Of course....all about Adeline!!

7 weeks old in these two pictures....just got her hearing aids!




Our serious girl....about 4 weeks old in the above pics.

About 7 weeks old...Adeline was a friendly ghost for Halloween!

Adeline is 8 weeks old now....wow has time flown! Keeping with up my blog has been difficult but I will get a few words in while she is taking a morning siesta:)

Some recent milestones:

Adeline's first social smile was at 4 weeks and has been increasing since then...mommy had been away at Uncle Lou's funeral all day and when she got home, Adeline was awake on daddy's chest. When mommy came to say hello...Adeline's eyes lit up and she gave a big grin!!! It was amazing.

Adeline's favorite time to smile and coo is right after feedings, on the changing table, during play time, and in the tub....well, pretty much all the time...she is one happy baby!

During baths, Adeline kicks, splashes and coos...she has so much fun in the tub and we always get big crocodile tears when she has to come out. We sing "Splish, splash Adeline's taking a bath..." and "splish and splash and wiggle and squirm...just like a little rolly-poly worm" and it always makes her smile.

Adeline holds her head up and looks all around during tummy time. Yesterday, she was batting at toys for the first time!

Adeline is a GREAT sleeper....she goes down for the night around 10 pm and wakes up around 6:30 am...thank you sweet pea!!! Mommy sings "Now I lay me down to sleep, Pray the Lord my soul to keep, Guide me through the longest night, Wake me in the morning light, Amen." (just like her mommy sang to her when she was a baby before going to sleep)

We started cloth diapering at 6 1/2 weeks old and it is going pretty well!

Adeline got her hearing aids on Oct 29th. It was an amazing day. The walk we took around our neighborhood and Seneca Park with her hearing aids in is etched in our memories...her expressions, her smiles, her cooing, her interest in our conversation, her engagement...she was fully aware and drinking up sound...what a gift. We got back from the walk and sang her a song...her eyes lit up and ours teared up...and she smiled the entire time. Adeline is enjoying this world more fully now for sure!!!!!!!!

more pics from Adeline's first couple days

Snuggling with Grandmommy

So inquisitive

With Daddy and Gaga

Safe in mommy's arms

so in love

Does it get any better than this?

Grandpa and Grandmommy

Meeting Aunt Renee for the first time

'

In Grandpa Gary's arms for the first time

Meeting Uncle Mitch

Great Grannie and Grampies

Adeline didn't like getting her footprints made.

Ready to go home.

a long overdue welcome to Adeline Grace

My last day being pregnant....little did I know!!!

Arriving in our labor and deliver room around 2 am....in between contractions and still smiling at 2-3 cm dilated and 90% effaced.

This is old news by now...but I have to get a blog in about our birth experience...

Here is an edited excerpt from my journal of Adeline's birth:

"The hardest work of my life was upon me--I had to push Adeline out. The “ring of fire” was in full force and at one point I didn’t think I could do it. It was such intense pressure and pain--but everyone kept telling me I could do it and Johnny was right there, holding my hand. He could see Adeline’s head and that gave me hope. They got a mirror so I could see Adeline too. It took me pushing very hard with about 3 contractions, but she was finally born onSeptember 8^th at 10:24 am weighing 6 lbs, 14 oz and was 20 inches long.

They brought her right up tomy chest, skin to skin, and she was alert and opened her eyes right away. At that moment, we were a family--me a mother, Johnny a father, and we had our beautiful little girl in our arms after a long 9 months. Johnny cut the cord and we cuddled Adeline and kissed and looked into each other’s eyes…filled with tears of happiness and love…it was the most amazing experience of our lives.

We did it together with out pain medicine or an epidural, with a strong will and determination. Natural childbirth is a beautiful, wonderful, intense, emotional experience that tests the limits of your very core and being. I am proud of myself and Johnny."

Come on sweet Adeline!!

We are getting a tease of fall here on Hycliffe Ave. The sky is a light blue with wisps of white clouds and the wind is dancing in the trees, randomly banging the loose front window shutter ever so gently into our house, almost as if someone is knocking. Apples are so heavy now on our tree in the back that its branches dip into the pond. The apples are turning from a grannie-smith green to a dusty rose color and animals of all sorts are enjoying their ripening state. Johnny, however, is not enjoying having to pick up buckets upon buckets of over-ripe apples that have fallen to the ground just to mow the yard.

We are going to take it easy tonight and this weekend--go out for a bite to eat, fly our frameless trick kite at Seneca Park, and enjoy some of that last nights of a full and uninterrupted night's sleep for a long time to come.

Here is to hoping Adeline arrives this weekend!!! I am 1 cm dilated and 80% effaced--come on sweet little girl...we are more than ready to meet you!!!!!!!!

Count down is on!

Profile at 37-38 weeks pregnant...

Adeline is due in 8 days and we just can't wait!!!

Everything is ready...the car seat is in the car, hospital bags are packed (Johnny is happy that he gets to share a bag with Adeline), rice socks made, physioball ready to go, all tiny clothes washed and folded, sheets fresh in the crib, diaper bag packed, and our doula is on call!

I have been having contractions on and off--but nothing timeable or painful. Last week at my 38 week visit, I learned I was 1 cm dilated and 70% effaced. Hopefully I will be even further tomorrow at my 39 week visit.

Last week, Johnny got a red ribbon (2nd place!!!) in the specialty beer category for homebrewing at the Kentucky State Fair for his Mocha Java Porter!!! The latest beer he brewed was a Cascadian Dark Ale--a new style which is actually a dark IPA.

Busy Busy

Last Friday night at the Phish show in Deer Creek...Adeline and I danced for the first couple of songs, but then had to sit and groove because I started having so many contractions....Johnny was worried I was going to have her there:) It was exhausting but worth it....we were emotionally drained (Grandad passed away on Aug 9th and the funeral had been earlier that day).

Profile pic of me at 36 weeks

So so happy to have gotten to visit with Diane, Jake, and Savannah!!! They were in town for Diane's family reunion and I got to swing by the Wuerth's farm on Thursday night (Aug 4th) for a quick visit. Savannah is so precious and tiny...I can't believe I will have one of these things in 2 weeks!!!!!

The tasty cake from the Brinkworth's shower for me and Adeline:)

Megan and Ella's Visit to Lanesville

Megan and Ella came to visit July 21-25th. We had a fabulous time!!

Visiting up in Cincinnati

Mom, Renee, and Megan had a baby shower for Adeline and me on July 24th. There were lots of little tots running around...in the picture below Grandpa Steve gave a puppet show...Ella wasn't sure what to think.

I love my sisters:)

4 generations....

Feeling a foot...

Andrea made homemade toys for Adeline..stuffed with soft bamboo.

Uncle Johnny and Aunt Anna giving Ella her 1st birthday gifts....she loves books!