Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Daisy is one month!




And how fast the month has gone by! Daisy has changed SO much the past weeks.. she is cooing now and smiling at me on a regular basis (the best feeling ever!). Really big smiles show two adorable dimples — I wonder if they will stay??

I am taking her to get weighed next week, find out how much my chunky monkey weighs now. She is out of her newborn clothes and wearing mostly 3 month and 3 to 6 month clothes. Sleeping is still pretty good with her, she wakes up just once in the night. Gotta work on more naps in her crib during the day, though.

We think Ben has accepted the fact that she is here to stay! He is pretty good with her. Every once in a while he surprises us with asking to hold her, or give her a kiss. It's really sweet. Just gotta watch the unpredictable two and a half year old boy — he's got quite an arm on him!

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Our update...

Life with two kids is.... interesting! I should re-phrase that. MY life during the day (solo!) is interesting. Trying to keep Ben happy & occupied is a challenge, and trying to not have the TV or a movie on all the time. So far so good. We have managed to get out for some walks, and yesterday we baked oatmeal raisin cookies - all with Daisy in the sling. Was a challenge but we did it, and I think Ben had fun. Daisy slept after dinner so Ben and I were able to spend some outside time together. It was great. Swinging like we used to (before my big pregger belly!), chasing each other and LAUGHING! I love his laugh :)

Ben is going through a big growth spurt... his pants are getting short on him LOL! I measured him last night and he has grown half an inch since March 4th!

Brother & Sister :)

I *heart* Daisy






Daisy's Blue Steel

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Life with Daisy...

Things are great!

Daisy is such a wonderful addition to our family. Today is my first whole day alone with the kids as the in-laws left this morning. We actually got out for a walk! And Daisy didn't cry! And Ben listened! Both the kids are napping right now (for almost two hours!) and it has been nice to get some "me" time.. eat lunch, pay some bills, catch up on my blogs!

Hopefully we have more good days than bad, but I know Ben likes to test our patience and see what he can get away with. The story of a two year old! Could be a lot worse though... Daisy is sleeping most of the night (6-7 hours straight usually) and being generally very easy going. Ben is showing more interest in her, kissing herand saying "hi!". Think he realizes she is here to stay?!

We also had our first check-up on Monday. Daisy is 8lbs 13oz (up 3oz from her birth weight and 10oz more than when we left the hospital) and doing wonderful! Dr. H said she is perfect! And yesterday she lost her belly button stub. Yay!


Mike's Granny (Daisy's GG) came for a visit last week.
This is her 8th Great-Grandchild — 4 boys and now 4 girls!

She made Daisy a pink ceramic boot with her birth date and name on it..

Big brother Ben having quiet time and reading his new favourite book..
my old Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go!

Little miss pink.. she sure is changing!

... and getting chubby!

Friday, April 04, 2008

The Birth of Daisy Rayne!

Mike took this picture 13 hours before Daisy was born!


My labour began early Friday morning, March 28th at 4am. The night before I was feeling "off", lots of cramping, nausea and just not right. I thought partly that it would be nerves as I was to be induced Friday morning at 8am. This little one was 6 days late and we were ready to meet him/her!

I wasn't sleeping well, lots of butterflies, but at 4am I started to get contractions about 15-20 mins apart. At around 5:15 or so, I woke Mike up telling him I was having pains. By this time they were 10 mins apart and lasting for about 20 to 30 seconds. I decided I better get ready as we might be going to the hospital sooner than expected!

Mike's parents were going to be staying home to watch Ben, and Mom was up and ready to go at 6am... only to find me having contractions in the kitchen, trying to get ready. Mike was frantically eating a bowl of cereal and wishing his coffee was done sooner! Mom was joking that we might be back in time for lunch if things keep going this fast! As soon as he was done, we were ready to head out the door, Ben waving at us like a good boy and making me super emotional. I wasn't even in the truck and I was a blubbering idiot in the driveway missing him already!

The drive to the hospital (10 mins away) was the longest drive of my life. I think I had 3 contractions on the way. Once we got there, we walked to the elevator, only to have it not work as soon as the doors open. Great. I get to take the stairs, stopping to have contractions. There was too big of a line-up of people at the registration desk so I said screw it and we just went up the the maternity ward (taking the stairs again!) and they admitted me right away. They couldn't find my file — they were VERY busy from a rush of deliveries the night before — and put me in an exam room while Mike did the paperwork. Poor guy was running around frantically, but remaining so calm and cool the whole time. They checked me (once they found out who I was and that I was supposed to be induced at 8am!) and I was 5cm. It was just after 7am at this point. Good thing I was in labour on my own because they wouldn't have been able to induce me that day because they were so busy!

A short while later they put me in a delivery room. I was asked about the option of an epidural, and I thought about it. I decided on getting what they referred to as a mini-epidural, so I wasn't completely numb. Turns out the anesthesiologist was in an emergency c-section so I was out of luck. I got my gas though.. thank goodness! Mike put on my CD that Kerry made for me.. better! The contractions were coming so fast and strong, like every 30 seconds, I couldn't believe it. Dr L. came in at about 8:45 and checked me again, my water breaking in the process, and he said I was still about 5cm.

I was in the middle of a contraction (that just seemed to get worse instead of better!) when all of a sudden I was pushing and the rest of my waters gushed! I remember saying that I couldn't help it! My nurse, Helene, checked me and sure enough, her head was there! I couldn't believe it! In my mind I thought I had like an hour of pushing because that is what I had to do with Ben! I heard Mike say that he could see the head, and I was so focused on pushing and getting it out. The cord was around her neck, which Mike got to cut, then one or two more pushes and she was out! After 7 or 8 mins total of pushing, at 9:02am, my little Daisy Rayne was born! It was such an emotional experience. I didn't know if we had a boy or a girl at this point. I asked what it was and Mike told me it was a girl. We both cried and cried and then Daisy was put on my chest. It was wonderful! She was placed in the bed beside me, so I got to see her get checked out & measured while they took care of me. I missed this whole experience with Ben because I hemorrhaged so bad and he was at the other end of the room.

About 20 mins or so after she was born, I got to nurse her. Such a better experience this time around. Fast, but awesome. Mike and I were in shock all day at how fast it all went and that we were both healthy. He has nicknamed me turbo LOL! And Daisy was born to Walnut Tree by Keen! Fab! We decided to stay one night in the hospital, to make sure my bleeding was under control. Mike's mom came to meet her new granddaughter when Ben was napping, then they all came back later in the afternoon. Ben was adorable with her, but I think he was more curious at all the buttons, cords and machines in the room! Cat came by with her two boys and a most delicious Subway sandwich for me! After visiting hours, friends Kerry and Trevor snuck in to meet Daisy.. it was great seeing our friends :D

She is a wonderful little girl. We love you Daisy! xo

Daisy Rayne, born March 28th 2008 at 9:02am

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Spider-Ben!



More Daisy

We are settling in nicely at home with Daisy — she is a WONDERFUL addition to our family! She is a happy girl, doesn't cry very much at all, and sure does love to eat! I think we are pretty lucky with her sleeping as well.. nighttime has been stretches of 3-4 hours between feeds. Yay! We are in awe at how much she has changed already in just 5 days!

Some of these shots are a bit blurry. She was moving so fast I didn't have time to focus but I didn't want to miss them!