Vent..Unassisted Home Births, What?!?

Disclaimer: This is the opinion of me and me only..

Okay, so I must vent. This morning I was feeding Marlee her morning bottle and I had Good Morning America on. There is a segment on unassisted home births. They interviewed women who chose to forgo the "traditional" hospital setting and deliver her baby (or babies-a Mom carrying Twins) at home. I know there are women out there that choose a home birth with the help of a doula or midwife, which I would never even think about considering but to each her own. However, these women were COMPLETELY unassisted. Oh, I'm sorry, some had the assistance of their spouse. There was even a women doing this carrying TWINS!

I feel this is completely irresponsible and for anyone even considering doing something like this, she is tempting fate in my opinion. I just think about my birth experience (which I'm sure has tainted my opinion). If it weren't for me being in a hospital setting with the help of a great doctor and nurses Marlee would not be here today. I know what happened to me is uncommon but there is potential for so many complications, so why risk it? Women can choose to experience certain birth plans and still deliver in a hospital. There are good doctors out there. Why not find a good doctor that will respect your wishes and birth plan?

I can't even wrap my head around this one. What if the baby is breach? What if the baby comes out not breathing? What if..what if..what if?

Not worth the risk.

Just my opinion.

Okay, vent done.

I was going to post a picture of Marlee a couple minutes after she was born and being given oxygen but decided against it, too personal for me.

Light At the End of the Tunnel

I can breathe a HUGE sigh of relief today, even if it is a little premature. I must say I am giving myself one BIG pat on the back..I just registered for Spring 2008 classes and once I have completed the semester in May I will have, are you ready..
My Associates of Criminal Justice Degree!!

This has been a long time coming. Let's see..almost 100 credits coming. For anyone that goes to school you will know it takes about 60 credits to complete an Associates Degree. Let's just say I changed my major a few times and then had to make things even more difficult by having a double major, Criminal Justice and Business.

Why these two majors, you ask? Well, my plan was law school but now with Marlee I will complete my two Associates Degrees and I'm not sure what will come next.
I will complete my Business Degree at the end of this year..all the hard work finally seems to be paying off.
Now I just have to get through this semester..4 classes and a science lab...I'll see you all this summer..=)
I must admit, the winter break has been quite nice.

Can you tell I am proud of myself?

Growth Spurt Galore

So, I have always heard of "growth spurts". You know, the first couple of months of life a baby has a growth spurt at 1 month, 2 months, 4 month, blah, blah, blah. Of course, there have been times that Marlee has slept and ate a lot, way more than usual. Chock it up to a growth spurt, right? I guess I never really realized what this actually is, until today..

Ethan got Marlee a cute little one piece jumpsuit (not the outfit in the pic), size 6-9 months, for Christmas. I wash it and Marlee wears it for the first time on Friday the 28th (Dada's Birthday!). It's, of course, kind of long, so I roll the bottom cuff, about 1" and as always she looks adorable..=)

Fast forward to this week. She had a rough Saturday and Sunday, not wanting to sleep (I think she is teething). Come Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday ALL my little girl seemed to do was sleep.

So today after her bath, I am getting her dressed in the same cute outfit she wore a mere SIX days ago and to my surprise it fits JUST RIGHT. Not even a fraction of a centimeter too long. I have now witnessed what I am to assume is a growth spurt. At this rate she is going to be wearing 9-12 month clothes by February.

I am anxiously awaiting her 6 month check-up on the 14th to know just how much she has grown.

Dave always wanted a basketball player...

She looks so big..this pic was taken the first time we put her in real shoes. She stands up so good with them on.

On another note, I am finally getting her eczema under control. It started on her face and she started getting dry patches on her body. It looked awful and I tried so many different creams that just weren't cutting it. I bought the Mustela eczema line and put a humidifier in her room and her face is looking MUCH better. I am leaning toward her having some type of environmental allergy based on her flare ups. Another question for the doc.

Stay tuned for Marlee Kay's 6 month post next week.

A Big Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Dada..<3Marlee and Mama want to wish Dada a very Happy Birthday! This year is a biggie for Dave. We had a really good couple of days. On Friday the 28th (Dave's actual Birthday) Dave, Marlee and I went to a late lunch and then I DID it! Yes, I did it. We dropped Marlee off with my Mom and went to the movies. This is the first time since Marlee was born that Dave and I have gotten a sitter and went out alone. It was hard for me to leave her, I know, I know, I'm a little unstable. Then yesterday I planned a surprise party for Dave at Brad and Kristy's in Pahrump. No one ruined the surprise..hard to believe. We had a really good time. Thank you to everyone for coming.
Happy Birthday Sugar! Marlee and I are so lucky to have you in our lives. You are the best Dada and partner we could ever hope for. We love you..<3

Merry Christmas to You!

Hope everyone has a Verry Merry Christmas.

We have had a really great Christmas. Marlee Kay is only 5 1/2 months old and she made this Christmas such a special one. Santa brought her a jumparoo and Dada and I both bought her one special present. Dada got Marlee her first Cabbage Patch baby and Mama got her a special book from me to her. It was such a special day..and it gets even better..Dave is off until January 7th...woohoo. My husband is an early bird and by early I mean like 4:30 am early. You know what this means for Mama...sleeping in!
I also want to wish Auntie Lesley a Verry Happy Birthday! Make your day a special one. We love you Auntie..<3

Happy Birthday Grandpa

Happy Birthday Grandpa Earl..

We Love you..<3

Five Months

Where have the past five months gone?

As I write this, I can hardly believe it..my little Marlee Kay is 5 months old! Every morning I awake to her talking, telling me "mama, I'm awake and ready for another day", I realize I am not dreaming. I get up all dreary eyed, look down at her and, of course, she is smiling. She starts kicking her feet up and down and up and down and her whole body gets going, like a little inch worm. How much she has changed this past month, Marlee has become this little person with a big personality.

Five months. Where has the year gone? I cannot even begin to explain what a good, happy, easy baby Marlee is for Mama and Dada. If she is mad something is wrong as she rarely cries and gets upset. She is constantly smiling, laughing, and squealing with delight and she has definitely found her voice.

Marlee is so long. At five months she is already grown out of her 3-6 month sleepers and graduated to 6-9 month sleepers.

Mama and Marlee have really established a great routine. Most nights she sleeps from about 8pm to 6am and she takes two-two hour naps and usually one short one hour "cat" nap. EXCEPT this all changes come the weekend. It's like she knows that Dada's going to be home and the routine gets thrown out the window.

When my little Marlee Moo is tired she pulls at her ear and scratches anything within reach with her left hand. It's the most precious thing.

Let's see..this month she rolled from her back to her belly. She has yet to roll from her belly to back, but any day now. She can also hold her own head up and has lost most of her "bobble head". She talks and talks, squeals and laughs, grabs at anything close to her, gets so excited when she sees her bottle and tries to put it in her mouth, sticks out her tongue, and constantly has her fingers in her mouth.

This past month Marlee got to meet her Great Aunt Eleanor from Mississippi. She came down to spend Thanksgiving with us. Marlee loved her! She would just smile and smile at Eleanor.

We also got a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Ross. They came all the way from Florida just to meet Marlee. Marlee warmed right up to Grandma Viola and she just ate her up!

There are so many things Marlee Moo loves..Mama, Dada, her bouncy chair, the activity mat, reading books (I read, she listens, of course), her mobile-when I put her down she will just watch the mobile in pure amazement. She also loves baths, going for walks with the Bubba's, Mama singing to her, and of course-the Bubba's. Cooper will get right up in her face and sniff and snort and she just laughs and laughs. Mollie will come up to Marlee with a toy, drop it and bark hoping Marlee will play catch with her.

My little angel amazes me every single day. Everyday I think, this is it..I couldn't love her anymore than I love her today but somehow everyday I prove myself wrong. I told Dave the other day I can't believe I ever thought I could go through life and never be a Mama.

Counting my Many Blessings..

Happy Thanksgiving..

What a year to be thankful for. I am overcome with emotion when I think about how lucky I am. To FINALLY be blessed with a healthy, happy, perfect in every way baby and a supportive, wonderful, patient, more than I could have ever asked for husband..I have the best family a girl could ask for and I am definitely counting my many, many, many blessings this year. Life is good.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

Four Months

Well, my little Marlee Moo turned four months last Saturday. Time is passing at lightening speed! I am so sad to see that she is not a teeny tiny baby that Dave and I brought home from the hospital and to think that I will never get that time back...but oh so happy to watch her grow into this little being..this little life just oozing with personality. At her four month well check she weighed in at 14 pounds 15 ounces (60th percentile) and measured 26 1/2 inches long (75th percentile).
What a difference a month makes..
This past month she found her hands and feet..they go straight into her mouth along with anything else she can get her hands on. She has gotten so strong and can now sit in the Bumbo unassisted..this was a sad day for me.

When I put her on the activity mat she now reaches for the toys and of course they go straight to her mouth. Her favorite toy is definitely the bouncy chair. I usually put her in this on the counter when I cook dinner and she loves it. Daddy will rock the bouncy like crazy and she loves it! It's so cute, she kicks her left foot and laughs and laughs!

Marlee is so happy. When she first wakes up in the morning and after naps she talks and talks. Once she sees me or Dada she gets this big ole' smile and starts kicking her feet. If she wakes up crying or upset I know she hasn't gotten enough sleep.

She thinks the weirdest sounds are so funny. She laughs when I sneeze, cough, clear my throat,or sip coffee.

I am still swaddling her for naps and bedtime. This past week I have started leaving her arms out. She sleeps all kicked back with her arms behind her head..it's so darn cute. When I first get her up I put her arms around my neck and she gives me hugs...she is edible.

Dave is so perfect with her..she is his little "Pumpkin". I love to watch him with her..seeing his strong hands be so gentle with her..my heart is so full of love at times I think it could burst..<3

Let the Embarrassment Begin

So it happened..it happened today. Dave and I were in the middle of an important meeting and once we got there and I realized how looooonnnggg this meeting was going to take I should have gotten a sitter..although getting a sitter and leaving my baby is a whole other issue. Okay back to the meeting. As we were sitting there I kept thinking Marlee needs to sleep. She needs to sleep or my little girl who is so so good 95% of the time is going to start to cry because she is too tired..I mean really cry..ask Stacey. So I am sitting there having a hard time even being part of the meeting when I hear what sounds like a pellet gun. Over and over..for a good fifteen seconds. I try to ignore it because I know exactly what it is and of course after the second fifteen second pellet gun went off Dave looked down to acknowledge that our sweet little girl was yes..you guessed it..tooting. However when it sounds like an adult male can it be considered a toot. I was so, so, so embarrassed. So then the two individuals we were meeting with had to laugh..haha. Her "tooting" went on for a good twenty minutes. All the time everyone just kept laughing. You would have thought it was me that was ripping them with how embarrassed I was. I know, I know, this is just the beginning of the embarrassing things she is going to do or say!