6 Months

6 Months

Nicknames: Sweets, Adster, Poopie Pants Arnold, Ads, Sweet Girl

Temperament: You have such a sweet and happy temperament! You seem 10 times better than a few months ago. I think you feel physically better and aren't in any more pain. You usually are smiling when you wake up and you love to smile at your mom, dad, and people you know. You like to smile at strangers, but stick out your lip and cry if they get in your face and are too loud.

Things I could do without: You have discovered out to squeal, and, at times, it can be so loud. Also, I don't like that you hate eating from a spoon right now. We want you to enjoy that process!

Things you could do without: Eating from a spoon, baths (you still don't like them too much), getting lotioned up, getting your medicine

Item/toy we love the most: Anything that makes noise (it is so entertaining to see you discover it!), your baby bjorn or moby, or your snow suit (we really love snow shoeing with you!), your paci

Item/toy you love the most: Your play mat, and anything you can stick in your mouth, your paci

Things I'm loving the most right now: Your smile. It seriously can turn any day around. I love how curious you are about life. You love observing everything and you are very deliberate about what you pick up and hold on to. I love that you recognize your Dad and I and laugh, giggle, and squirm in excitement when you see us (that makes my heart so glad). I love that you feel better and are no longer in pain (for the most part). It was so hard the first few months of your life, sweet girl!

Things your loving the most right now: rolling around on the floor, picking things up and putting them in your mouth, learning how to pull your paci in and out of your mouth (and chew on its sides), observing the dogs run around, seeing your grandparents, loving life. :)

Six Month check up stats: **Our check up is next week, so we'll know then! :) **

2 Months

2 Months

Nicknames: Sweet Adaline, big girl, smuchims, Adster

Temperament: You still don't like to have your diaper changed, but I think that is because you just don't like to be naked. Although, baths are getting better. You are starting to like your play mat, especially when we are outside. You love looking around at everything and you are starting to smile more and more. :) You sometimes scream when you are eating, but I'm hoping that will get better very soon.

Things I could do without: Knowing you don't like to eat, still. Formula on all your clothes. Doctors appointments.

Things you could do without: Diaper changes, sometimes bath time, sometimes lying on your back, taking your medicine

Item/toy we love the most: Your play mat, sleep sheep, and swaddle

Item/toy you love the most: You still love your Bob Marley lullabye CD and bouncy chair

Things I'm loving the most right now: Your precious smile, seeing you put on the pounds, seeing other people dote over you, having fun creating outfits for you now that you fit in all your clothes, your coos, knowing that you are so healthy that we only have to go to the doctors at your scheduled check ups, when you sleep through the night (4 days in a row, now!), going jogging with you and seeing you look around at everything we pass

Things your loving the most right now: Seeing and hearing your Dad (you just love to look at him!), being held on our chests, being able to kick and stretch your arms and your legs

Two Month check up stats: Length: 20 inches Weight: 7 pounds 3 1/2 ounces and steadily gaining weight. :)

A Recap

The Arnold Clan had a very busy September.

After all of our family (Nana Sue, Papa Jim, and Grammy) left on August 28th, it was the first time Chad and I had been alone with Adaline! We were excited to start getting in a groove with our new family. :) However, that week Adaline started to vomit (and I mean projectile vomit. She even got my face a few times) every thing she ate. At this point, we were going to the clinic every week to have her weight checked because she was gaining weight very slowly. That week at the clinic I was told to start giving her formula. This was a very difficult thing for me, as I enjoyed breast feeding and wanted Adaline to have the best source of food available--but we needed to have her on high calorie formula because she was not up to her birth weight yet (at 4 weeks). So, we made the switch but she vomited that too. Here's a recap of what all happened next for our sweet Adaline:

Wednesday, September 1: We went to see our doctor, Dr. Nill, about the vomiting. He ordered an ultra sound to check for Pyloric Stenosis, but it came back negative. We were sent home with medication for acid reflux (but Dr. Nill was not convinced that she had that either).

Thursday, September 2: My dear friends, Emily and Michelle, arrived from Louisiana for a visit. Adaline was still projectile vomiting at this time, so I made the decision to take her to the emergency room. That night, the ultrasound was positive for Pyloric Stenosis and our sweet Adaline was admitted to the hospital and was NPO (nothing by mouth) until her surgery Saturday morning.

**Me, Emily, and Adaline**

**waiting for surgery at Denver Health**

Friday, September 3: We were transferred to the Children's Hospital where she would have her surgery.

Saturday, September 4: Adaline's surgery to repair her pyloric muscle (as it was too thick) was a success! They were able to cut the muscle by 3 tiny incisions in her tummy. We started the process of slowly feeing her.

**comforting our precious little girl**

**waiting for surgery**

Monday, September 6: Adaline tolerated food overnight and we were discharged from the Children's Hospital and were able to spend time with Michelle and Emily (Chad and I stayed at the hospital the entire time Adaline was there). **A note about the Chidren's Hospital: They were amazing! Made this horrific experience better with compassionate, patient nurses and surgeons**

Wednesday, September 8: I took Emily and Michelle to the airport (a day after their scheduled day to leave since their flight was cancelled! I was blessed to have an extra day with these two most amazing women). I took Adaline to the surgery clinic at Children's because I thought one of her incisions was infected. Unfortunately, it was not only infected, but it had more or less herniated (some of her fatty tissue from her stomach was coming through the incision). Once again, she was admitted to the Children's Hospital to have surgery to repair this hernia.

**the hernia**

**after her surgery**

**recovering**

Thursday, September 9: After Adaline tolerated food, we were discharged home, again.

This experience with Adaline was both terrifying and exhausting. I think being a new parent is hard already (with all the anxiety of taking care of a little human), but to take care of a sick and traumatized infant is extremely difficult. Our little girl is a trooper, though, and has blessed our lives in more ways than I can count. Adaline is now on medication for Acid Reflux and is all healed from her surgery. Although, I think eating is still hard for her (because it was such a negative experience), we hope and pray she will enjoy that soon. She is also gaining weight as well, and it is so great to see some chub on her! We are able to go out about and enjoy life together outside of a doctor's office or hospital.

**Chad driving to Estes Park for our day in the mountains.**

We have been blessed with friends and family who have been so very supportive during this time. Whew..I think life is getting to be normal...whatever that means. :)

Adaline at 1 month

1 Month

Thanks to Jenna at thatwifeblog.com for this idea! :)

Nicknames: Addy, baby girl, sweet girl, sweet Adaline, little miss grumpy pants

Temperament: You are generally a very content and happy girl, except when you are hungry and being changed. Dirty diapers don't seem to bother you one bit.

Things I could do without: Formula stains on all your beautiful clothes, when you fight eating, doctors appointments

Things you could do without: getting in your car seat and getting your diaper changed. You really hate that.

Item/toy we love the most: Your bouncy seat and sleep sheep

Item/toy you love the most: your sleep sheep and Bob Marley lullaby CD

Things I'm loving the most right now: Seeing you alert and healthy and gaining weight, your beautiful blue/gray eyes, seeing you hold down all your food, cuddling you, holding you on my chest, seeing you interact with Dad, seeing people gush over you (because you really are just that cute)

Things your loving the most right now: being held by Dad, Grampa's shoulder (which i'm sure you miss), being swaddled tight and sleeping at night, going on walks, holding your tongue out all the time.

The Birth Story! (Finally!)

I know that it has been more than a month since our sweet Adaline has been born, but a lot has happened in her first month of life. I know I have a lot of updating to do, so I thought I would start with her birth story (without the gross details)

My mom came in to town with my aunt, Rita, on Wednesday, July 28 to help Chad and I prepare for Adaline's arrival. I was 38 weeks pregnant at that time, and I was ready for AGA to arrive! Work was wearing me out and I honestly did not know how much longer I could last. A few weeks prior my blood pressure had gone up a little and my midwife was slightly (although ruled out) concerned for pre-eclampsia.

Sunday, August 1st, our plans had been to go to the pool (to give my poor body a break) and maybe organize the house a little. I got up at 9:30 and went to the office to organize some files and I felt a gush of fluid. I genuinely thought I peed my pants (and so did Chad!) I came upstairs and said, "Guys, I think my water broke!" It just kept coming and I called the nurse line at Denver Health to check to see if we should go to the hospital. After explaining my situation, the nurse said, "this is what I want you to do. Get your hospital bag and have your husband drive you to the hospital." Of course, I couldn't go straight to the hospital, I had to shower first. :)

When we got to the hospital, we checked in through the OB screening room.

Looking a little excited or scared?

My most amazing mother!

Obviously ready to pop. :)

My midwife verified that my water had broken but said that there was meconium (baby's first poo) in the fluid, increasing risks of infection, but that it was definitely GO TIME! My midwife also did an ultrasound to verify Adaline's position and that is when we discovered that she was breech (upside down) and I had to have a C-section. This was devastating to me at first--completely opposite of the birth plan I had envisioned. But, there was no time to dwell on that. Before we knew it, 2 hours later at 2:27, Adaline Grace was born via c-section weighing 6 pounds 10 ounces and was 18 1/2 inches long. She was perfect. It was definitely hard not being able to see her right away, but that time in the recovery room with precious Adaline was incredible.

The Arnold Clan!

We love her.

Packing up all our stuff. A family accumulates a lot of stuff when in the hospital for 4 days!

Ready go go home!

We finally went home on Thursday, August 4, with our incredible daughter and it has been an adventure and amazing and trying learning experience since.

quick picture update

Hello all! I just wanted to add a few pictures to update everyone on the process of the belly growth. :) Here's me at 34 weeks (which seems CRAZY!)

Here's another one from 35 weeks aka almost 8 months pregnant! (well, a day shy of 35 weeks. I'm rounding down and being hopeful that AGA will arrive a few days early.)

Chad and I also had an impromptu shopping trip to Pottery Barn Kids. Now, PBK is normally WAY overpriced (see crib for $2,000.00). However, their sale items can be a steal. We got these bird book ends and piggy bank for under $35.00.

I may do a blog in the near future about how to decorate a child's room (or any room for that matter) on a budget as well as how to have a functioning budget. If you know me, you know that I LOVE a good budget.

Finally, Chad and I headed to Estes Park, CO for Chad's birthday fly fishing adventure. :) Here's a shot of him in the river. It was beautiful that day and I loved just sitting, reading, and doing a little napping in the mountains. What I did not like is the fact that my feet swelled a little bit from the altitude. ha.

That's it for now! Have a wonderful weekend--I know i am going to enjoy this 3 day weekend by taking plenty of naps and walks with the puppies and hubs.

The Should-Dos and Pool Party

We are 33 weeks pregnant today, which feels very surreal. Only 7 more weeks until AGA's arrival (hopefully). 7 weeks just doesn't seem long enough to prepare for this precious new addition to our family. 7 weeks of just Chad and I (which we plan to enjoy, too, because we know it will be work to make each other and our marriage a priority). We had an appointment with Joy, our midwife today. AGA's heartbeat is strong and healthy at 135 and has already turned (head down)! Joy tried to show Chad how to feel AGA's head, but I think he couldn't feel it and just said that he could. ha. I am thankful to have such encouraging medical professionals during this journey.

My belly and AGA are growing every week**picture is me at 32 weeks trying on my maternity dress for Shelby's wedding**, which certainly does not go unnoticed by the dozens of people I am around every day. I receive a plethora of various comments daily about my size and how I am carrying. I believe that, especially over the past 4 weeks, I have had a different person tell me every day that I look like I will have a *HUGE* baby. I find it funny that the person saying this probably doesn't think that their comment actually translates to, "WOW. You and your belly and your baby are GIGANTIC! Good luck pushing that thing out!" On the other hand, I have a lot of women tell me I'm small. Each person has a different opinion on how a woman should look when they are pregnant. For some reason, others (mostly, I find, people that aren't close to us) think that when a woman is pregnant, they have a right to comment on that woman's weight, eating habits, daily routine, and the way that woman wants to parent (when no other time in a women's life do the comments flow so easily!). We, as a society, insert our comments and opinions into pregnant women's ears so much, it can be extremely overwhelming and sometimes disheartening.

That brings me to the "Should-Dos". My co-worker asked me how pregnancy was going. I told her that this pregnancy, actually, has been very pleasant. She asked me if I have been overwhelmed with the "should dos", yet. She explained that the "should dos" are all the things people (including the man at the crepe stand and the mud-volleyballers at the Mudapalooza volleyball tournament) think you "should do" when you are pregnant and become a parent. All the advice, although some is very much appreciated, is often times given without warning or request. Of course I told her that I was very much overwhelmed by all the advice and the comments about parenting and pregnancy. I think it can be hard to adjust to my body changing and the thought of our lives being completely different (in just 7 weeks!), let alone try to sort through all the things "I should do". Then I have the thought that if I don't do the should-do, I'm a failure of a parent. . The should-dos go right along with the Mommy Wars that are prevalent in our society. Everyone, I've discovered, will have an opinion on what is right and what is wrong and if someone deviates from those standards, they are are treated like a bad parent. This is how we view our opinions in general, but when it comes to parenting, the strength of these opinions is 10 times as great. I've seen this ugly monster creep up when a good friend of mine was struggling with breast feeding and she received blows from both sides of the issue. One side being "just give up because breastfeeding is foolish if it is hard" and the other side causing undo guilt if breastfeeding just doesn't work "because all women can breastfeed and you are a bad mother if you don't". Neither camps were helpful to her in the long run, making her feel like a failure no matter where she landed.

I have found that with every "should-do" two or three words of encouragement are needed. I think most women (and men) give this advice with the purest intentions--but it is overwhelming and sometimes hurtful all the same. I have to continually remind myself that Chad and I will make mistakes (like everyone) and that we will love AGA and will forgive ourselves when we do fail in someway. I hope that I don't get lured into being that person that gives a never ending flow of unsolicited advice and become a full fledged member of the Should Dos. I desire to be a person of encouragement and love for new moms and the general population around me.

Now, after I've gone on an on about the Should-Dos, I wanted to add some funny pictures of me trying to enjoy a day at the pool this past weekend with Shelby and Cara. I struggled getting into my sit and lounge, but I was victorious and it felt so good to just sit in the water. :)

Assessing the situation--being 7 1/2 months pregnant can make one less...graceful?

We all laughed because my belly stuck out of the water so much!

Relaxing a bit (no worries, I lathered up with the sunblock).

I plan to post more on all the fun things we are getting from showers and such. All the baby things out there are so fun and cute! That will be my next post, for sure. :)