A Walk in the Park

We recently had photos of Catie Grace taken by Kristyna Coslow, a coworker and friend of Kelly's. I was fascinated as I watched her snap away and the end results were absolutely beautiful! I have loved taking pictures of Catie as she has been growing and this perked my interest in learning more about the art of photography.

So after breaking in the stroller this afternoon at the UK Arboretum, mom and I took Catie into the flowered area of the park with intentions of taking cute pictures of our little girl.  As I was getting out my camera, it started to sprinkle.  I had wanted to take pictures of a naked Catie, but with it sprinkling and the drop in temperature, I decided I would just play around with a few different shots.  We are hoping to make it back out in the next few days and we will take a basket WITHOUT a handle!!!

Also, if anyone is looking for a GREAT photographer for any special occasion, I highly recommend Kristyna!! Check her out  here . 

Getting that fist away from her mouth is harder than you'd think

Pensive look

About to sneeze

2 Month Pediatrition Apointment update

Monday was Catie's two month apointment with her pediatrition.  I had been dreading this day for the past two weeks. 

When we were in the hospital, we elected to wait on giving Catie her first round of shots until her two month appointment.  I wanted to do some research on the immunization shots and make a more educated decision. After reading about the pros and cons of the immunizations, I decided to go ahead and have her shots at 2 months. My desire would have been to avoid all the immunizations, but the reality is that if I ever were to put Catie in a daycare or into public or private school then she would need to have been given the immunizations. 

So then the second decision needed to be made was whether we were going to give her Tylenol before the shots.  As I was reading on the immunizations, I noticed a trend where the waters were just as divided over the issue of premedicating prior to immunizations as they were dividing over the issue of immunizations themselves.  After both reading and asking friends, my mother and I decided to go ahead and give her the Tylenol, but we never really had a peace about giving it to her so about 5 minutes before we were to medicate her we decided against it.  We slipped the Tylenol into the diaper bag and knew we had it with us if we needed it post shots. 

After we got to the doctors, they measured and weighed Catie Grace.  They did confirm that she is 11 pounds and 3 ounces and 23 inches long.  They graphed her weight and height on a progression chart that shows other averages of other children.  Catie is in the 70th percentile for her weight and age and also 78th percentile for her height.  I was worried what those high numbers meant but the nurse clarified that it just leads them to believe that she is on a curve to be a tall, lean girl.  (Who does that sound like?  Yes, she got that from her daddy) :)

We then were left to wait for the pediatrician to come in.  Once our pediatrician walked in, he took one look at her and completely unsolicited proclaimed, "Those baby blues are TOO blue to change now".  I clarified and he did say that with how fair complected she is and how super blue her eyes were that they indeed were going to stay blue.  (This tickled Kelly.  He's kinda partial to blue eyed girls) :) 

He checked her out and also noted that she was a tall girl for her age but said that she looks completely healthy.  I don't remember much of him actually giving her the shots because I had to look away while Mom held her.  I'm not a fan of needles and combine needles with my baby crying and that was just a situation I wanted to avoid.  I know I will have to toughen up and be able to handle that later, but just not today.  I have NO idea what I will do the first time one of my babies breaks a bone or get a huge gash in their head.   I'm afraid someone will have to pick me up off the floor after seeing to my hurt child.  lol

After the shots, I was able to stay in the room and nurse Catie Grace and that helped to soothe her and get her comfortable enough to travel.  We dressed her in a onsie but didn't put her pants back on because she didn't want anything touching her legs.  After getting home she continued to be fussy and restless most of the night but she never ran a fever and we were able to avoid giving her the Tylanol. 

She did not sleep very well during the night Monday and Tuesday was a little more difficult but we spent a bunch of time skin-to-skin and nursing.  Today, Wednesday, she is back to being her normal happy self. :)

Sleeping on Daddy after first shots

Nahna time Tuesday afternoon

Hanging out with big sis, Foxy

So the first round of shots are done and over with, but I'm not looking forward to round 2 in November...

Watch me grow- 9 weeks

9/24/11
9 weeks old
11.2 lbs
23 inches long

Oh what a week! This past Friday was Catie Grace's Two Month Birthday.  Happy 1/6 of a Birthday Catie!! :)

Back before we even got married, Kelly and I both prayed about it and both felt led that I was to be a stay-at-home momma when we eventually had children.  While I was in college, the Lord introduced me to Emily and Tre' Lee through a close family friend and I started watching their little boy, Chase, as a part-time job while I finished up college. Once I graduated from UK with my bachelors, Kelly and I knew that the 'normal' and some people would argue that the 'smart' thing for me to have done would have been to go out and start applying for a 'big-girl-job', but Kelly and I felt differently.  It was then that we again felt confirmed that I was to stay at home once we had children, but it would be at least a year before we knew we would have a baby.  I treasured my job and knew how much it meant to the Lee's to have someone available at all times so it was then, after I graduated that we decided that I would continue to work for the Lee's and not pursue a 'career'. Once we had Catie, we decided that I would continue watching Chase about 10 or so hours a week to help give us that little bit of extra income to allow me to continue staying at home and to continue to allow Kelly to work with 4H and children. I have now watched Chase for over 3 1/2 years and Emily and Tre' are precious friends of ours.  Emily is so much more than an employer; she has become one of closest friends and she is a strong prayer warrior.  The Lord has truly made it a joy to work for them and its one of those jobs where if I miss a day, then I feel like I have missed an opportunity to see one of my good friends :)
So after recovering and getting in a good routine with Catie, Thursday was my first day going to watch Chase without Catie tagging along.  I had been bringing her with me when I went out to watch Chase for the past few weeks, but on Thursday Catie stayed with her Nahna.  It was then that Catie had her first bottle of expressed milk.  I think the moment was harder on me as her Momma than it was on Catie.  For the past two months, I have been purposefully trying to avoid situations where I would have to give her a bottle which is partly why I would always take her with me.  Catie has literally been attached at my hip.  But I knew she would eventually need to be given a bottle if I was ever going to run errands or go to the gym without her and it was easier to get things done while watching Chase if I didn't have Catie.  (And it also gave my mother some time with her grand girl).  Catie did well while taking the bottle, and I was so relieved that she easily made the transition back to nursing once I got home. 

On Saturday, Kelly played Mr. Mom as I went back out to the Lees for a few hours.  Kelly had actually been looking forward to the opportunity to keep Catie by himself for a few hours.  In the four hours that  I was gone he folded two loads of clothes, did dishes, cleaned litter boxes,  and straightened up the kitchen and living room all while taking care of Catie.  (And I honestly think he did everything one handed because Catie Grace doesn't do too well being put down).  During that time, he gave her 6 ounces and she again did fine transitioning.  What a blessing the friends and family in my life are!! :)

After Bath time giggles

Catie LOVES bathtime and we took advantage of that to get TONS of pictures, but this was when she had had enough with the flashing from the camera.

Well, this past week Catie also has started consistently showing recognition and excitement when she sees either Kelly or I or her Nahna and Grumpy.  Once we come into her line of sight, she gets a big cheesy grin on her face and will track us with her eyes if we start to move out of her immediate line of vision.  It brings me so much joy to see her light up with excitement when Kelly walks in from a long day at work.  :)

sweet little smile

Eyeballing her Daddy

Locked in on her daddy while he fixes her shirt (Had to have the UK centered on her shirt) lol

  

This past week, Catie also attended a cookout with about 15 other people at her Granny and Papa Rexroat's house.  It lasted from about 6-9 and she was an angel during the whole thing! She just laughed and smiled and put on a real show for everyone there.  Catie Grace LOVES having an audience!! 

Kelly teasingly giving Catie a chip

Granny Rexroat with Catie

Daddy or Uncle????

Catie's Flash Face

We think Catie is quite photogenic and we may, possibly have a slight obsession with taking her pictures but Catie has a funny relationship with the camera flash.  Its not quite her best friend. :) When taking Catie's 8 week photos this past weekend, Catie was making her 'camera' face after the flash goes off.  After taking several photos, I went and grabbed the flip while Kelly continue to take pictures.  Watch Catie after the flash goes off and you'll see her blink about half a second too slow :)
(I know this video is small and I'm really hoping you can see her facial expressions)....

Watch me grow- 8 weeks

9/17/11
8 weeks old
11.2 lbs
23 inches long

This past week was a change of pace.  We had the opportunity to house sit for some good friends of ours and we of course took Catie Grace with us.  Being in a different home and different environment didn't quite sit so well with Catie as it did with us.  This last week was full of LONG nights and restless days.  Catie is still not on a 'schedule' but anything that REMOTELY resembles a routine went out the window! Thankfully she did sleep for 6 hour stretches at a time, it was just that those times were usually from about 2am-8am.  Hopefully we can get back to a little more normal sleep schedule this coming week. 

After last week's blog post, I was trying to get just a few more days out of her newborn size clothes before we switch to 3 months and I think this last growth spurt has forced us to retire the cute newborn clothes.  The snaps are getting a little strained :)

This week we also had to move up car seat straps to the next length.  Her little legs are already flush with the end of the seat.  Before much longer, her little feet will be hanging out over the edge. 

3 weeks old

8 weeks old

I know these seem like such small changes but I look back and compare pictures and I am AMAZED at how quickly Catie Grace is growing! This picture above with Catie in a pink outfit is from when she was 3 weeks old and compare that with this one with her in the brown outfit and you can see the changes.  CRAZY!!  This picture also helps to show how much more Catie Grace is holding up her head.  She is staying alert and holding her head up for long period of times. Yesterday during the UK/UL game, Catie sat in our laps and watched the game all the way through to the end.  We can now just sit her on our laps, facing outwards and she will occupy herself.  We are loving this time where she is much more interactive with us.

Standing and watching TV

This past week Catie also discovered her fists.  She has much more motor control over her arms and legs now and she is intentionally putting her fist in her mouth and slurping on them.  The thumb hasn't come out yet because she keeps a tight fist when sucking on them.  Right now its entertaining and cute, but hopefully it doesn't turn into a bad habit we will regret later. :)

Nahna and Grumpy with Catie Grace sucking on her fist

And to end, one morning this past week I was able to catch Catie doing a selection of her 'signature faces'.

This is the silly face

Pondering face

The SMILE

Big Mouth

(I know I might have gone a little over board on pictures this week, but it was just that kinda week) :)

Watch me grow- 7 weeks

9/10/11

7 weeks old

10.8 lbs

23 inches long

We are STILL going through our growth spurt!  I told Kelly this past week that I feel like a milk factory. This girl can eat!  But I’m not complaining too much because I’m benefitting as well (Check out my small ‘Watch me shrink’ blurp at the end of this bog). 

This week we saw Catie’s first big tear drop.  It was heart wrenching and both Kelly and I told Catie that she is not allowed to be big enough to have real tears yet.  The tears were from her poor little belly hurting.  We are still battling reflux with her.  It will hit her about 10-15 minutes after she is done feeding.  Our feeding times are always so peaceful and calming and usually they will end with Catie Grace falling asleep but no more than 15 minutes following, her poor little belly will tighten up and she will wake up with a start and start wimpering.  Sometimes it will pass after just a few minutes and she will be able to sleep again, but usually it will result in her pulling her legs up to her chest and crying as her belly tightens and rolls.  I would do ANYTHING to take that discomfort away from my little girl!

Another thing that we noticed this week is how much weight she is putting on her legs.  I know what you are thinking, ‘At 7 weeks, she is not putting weight on her legs.  You are just her momma and think everything she does is special and above average’.  And I hear ya, but when we are trying to get her to settle down during her belly hurting times, her favorite new position is to be facing us and standing up on legs. We of course support her and would never let her carry all her weight by herself, but it is a reality check that our little baby is continuing to grow... :(

Today, September 12, 2011, Kelly and I celebrate our two-year anniversary.  What a blessed two years it has been.  These past two years have seen us becoming one, buying our first home, spending a wonderful two years together as 'DINKs' (duel-income no kids), and now we are parents.   This time last year, on our one-year anniversary, Kelly and I joined in prayer and asked our Father that if He saw fit and if it was the time, that we would love the opportunity and the blessing of being parents and then BAM, surprise!! :) lol And here we are now....... 

Watch me shrink:  Now here's a small update on me.  Since having Catie Grace, I have lost 26.6 lbs.  Now initially some of that weight was Catie and fluid, but I have found that breastfeeding is helping to melt the weight right off.  This week alone I lost another 2.2 lbs.  I still have not been cleared to exercise by my doctor and I'm very shocked to find that I am actually itching to get back in the pool and swimming laps.  Hopefully here in the next two weeks, I'll be cleared to start working out and i can be a little more proactive about losing baby weight and a little pre-catie weight :)

Morning fun with Catie

After Catie's morning feeding and after Kelly has left for work, Catie and mommy get to have some fun 'alert' time.  This morning was a little different because I had my 6 week follow up (which went great) and my mother volunteered to go with Catie and I, so we were dressed and waiting for Nahna to show up and to pass time we decided to have a little fun with the FlipVideo. 

Co-staring in this video is Abby, our 10 year old Ragdoll cat and Catie LOVES Abby but this morning she wasn't a big fan of her tail.  But before you run off and report me for child abuse, trust me in this- Catie has had her revenge.  Shortly after we filmed this, Catie got a HUGE handful of Abby's tail and wouldn't let go. I guess some would argue that's karma. 

Watch me grow- 6 weeks

9/3/2011
6 weeks old
10.6lbs
22 1/2 inches

Oh, I can't believe my little girl has passed the 6 week mark! This past week, we officially ran out of newborn diapers and have moved on to the size 1 diapers.  I noticed that the size 1 diapers cost the same as the newborn but you get fewer diapers.  I guess that will continue as we keep moving up in diapers. lol  Catie Grace is still wearing the size 'newborn' in her clothes but the sleepers are starting to get too short.  (The dress she is wearing in this picture is size 3 month but what you can't see are the matching blummers underneath that are WAY too big and ended up sagging off her hips all day!! ) 

I do think we are starting to go through our 6 week growth spurt and I have a feeling that we will start having trouble snapping the newborn onsies here really soon :)

Also this week, Catie Grace is cooing more and directing it at the person who she is interacting with. She just keeps getting cuter and sweeter!!  :)

Six weeks at-a-glance

How do you seriously summarize the BEST and FASTEST six weeks of one's life? Not too sure, but I'll give it a shot. 

On July 23, 2011 after 30 hours of labor and an emergency C-Section, we welcomed our beautiful daughter, Catherine Grace, into this world.  Even after the trials of her delivery, the labor and birth of Catie Grace was a beautiful example of the Lord's sovereignty and is truly a very special memory. 

After 4 days in the hospital, we came home and settled into life as the new "Rexroat family".  :)  Once we found out we were expecting, Kelly made the sweet decision to not use any of his vacation days during the summer like we usually do for a trip to Florida, but instead he saved his vacation days, and Catie and I were blessed with our Kelly being able to be at home for the first 4 weeks of Catie's life. 

Kelly proved to be a HUGE help during the first weeks.  Kelly's first diaper-changing experience was in the hospital and after just a few days he became a PRO!  We soon developed a mutually rewarding agreement and system when it comes to Catie- Kelly deals with what comes out and I deal with what goes in. And after almost 6 weeks of this arrangement, Kelly has now perfected changing a diaper in his sleep.  Oh, what a blessing it is to have a husband who truly has a servant's heart. 

Oh and there should be no need to tell you, but YES, Catie is a HUGE daddy's girl.  (And I wouldn't want it any other way). 

Most of y'all know about the small zoo (ha) that we run from our home and I could not be more pleased with the way the furry members of the Rexroat home have adjusted to little Catie.  The cats were the first to meet Catie Grace and we can honestly say that their opinion of her is pretty chill.   If someone new comes into the home without the intention of either feeding or loving on them, then the cats really don't care about you, so Catie is at the bottom of their worries.  Our three dogs, Moose, Panda and Foxy, have been enjoying a long-term sleepover at my parent's house and we have slowly introduced them to Catie individually.  Moose (the Flat-Coated Retriever in the above picture) proved to be very gentle with Catie and is now very protective of 'his girl'.  Foxy (our red-merle border collie) was also very gentle and a little less concerned with her.  Foxy just saw Catie as another member of the pack, but poor Panda, he still doesn't know what to do with Catie.  Panda (our border collie/papillon mix who has a diagnosed mental disorder ((don't ask)) ) wants to love on Catie the way he loves on us, and he is getting better but still is a little too excited around Catie Grace.  It is nothing that we can't work on and just in the few weeks we've been working with him, he has gotten leaps and bounds better! We have just had to establish new habits and he is always the last of our dogs to catch onto new things.  But over all, we are so glad that our new human addition and our furry family members are going to be able to live in peace and harmony :)

I know there have been so many people who have been so good and gracious to us these past 6 weeks; from preparing food, to buying us diapers, and even offering free babysitting and we are so grateful for the precious family and friends we have been blessed with.  I know this summary would be much more detailed if I had been on-top of my game and had started this blog months ago, but I promise to be much more diligent from here on out and keep y'all updated on us and Catie as we attempt to raise her to be a God-honoring woman after the Lord's own heart.