Our Favorite Picture

I'm sure we'll have lots of "favorite" photos to come!

Vitamin Time...

Josie started her daily vitamins this week...what a mess and what a stink!

She doesn't spit them out but she doesn't swallow them either so they just kind of drool out of her mouth resulting in a mess! Here are a few pics showing how more ended up on her clothes and the burp clothe; I assume they are going to leave a stain so I am going to have to do this naked next time!

Josie's Favorite Book

This is a book called Baby Colors by Rachael Hale.

Each page is a different color and a few of them seem to really get her attention

like the red, blue, and yellow pages; or maybe it's my imagination!

3 weeks old today...

Week 3 was our first week alone; Curt was home the first week with us and then my mom the 2nd. So this past week was a lot quieter; we still had a handful of visitors but most of the time was just us girls. It's been hard for me to manage my time; I get engrossed by the TV and I've read two books; the first ones since winter vacation! I'll figure it out soon.

Josie has been having her tummy time and usually doesn't cry for it. Everytime she holds her head up and is now turning it from side to side. Sometimes she holds it longer than others and tries harder but we can tell she's getting stronger. She has also really been alert and looking around; she loves to stare at the green walls in the living room and Curt thinks I'm crazy but I think she has a favorite book already; Baby Colors! Josie had her first shopping outing to the mall so we could spend some coupons and giftcards on her! We also went to visit Grandma Haar at work so we could get some glass cut for some picture frames. With the warmer weather, we also got in a few walks around the neighborhood; she really likes the stroller and seems to fall asleep in it! She also grew out of her first newborn outfit...it fits around the tummy but she is too long for it and can't stretch her legs all the way out so we will have to start the packing away box; sad because it was my favorite with the ruffle on her tush!

So Long Slinger!

Today Curt closed on his Slinger condo! We have been trying to sell his condo for nearly two years; as soon as we were engaged we put it on the market...for $25,000 more than what we sold it for. Every six months we dropped it more and more trying to compete with the other condos and the housing market/economy. Well I guess we finally went low enough; because after dropping it the final time...we had three offers within a week's time! I liked Curt's condo and have good memories; when we first started dating we spent a lot of time there. But we are both happy to have only one mortgage, one set of utilities, and one insurance bill to worry about!

This is a day that I honestly thought may never happen!

Two Week Wellness Check

Today we went in for Josie's two-week wellness check. She grew 3/4 of an inch! That was a surprise to me...in a week and a half's time! She's weighing in at 7 pounds 1 ounce; just one ounce shy of her birth weight. Doctor gave her a good checking over and we asked lots of first time parent questions. She let them have it when she got undressed to be weighed and poked and prodded but when doctor was holding her, she was her quiet little self. Curt and I really like Josie's Doc --he takes the time to answer questions and give you the reasoning behind it...granted I can't remember the big medical words!

Our Great Thinker

Love this photo...I wonder what she is contemplating...

Two Weeks Today!

Josie is two weeks today; tomorrow is our 2 week appointment so we will see how she has been growing tomorrow. She seems to want to eat all of the time so I would expect her weight to be back to her birth weight...she went down to 6-15 when we left the hospital. This has been another busy week; visitors every day again as well as my mother who had off for spring break so she came to sit with me and help with Josie every day. Today was mine and Josie's first day together; I missed the company of my mom but it was a nice quiet day.

Josie has been awake a lot more this week and having longer periods of alertness; she is very content to just look around the room at these times. She is holding her head up for a short time when we put her on her tummy. This week she also went in for newborn photos and lost her umbilical cord (which Curt and I never found--so either it ended up in the laundry or the dogs got it)! She loves the swing and gets the deepest sleep in it; it seems to settle her down more than laying on her back, I think it's the curves and shape of it that makes her feel like she's back in utero! Do you see her hair???? Either she's got Curt's hair and going to have a colic their or she's got my hair and has a little curl starting up top!

One Week Old

Josie is one week old today; this was a fast week... lots of visitors and well wishes, getting used to feeding, changing diapers, two spongebaths, anxieties about doing things "okay". Josie is starting to have more "alert" periods. She still sleeps quite a bit but usually has 2 or 3 periods where she's awake for 10-20 minutes. We were waking her for feedings but things have been changing now as she's been taking breast milk; she seems to want to eat more often but the diapering is slowing down. We are trying to find the balance of things and "what the book says" should be happenings for feedings a day/kinds of diapers a day. A whole new set of rules...

Happy Easter!

Just Because It Makes Us Smile...

Josie's 1st Playdate

On Friday afternoon, my great friend Jennie came over with her mom and baby girl Madalyn. You've seen Madalyn in other posts as she is my goddaugther as well. Madalyn was born at the end of December so she is about 3 1/2 months older than Josie. Granted to say their playdate wasn't too exciting; they both slept, but the moms had a good time chatting!

What a Good Daddy!

Curt is new to the world of babies but he has done such a great job jumping in and learning. He's become a pro at diaper changing, bottle making, and bottle warming as well as helping me out in any way possible. He goes back to work tomorrow and I know both Josie and I will miss him...

It's a tough job but someone's got to do it...

First Sponge Bath

My mom came over last week and helped me give Josie her first sponge bath; I thought it was going to be a slippery challenge...but it wasn't. I guess that is to come when we actually put her into the baby bathtub. She fussed because we undressed her but once we got going and felt the warm water, she loved it! Espescially her head being washed and wiped...hopefully this is a good sign she'll enjoy her "real" baths. Curt said she must be my daughter because I could soak in a hot bubble bath for hours!

Our trip home...

Here is Josie, dressed and waiting for her discharge papers, snuggled with her favorite blanket!

Bundled in the carseat and enjoying the ride contently...

Can You Guess Who Dressed Me This Morning??

Hint...It wasn't Mommy!!!

Looks Scary But It Wasn't....

Before leaving the hospital, Josie had a hearing test. The pictures look scary and intense but it wasn't reallly... she passed so no reasons to ignore us as she gets older!

A Late Belly Photo

Here is my belly the night before we went into the hospital... I must admit my mom made me take it but it will be nice to look back at and remember when...

Josie Rose

Our daughter, Josie Rose was born on Monday, April 6th at 7:22 pm. She is 7 pds 2 oz and 20 inches long. Here are some pics from our 1st day together!

The Last To Do...

Getting the carseat in was our last to do...we've got the diapers, the wipes, some outfits (more like lots of outfits), bottles and formula if needed, warm blankies, and now the carseat is installed. Curt and I were reading the manual and it sounded like rocket science; Curt called his cousin with a question about positioning; he happened to be in the area so he stopped by and helped get it in! Thanks Johnny & Kari, that saved us a lot of time futzing around!

Can't wait to see Jackson's Easter Bunny pictures!

Resourceful Puppy

So in an attempt to lengthen the life of our furniture, the cleanliness of the fabric, and training before Chiquita comes we have banned the dogs from the couches, chairs, and beds in the house. They do pretty well except when we have visitors and jump anywhere in excitement. The hardest is when we are in the bedroom lounging and they want to snuggle with us. Today this is where I found Mulligan; I guess if you can't snuggle in a bed or on a pillow you make your own version in the dirty laundry basket!

Beauty Shop Day

The dogs went in for a much needed nail clipping and grooming...here they are modeling their fancy handkerchiefs...

My Mother's Mad Skills...

My mom had another wonderful gift for Chiquita...look at these adorable gifts she made and without patterns...

A little Easter bunny hat and booties as well as her first pair of Uggs!

Church Baby Shower

This past weekend the ladies at church threw me a baby shower...I had a wonderful time spending the day with them outside of church. It was interesting because all of these women have been my youth leaders, sunday school teachers, mentors, elders, so it is very different entering that world with them and becoming one of them... It was/is an odd feeling but wonderful because they are so welcoming and supportive. Of course again we were spoiled with gifts, wonderful food, and lots of laughs!

The Baby Countdown is Off Because....

We are going to be induced next week Monday; that's right in 4 days we go in at 9 am!