  We've reached the stage where she's trying to stretch out and I'm holding her back.
Sleep: Once I fall asleep it is GOOD sleep and some crazy dreams! It is getting harder and harder to fall asleep though. But my doctor says I can take Tylenol PM so if I feel a sleepless night is approaching I will take one.
What I miss: Going a whole night without having to get up to go to the bathroom and not having heartburn 24 hours a day. By omitting some things from my diet my heart burn has gotten better and I also keep Tums in my purse at all times. Sadly, the things that cause heartburn are some of my absolute favorite things, like tomato products (spaghetti sauce, pizza, BBQ), coffee, carbonated beverages, and acidy things (orange juice).
Cravings: I don't think I have super weird cravings but sometimes the mood strikes for ice cream or something. And I do love a good Coke Icee!
Symptoms: I have that annoying restless leg junk and the heartburn is crazy!  I am not kidding--I get heartburn around 8 AM!  Usually, I haven't even eaten anything at that point!  It seems everything gives me heartburn, I'm averaging about 8 Tums a day at this point.
Best moment this week: Finding a house on Monday and having a doctor's appointment on Tuesday.  Two big stressors about our move that were taken care of fairly quickly.
What's happening next: My next doctor appointment is April 1st.

Harper at 30 Weeks

How far along: 30 Weeks

Size of baby: According to "What to Expect When You're Expecting," Harper is about the size of a head of lettuce.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: +9 pounds. At my last appointment I had only gained 4 lbs.  I'm pretty sure by this point with Eli I had gained about 15.
Maternity Clothes: I still wear a couple of non-maternity shirts but all my pants are maternity or extremely stretchy! I did break down and buy a couple new shirts last week.
Gender: Girl! Harper Lee Plunkett!
Movement: Harper is pretty active. Occasionally, she does kick and/or jab so hard I can't sleep or get comfortable.  I think we've reached the stage where she's trying to stretch out and I'm holding her back.
Sleep: Once I fall asleep it is GOOD sleep and some crazy dreams! It is getting harder and harder to fall asleep though. But my doctor says I can take Tylenol PM so if I feel a sleepless night is approaching I will take one.
What I miss: Going a whole night without having to get up to go to the bathroom and not having heartburn 24 hours a day.  By omitting some things from my diet my heart burn has gotten better and I also keep Tums in my purse at all times.  Sadly, the things that cause heartburn are some of my absolute favorite things, like tomato products (spaghetti sauce, pizza, BBQ), coffee, carbonated beverages, and acidy things (orange juice).
Cravings: I don't think I have super weird cravings but sometimes the mood strikes for ice cream or something. And I do love a good Coke Icee!
Symptoms: I have that annoying restless leg junk and sadly, I read that hot baths can sometimes make it worse so for a week I haven't taken a hot bath and I think it is better. I also have started getting heartburn from the moment I wake up. That's just not right especially, when you love Mexican food as much as I do.
Best moment this week: Being able to sleep through the night a couple of days ago without having to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.  At this point it's the little things in life.
What's happening next:  Instead of having monthly appointments I'm at the point where I have appointments every 3 weeks now.

Harper at 28 Weeks

Say it ain't so--two posts in one day!  Yep!  I have to update on each kiddo.  Eli's haircut first then Harper's progress!

How far along: 28 Weeks

Size of baby: According to "What to Expect When You're Expecting," Harper is about the size of a head of cabbage and weighing about 3 lbs.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: +5 pounds.  I don't weigh myself at home so I won't know if I've gained more weight until my next doctor's appointment.
Maternity Clothes:  I still wear a couple of non-maternity shirts but all my pants are maternity or extremely stretchy!  This far along in the pregnancy I really don't want to buy any more maternity clothes but I might have too.
Gender: Girl!  Harper Lee Plunkett!
Movement: Harper is pretty active. She is not as active as Eli was but she's starting to move more and more.  You can also see her move from the outside now. 
Sleep: Once I fall asleep it is GOOD sleep and some crazy dreams! It is getting harder and harder to fall asleep though.  But my doctor says I can take Tylenol PM so if I feel a sleepless night is approaching I will take one.
What I miss: Going a whole night without having to get up to go to the bathroom and not having heartburn 24 hours a day.
Cravings:  I don't think I have super weird cravings but sometimes the mood strikes for ice cream or something.  And I do love a good Coke Icee!
Symptoms: I have that annoying restless leg junk and sadly, I read that hot baths can sometimes make it worse so for a week I haven't taken a hot bath and I think it is better.  I also have started getting heartburn from the moment I wake up.  That's just not right especially, when you love Mexican food as much as I do.
Best moment this week:  Getting the results of my glucose screening!  "Perfectly normal," is exactly what the nurse said!
What's happening next:  March 2nd is my next doctor's appointment. 

#2 (Harper) at 26 Weeks

How far along: 26 Weeks
Size of baby: According to "What to Expect When You're Expecting," Harper is about the size of a cucumber. 
Total Weight Gain/Loss: +5 pounds.  Yes, Dr. Anna told me she only wanted me to gain 2 pounds but I was pretty proud that I only gained 5.  She was pretty happy too.
Maternity Clothes: My pants are always maternity or belly band but not all my shirts are maternity...yet.
Gender: Our doc says she never goes 100% so she's 95% sure we're still having a girl!  Harper Lee Plunkett!  No, she is not named after the author.
Movement: Harper is pretty active. She is not as active as Eli was but she's starting to move more and more.
Sleep: Once I fall asleep it is GOOD sleep! It is getting harder and harder to fall asleep though.  I just have so many things racing through my mind.
What I miss: Going a whole night without having to get up to go to the bathroom.
Cravings: A couple of weeks ago pound cake was on my mind but that craving got satisfied.
Symptoms:  I have that annoying restless leg junk.  I don't really remember it with Eli but I know it's pretty annoying.
Best moment this week:  Only gaining 5 pounds instead of 15!
What's happening next:  Next week I have my diabetes screening--Yuck!

#2 at 22 Weeks

How far along: 22 Weeks

Size of baby: According to "What to Expect When You're Expecting," #2 is about the size of a papaya and according to Dr. Anna she weighs about a pound now!
Total Weight Gain/Loss: 0 pounds.  I am now back to my pre-pregnancy weight thanks to the holidays and not being sick!  My doc says she wants me to only gain 2 lbs before my next appointment.  I did laugh out loud when she said that.
Maternity Clothes: My pants are always maternity or belly band but not all my shirts are maternity...yet.
Gender: Our doc says she never goes 100% so she's 95% sure we're still having a girl!  Boy, am I glad!  We dropped a pretty penny on some fabric for her bedding while we were in Arkansas for Christmas!
Movement: Harper is pretty active.  She is not as active as Eli was but she's starting to move more and more.  She was also moving a lot during her ultrasound!
Sleep: Once I fall asleep it is GOOD sleep! I have had some pretty crazy dreams too!
What I miss: Going a whole night without having to get up to go to the bathroom.
Cravings: Here lately I've been drinking a lot of red Gatorade.  I haven't really had any crazy cravings.  I'm just glad eating doesn't make me sick any more.
Symptoms: I'm pretty emotional right now.  Once I start crying stopping is hard.  And of course it is really dumb things that make me cry.
Best moment this week: Hearing Dr. Anna say, "I'm 95% sure it's a girl."
What's happening next: February 1st is our next doctor's appointment and maybe a diabetes test--I can't remember.