1 Week Old Today...What?!

Why does time fly?  I cannot believe that Aubrey is already a week old!

However, I do have to say that lately (especially the last 2 nights), bedtime for Natalie could not come soon enough. She went to bed early both nights...in bed by 7:30p!  Natalie has had several very good moments and is super loving with all her hugs and kisses she gives, but she is also not listening, being bad at every mealtime, and whining a lot!  My patience is thin and almost nonexistent!  Thank goodness for Bobby because otherwise I would have probably already lost my mind.

Of course, every mealtime I think Aubrey wants to eat when Natalie eats. At lunchtime I sat on the chair in the living room where Natalie could see me, but I wasn't sitting right next to her because I was feeding Aubrey. After many, many 'NOs', she continued to throw her food on the floor...I don't think she ate much at all today other than goldfish and half of them went to Rusty as well. Then, at dinner, I sat next to her to try and get her to eat, but she continued to throw her food on the floor and barely eat anything. Once again, I was feeding Aubrey while seated at the dining room table next to Natalie. By this time, I had completely lost my patience and made Bobby come up from the basement and clean up Natalie. He then says to me, "Do you just whip it out anywhere now?"  Well, yeah, if you want me to keep both kids happy, I kind of need to and I'm in my own house with no company.

Several times, Natalie got to Rusty's water bowl and threw a huge tantrum when I told her NO and smacked her on the bottom, but yet she continued to do it!  Bobby said he hopes I build up some patience in the next week or so until he goes back to work and I'm left with both girls all by myself. I just pray that God does give me patience because otherwise we are in a world of hurt!

Aubrey has been very sleepy today...must be hard being a week old!  Luckily, today at least, she hasn't been spitting up too much. Luckily, both girls were good when Bobby and I got some painting done downstairs (Bobby was able to get more done than me) while Natalie was corralled in her play yard with her toys and Aubrey slept on the bed downstairs. That moment was nice to get some work done and participate in the basement progress.

Bobby reminded me today that he has a golf tournament that I agreed (before I had Aubrey) that he could participate in...little did I know what it would be like with both girls on my own. Luckily, my dad called the other night to say that he had a meeting in Terre Haute for work and wanted to make sure it was okay that he and my mom came down for the weekend. Of course it was okay...they are always such a huge help, especially now with both girls!  I'm am doubly happy they are coming now that I was reminded of golf, especially after a day like today!

Visit from the Karim's

Bobby's sister and family were in Georgia and on their way back to Indiana, they decided to stop by Terre Haute to make a visit. They didn't arrive until 4am on Wednesday morning after driving straight through from Georgia. Bobby only got up to make sure they got in okay, but then shortly after everyone was in bed. Luckily, everyone basically "slept-in." They visited and left close to 5p. Talk about craziness...wow! Let's just say it was a little wild here with their kids and Bobby and I were exhausted after they left.

Cousin Brielle holding Aubrey

With Aunt Julie

Natalie loving Jaxon's puffs

Can you believe he is 6 months younger than Natalie?!

Cousins (minus 2)

For dinner tonight, a family from our church brought over a yummy dinner and a cute little sundress for Aubrey. It's so nice not having to cook anything!

Here are a couple pictures from yesterday that I didn't post earlier:

Pretty flower from the arrangement we received from my Dad's work while in the hospital

along with this balloon

Silly girl

This picture cracks me up :)

Aubrey has been breastfeeding like a champ; however, it seems like almost every time she eats lately she spits up a lot!  I'm really hoping she doesn't have acid reflux or something along those lines. Once she burps, she spits up shortly after, then she wants to eat again...ugh!  Sometimes I feel like that is all I am doing during the day. Hopefully, it gets better. She also has the stinkiest farts and passes gas often (I blame this trait on her Daddy)! I don't remember either of these things with Natalie, but Bobby says he does, so I don't know...

2 Blogs?!

So...my intention was never to do 2 blogs since my blog was about our family even though it really revolved around Natalie. So, when Aubrey came along, I had planned to still only do 1 blog, documenting both girls. Plus, I wasn't sure how I wasn't going to overlap with the information I shared, since ultimately where one girl is, the other probably will be as well.

However, Bobby insisted that I do a separate blog for Natalie because that was only fair. Once I started Aubrey's blog, Bobby said he thought doing 1 blog was sufficient and more time efficient as well. I agree. So, I'm still going to be using this blog, but will need to find a different, creative name for it instead of Notes for Natalie, since it will be notes for Natalie AND Aubrey!  I may still put posts in Aubrey's only to keep it more streamlined for her book.

So, ignore the post that I will have 2 blogs, I am going back to 1...like I originally had planned to do in the first place! :)

Pictures

Last night, I thought for sure we were in for it because Aubrey only wanted held, and of course she always wanted held when I needed to do something for Natalie or myself, etc. It definitely wore on me trying to do a million things at once while Bobby was working outside on the fence. I know if I would have asked for help, he would have came in, but I also know the fence needs to be constructed at the same time. Needless to say, I had my first crying breakdown after Bobby had come in for the night and asked me how I was or something like that...I'm sure the first of many.

I was very pleasantly surprised to wake up this morning and realize that Aubrey had slept for over 5 hours...I couldn't believe it!  Plus, Natalie slept in until almost 9:30a. It was a great start to the day, especially since I had someone coming over to take Aubrey's newborn pictures.

I didn't have newborn pictures taken with Natalie because we have a nice camera (still do) and Bobby wanted me to just take them. However, this time around, I really wanted someone else to do them, plus I really wanted to see how a newborn photo session went (the behind the scenes). A girl I know from a friend does photography and the pictures I have seen of hers are really good for an awesome price compared to most photographers. The 1 1/2 hour photo session costed me $75 and she did all the work, plus will be doing the editing (my weakest skill because I have no idea what I am doing). I can't wait to see them!  Aubrey slept through the whole session. She is very sleepy today, so having your pictures taken must wear a girl out!  Natalie was a little cranky since it was during her naptime, but I'm hoping we have a few good pictures of both girls, too!

Here are some pictures I took of Aubrey today...so peaceful!

Chillin' in the Mamaroo

Sleeping just like her sister used to!

...and so it begins!

Bobby's parents left yesterday evening after taking Natalie to the Terre Haute Children's Museum and getting treated with Dairy Queen on the scorching hot day!

My family left today around 12 (noon) and Bobby was working outside on the fence. By the time everyone was leaving, it was time for Natalie to eat lunch, Aubrey only wanted held and wanted to eat when I needed to put Natalie down for a nap after lunch.

Natalie learning from flashcards with Aunt Amanda

 

Playing with her new purse...thanks Grandma and Grandpa Andreae

and new phone and keys, too!

Bye-Bye Uncle Matt and Aunt Amanda

Bye-bye Grandma and Grandpa Brodzinski

...and so it begins!

Natalie ate a good lunch, I put her sheet on her bed since she wet it overnight, and she went down for a nap very easily!  Thank goodness because Aubrey wanted to eat, so I fed her and now she is fast asleep as well. I should be napping as well, but I wanted to get some lunch and blog while I had a chance. I can definitely tell having 2 little ones is going to be a challenge!  Bobby did come in while I was feeding Aubrey to see if he needed to help, but by that time I had things under control! If he would have come in about 30 minutes prior, I would have definitely said "YES! Please help me!"  It was nice to have all the help I did with my family staying here.

Aubrey and Natalie had their first 'uh-oh' encounter when Natalie decided her stuffed dog, Violet, needed to land on Aubrey's face. Needless to say, Aubrey didn't care for that too much!

I have been so awful this time around taking pictures...I hope I get better at juggling everything!  I feel like we had a million with Natalie!  I have someone coming over tomorrow to take some newborn pictures, so that will make up for it!

Aubrey's blog

Aubrey now has her own blog!

Visit hers at:

 http://akandreae.blogspot.com/

Welcome Home

We arrived home Saturday, May 26th to decorations and family waiting for us around 2:30p. We got stopped by a train...imagine that in Terre Haute...at least it was moving. However, once it passed, Mommy realized she had left Aubrey's hospital bands in her bassinet at the hospital, so Daddy turned around to get them so I could put them in Aubrey's baby book.

Mommy sat in between the 2 carseats in the back seat of the car, which was a tight squeeze. It was a very hot, sunny May day, in the 90's!  Aubrey fell asleep in the car.

Once we got home, we were greeted by Grandma and Grandpa Brodzinski, Uncle Matt and Aunt Amanda, Grandma and Grandpa Andreae, Petunia, and Rusty. Rusty was especially excited to see everyone home altogether again!

Welcome Baby

With Grandma and Grandpa Andreae

Aubrey likes to sleep, but has been latching really well, but is spitting up some of the time, but not always.  She likes to eat every 3 hours right now, but in the hospital, I was lucky to get her to eat every 4-5 hours, if that!  She has a squeaky, high pitched cry.

While Aubrey got to visit with family, the guys (Daddy, Grandpa Brodzinski, Uncle Matt, and Tim) worked on the fence for the back and side yard in the very hot weather!  Natalie would have much preferred to be out with the guys the entire time.  The guys worked on the fence all weekend, while the girls hung out in the air conditioning.

Introducing Aubrey Kate!

Aubrey Kate Andreae made her debut into the world Thursday, May 24th, 2012 at 12:49p. She weighed in at 8lb 1oz and was 21 inches long. Her head circumference was 35 centimeters.

I was scheduled to be induced on Thursday and had to be at the hospital at 5am. I was having contractions during Wednesday night, but only lasted about 30 seconds each and on average were about 7-8 minutes apart, plus they weren't intense, so no need to go in before 5am. However, Aubrey would have probably been born on her own accord if we waited a day or 2. My doctor had called us the night before our induction to let us know that she forgot about an obligation she had to attend between 10:30a until noon, but we decided to stick with the induction plan and just hope that my doctor would be available when it was "go-time."

We arrived to the hospital at 5am, got checked into our room and I was hooked up to the pitocin by 6am. When they checked me in the morning, I was still only at 3cm and 75% effaced. Then, the doctor came into assess me before 8am and I was still the same. By that point, I had been getting pitocin for almost 2 hours and I was pretty discouraged that I hadn't progressed at all since I had been at 3cm for almost a month already. I was just thinking to myself "Here we go again!" Natalie's induction took forever and was exhausting with 3 hours of pushing. My pitocin levels got up to 10 and I was definitely feeling the contractions, which with Natalie I didn't feel them until my water broke. I decided to get the epidural before my water broke this time, which was done around 11a. This time, I could still feel the contractions, but it was more of a dulling sensation than painful, which was different from Natalie since I couldn't feel anything and had to rely on the nurse for a contraction. After the nurse checked me, I was at 6-7cm. The resident was going to break my water (at least what was left of it since I was leaking some), but the doctor asked him to hold off because she was on her way. When she arrived around 12:40p or so, she broke my water, checked me and said I was ready to go after having me do a "practice push." The doctor and resident gowned up, the baby nurse and my nurse were ready, and it was officially time to push.

THREE pushes later and Aubrey Kate arrived by 12:49p. It was a whirlwind and a completely different experience than Natalie!

Happy Mommy after only 3 pushes!

Proud Daddy

Already sucking her thumb

In love!

With Grandma Andreae

Big sister Natalie meeting little sister Aubrey

Happy family of 4

Grandma and Grandpa Brodzinski

  

I absolutely LOVE this picture!

Our celebration dinner

Grandma with her girls

Sleepy girl 

Nails all ready for a manicure 

Daddy with his girls

Ready to go home! 

Big Sister Natalie 

I got to do skin-to-skin with Aubrey, then she latched on right away to breastfeed. So far, although I think Aubrey looks very similar to Natalie, she seems to have a much different personality so far.

We were hoping to leave the hospital on Friday since I was feeling good and Aubrey was doing good, but the pediatrician on-call wouldn't let us leave since Aubrey's white count was only slightly elevated. However, when our pediatrician came by on Saturday, he said everything looked good and we just needed to make an appointment in the next week or 2. I was getting cabin fever in that hospital room, so I was ready.  I was pretty bored on Saturday since in the morning, Bobby helped some friends move. Then, around 11, Bobby and Natalie came up and it was just our little family hanging out before discharge. Natalie was good and we all ate lunch together. We were discharged by 2p on Saturday, and off we went to our house to become our family of 4 (well 5 including Rusty)!

I was really bad about getting pictures with everyone who visited, but our visitors included: Grandma and Grandpa Brodzinski, Grandma and Grandpa Andreae, Aunt Amanda and Uncle Matt, Abbey and Tim Fouse, Joel and Hailee Lauritzen, and Big Sister Natalie!