Smiles and then some

Each day is getting more enlightening, fun, and inspiring being a mom to Eva Joyce.  At 7 weeks old she is growing, FAST!  Today, I found myself being able to make her laugh.  I was making music noises like boom chicka boom boom.  She loved it!  I decided I couldn't pass up getting this on camera, her smiles were just adorable.  Well, I pulled the camera out and suddenly she was wide eyed and in awe. She was now enthralled with the camera, you could tell she was trying to figure out what it was.  So, instead of big smile pictures, this is what I got...

Later, I was able to get her to smile again...

Watching Eva Grow

(look...we took the same picture! must be her favorite pose!)

This past week has been a time of thinking and reflection.  I am so happy to have the opportunity to be home with Eva.  It is amazing watching her learn and grow.  I even love watching her sleep (it just puts a smile on my face).  As her six week birthday came and went I struggled with the realization that many moms have to return to work at this stage in their little one's life.  With everyday bringing something new I count my blessings that I am able to be with Eva.  Some highlights...

Eva is now...

• smiling
• making eye contact
• following you (or other objects) with her eyes
• cooing and making new noises everyday
• (has) rolled from her belly to her back during tummy time twice
• sleeping for longer chunks of time at night
• holding her head up for longer periods
• pushing with her legs

Some things she loves...

• baths
• being held
• getting her diaper changed
• country music
• riding in the car
• being naked
• sticking out her tongue/licking things
• starring at the ceiling fan

Some things she isn't too fond of...

• story time with mommy (she starts to cry)
• dirty diapers
• constricting clothes
• loosing her pacifier

Father's Day

June 15, 2014 marked Chris's first Father's Day celebration!  We celebrated by going to my dad's for a bar-b-que.  The weather was gorgeous, the food was delicious, and the company was great.  Eva was very thoughtful this first Father's Day.  She got her Daddy a beautiful card, a nice t-shirt, and a new belt.  Okay, she didn't actually pick any of it out, but we can pretend.  We also had my sister take some family photos (we hadn't taken any of the three of us since the hospital)!

  

one month

Today marks the one month birthday for little Eva Joyce.  She has been part of the real world now for an entire month.  She has learned so much and grown a ton!   It is hard to look back on life without her, it seems she has been part of our family forever.

Eva's one month milestones:

• She can follow you with her eyes
• She has started to react to us
• She has begun making new and different sounds (other than her normal cries and grunts)
• She loves her stuffed Zebra (picture to come soon)
• Her smile is just precious (no longer just a twitch of her facial muscles)

Marlena and Chris's one month milestones:

• We have survived the first month of parenthood
• Marlena has ventured out on her own twice
• Chris has spent some alone time with Eva
• Nighttime feedings and diaper changes are done like pros!

Birth Story: Final Chapter

The first moments with our little girl are hard to put into words.  Here I am holding this precious being in my arms all the while doctors and nurses are scurrying around the room.  Stitching me up, taking in my stats, the baby's stats, cleaning her off...  I remember looking up at Chris, he had tears running down his cheeks.  He was one proud papa.  We were now a family of three!  We were asked, "Does she have a name?"  We looked at each other, Chris said, "We don't know, there are a couple we liked."  I remember saying, "Well, she has dark hair, I think she is Eva Joyce."  Chris said something along the lines of "You think so? Yep, her name is Eva Joyce Smith."

Eva didn't waste anytime initiating me into motherhood.  She pooped all over me while I was holding her for the first time.  Honestly, I didn't even realize until the nurse pointed it out.  Eventually, they got her cleaned up (as well as myself).  I got her back into my arms, and she proceeded to pee all over me.

The next couple of days at the hospital were a whirlwind.  Doctors, nurses, family, and friends in and out of the room.  We have now begun a new chapter in our lives as a family of three.  I am looking forward to all that is to come.

Birth Story: Part Three

Things were moving fast.  I'm not sure how to determine how long labor had been.  But, technically, I wasn't in labor when we arrived at the hospital.  I would say labor didn't really start until about a half hour into getting induced.  The contractions began coming more frequently and slowly were beginning to get more intense.  I had gone from 2.5 cm dilated to 6 cm in 2 1/2 hours.

At about 4 PM, since contractions were longer, stronger, and closer together I asked again if the portable monitor was available.  No, the person using it was walking the halls.  The nurse suggested some alternatives and I continued to push through the pain.  Chris was a great support.  He was there for each contraction. He rubbed my back, kept a wash cloth cool, and had a calming presence.

Around 6 PM I had begun feeling pressure and I was checked again.  I was 9 cm dilated.  The nurse said when I felt the urge to push to let her know.  It wasn't five minutes later I called them back in saying I felt pressure.  I was now 10 cm and it was go time.  I remember asking the doctors if they were sure I was ready.  I felt like everything had happened so fast.  Little did I realize pushing was actually a god send.  By this point the contractions were highly painful and I was having difficulty breathing through them.  Pushing, although VERY difficult and still painful, felt a million times better than the contraction.  I pushed for a little over an hour and at 7:19 PM our little one entered the world.

I can vividly remember seeing the doctor hold the baby up.  The cord was blocking the important parts (remember, we didn't know the gender of the baby).  As they pulled to cord away, I was able to announce, "It's a Girl!"

It is amazing how in a few quick moments you can go from being in the most pain you have ever experienced to feeling more joy than one can explain.

The first weeks of motherhood...

Wow, I can't believe little Eva is two weeks old today.  It seems like she has been part of our lives a lot longer.  It is also hard to believe I have officially been a mother for two weeks.  Although, I felt semi prepared for motherhood, it is amazing all the things I didn't know.

Things I have learned in the first two weeks...

• Newborns sleep A LOT (a lot more than I thought).
• Newborns can spit up brown junk.  Apparently this is totally normal because they may have swallowed amniotic fluid or blood.
• There can be a bloody discharge due to hormones from the mother.
• Newborns not only spit up, but can projectile vomit and be perfectly fine. 
• Sometimes newborns want to eat all the time.
• Everyday is different, from sleeping, to eating, to crying.
• My husband is an amazing dad.  He is a great diaper changer, comforter, and over all great support for both me and baby!