1 Month

Natalie stats:

• Head Circumference -14.5 (20%)
• Weight - 8lbs (6%)
• Length - 20in (less than 3%)
• Clothes - Newborn
• Diapers - Newborn
• Food - This month was difficult trying to get the feeding figured out.  I started out exclusively breastfeeding, but she had a really hard time latching so I used a nipple shield which did help some.  About day 4 I started pumping and giving her breast milk from a bottle, which she quickly figured out was much faster than nursing and really wouldn't nurse much after that.  I wasn't producing much milk (which I experienced with Wesley as well) so I started supplementing around 1 week.  We tried both Enfamil Newborn and Enfamil Gentlease, both which made her extremely gassy.  We are now using Prosobee which is soy along with Dr Brown's bottles, and this combo along with occasional use of Gripe water/gas drops seems to be much better on her little tummy.  And when she is hungry, she wants food right then and will let you know it!
• Sleep -Sleeps really well during the night!  She will go to sleep between 10-11pm each night, wake once to take a bottle between 2-3am, and then sleeps until around 7-8am.  It has really been a blessing!  She naps during the day anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, usually after she has eaten.
• Talents/interests -She likes to be held (of course!) and to lay on her left side.  She loves her pacifier - we are using the Soothie which is the one we got at the hospital.  She seems to like her bouncy seat and her newborn lounger, but not her play gym or swing.  She has been smiling and cooing which is so precious, and is starting to notice her hands :)

Natalie's Nursery

So I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of Natalie's nursery.  Things have been busy around here, to say the least - I had forgotten how much work it actually is taking care of a newborn!  Totally worth it though, she is precious and I'm enjoying every moment with my new daughter :)

When we moved Wesley to his big boy room (aka the guest bedroom) we turned his nursery into Natalie's nursery.  I used the same furniture, only now everything is pink and girly :)  I think it turned out really cute.

Armoire and rocking chair.  I had the rocking chair pads recovered in a green and cream chevron fabric - I wanted a neutral pattern in case I get to use it again and we have a boy.

Crib bedding and drapes.  My MIL had the drapes made for Wesley's nursery, and we just re-used them for Natalie's.  She also had the bedding made - I picked out what I liked online from this site, so she just ordered the same fabric and had it custom made.  It is my favorite part of the nursery!  The paper lanterns came from Just Artifacts - I had paper lanterns above Wesley's crib as well.

 

Shelves with decorations to the left of the crib.  My favorite are the little wooden blocks with the owl, bird, and butterfly - I found them on Etsy.

 

Bow holder - my SIL made this the weekend Natalie was born.  In fact, I think she painted the letters in the car on the way to the hospital!  She did a fabulous job :)

 

Canvas and changing table.  Again, Etsy find - I love how she tied the crib bedding patterns into the canvas.

 

Wesley's Big Boy Room

Wesley officially made the switch from nursery to 'big boy' room about a month and a half ago - and I can say without a doubt that he loves it!!  I think his favorite thing is probably the big bed - since his room now is what was the guest room, we decided to leave the queen bed in there for when we do have guests.  Here are some pictures of the finished product.

Corey completely redid the closet - I don't have a before picture, but it just had one shelf and a hanging bar across the top.  Now we have several shelves, a shoe rack, and 4 hanging bars!  Much more room and perfect to toddler/kids sized clothing.

 I ordered his bedding from Pottery Barn Kids.  The bed is usually covered in stuffed animals, but I moved them for the pictures :)

I found the guitar prints on Etsy, and had them customized to match his bedding.  The frames are from Target.

The nightstand and dresser came from One Way Furniture and Corey's mom made the drapes.

I still need to get a few more things for the wall and on top of his dresser, but for the most part the room is complete and Wesley loves it!

Birth Story - Introducing Natalie Raines Runnells!

We were scheduled for our c-section at 9am on Friday June 22nd.  I worked from home on Thursday to get some last minute things wrapped up, and Corey took off the afternoon.  We picked Wesley up early from school and just hung out as a family of 3 before we had to take him out to his grandparents house for the night.  Here is our last picture as a family of 3!

We had to be at the hospital 2 hours early on Friday morning, so we left the house around 6:30am.  Last pregnancy picture!

We checked in at 7am and they started getting things going immediately.  I think sitting in the room waiting to go back to surgery was the worst!  We didn't end up going back until about 10am.

 
Once they lead us back, Corey was told to wait outside the OR and get changed while they got me prepped and did my spinal.

Getting the spinal was the worst part - they had to stick me a couple of times because of the titanium rod in my spine from my previous spinal fusion.  I was literately shaking from nerves and fear but the OR team was so great and really made me feel more comfortable.  Once I got the spinal things went really fast - they laid me down and I was numb almost immediately.  My doctor came in and started surgery at 10:09, and Natalie was delivered by 10:10.  I was amazed - fastest delivery ever.

Natalie was whisked off to the nursery with Corey, and they closed me up and sent me to recovery for about an hour.  I remember the nursery called in the OR and gave us her stats - 6lbs 15oz and 18in long.  I remember thinking she was so small!  Wesley was 7lbs 10oz and 19 1/2in when he was born at 41 weeks.

We stayed in the hospital for 2 days (Friday to Sunday) and had a really good experience - all the nurses were really nice and helpful, and the hospital itself was as comfortable as could be expected.  We had lots of visitors, both friends and family.  I really enjoyed having people come see us and meet our new addition!

So far recovery at home has been ok - I think I would say it has been more difficult than my vaginal delivery, but maybe that is because it is still 'fresh' on my mind and its been 2 1/2 years since Wesley was born.  Either way, I'd do it again in a heartbeat for my sweet baby girl - welcome Natalie Raines!

40 Weeks - Baby #2

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 40 weeks

Size of baby: Length is between 20-22 inches and she weighs between 7-9 lbs (around the size of a jack fruit)

Gender: Girl!  Natalie Raines

Maternity Clothes: All maternity clothes
Weight gain: 40 lbs

Movement: Still moving and pushing and hiccuping - I realize now why I've only felt her movements as pushing and rolling rather than actual kicks.
 Sleep: Sleeping is difficult - I'm just uncomfortable all the time it seems!
Symptoms: I'm 40 weeks pregnant - and I certainly feel like I am!
Cravings: Cheese fries
What I miss: Everything!  I'm tired and just want her on the outside.
Best moment this week: Making final preparations for her arrival!  I go in her nursery all the time and imagine what it will be like for her to be here - can't wait to meet her and introduce her to her big brother!


**Please continue to pray that she will move into the correct position before next Friday! I'm not giving up hope that the little stinker will move until I'm in the OR!**

Breech

At our last OB appointment, the doctor was checking for dilation/effacement and said he didn't think the baby was head down.  All last week I researched 'malpositioned' babies - I've been thinking all along that her bottom was to the left of my belly button and her head is down to the right hand side (I can feel hiccups there), so I thought she was head down but just kind of sideways (this is an oblique position).  Not perfect position, but close.  I found all kinds of exercises to open up the pelvis and went to the chiropractor as well hoping that would help her slip into position.

We had an ultrasound this morning to confirm her position, and to my shock and disappointment she is completely breech.  What I've been thinking this whole time was her bottom is actually her head.  I'm pretty devastated.  While I am so so thankful that she is completely healthy (they estimated that she weighs around 7lbs5oz and has hair!) I think I am kind of mourning the birth experience I thought I'd have.

I know that our plan is not always Gods plan, and that while I may not understand why I have to trust that this is what is meant to be.  I am scared, but so excited to finally meet my daughter!

I am scheduled for a c-section on Friday June 22 at 9:00am if she does not flip on her own or I do not go into labor before then.

39 Weeks - Baby #2

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 39 weeks

Size of baby: Length is about 20 inches and she weighs about 7.25 lbs (around the size of a watermelon - again, I'm hoping it is a small watermelon!!)

Gender: Girl!  Natalie Raines

Maternity Clothes: All maternity clothes
Weight gain: 40 lbs

Movement: Still moving and pushing on me :)  And the hiccups.  Oh the hiccups. 
Sleep: Sleeping is difficult.  I'm trying to sleep exclusively on my left side which is not how I normally sleep, and I wake up several times during the night uncomfortable :(  I always seem to roll back to my back.
Symptoms: I have every symptom there is!
Cravings: Peaches
What I miss: I'm at the point now that I miss just about everything about not being pregnant - not too much longer though!
Best moment this week: Hearing Natalie's heartbeat at our last appointment (162 BPM) and just knowing that this is most likely my last week I'll be pregnant with my 2nd child!

**We learned at our last appointment that Natalie is most likely in an oblique lie position (we have an ultrasound next Wednesday to confirm) which can make birth difficult or even result in intervention like c-secion if the baby does not move.  Please pray for our family and that she moves into the correct position by the big day!!**