A Day With Daddy

The Cubs lost.......

Another Great Weekend in Austin

Well, we went back to Austin this past weekend for an ortho conference and got to stay at the Barton Creek Resort again! I'm beginning to really like this place. We left Thursday and came home today, Saturday. Friday was an awesome day! Brandon had to be at the conference early (6:30am) so I planned to sleep in. No can do. Not with a baby. I was up shortly after he left. However, Catherine did sleep from 11:30 to 7:30 that night so I can't complain too much. Anyway, woke at 7:30 with plans of going back to sleep after feeding Catherine. Again, didn't happen. But that's ok, because we ended up having the best day ever!!! After feeding, I moved the little angel to our king sized bed and propped her up on Brandon's pillow. She loves to be in the bed, fell right back to sleep. I rented He's Just not that into you on the "On Demand" channel and ordered room service. Yummy Buttermilk pancakes with candied pecans, maple syrup and a bananas foster cream sauce and a latte - $26 - but worth it! It was so good, the best pancakes I've ever had. Then I rented another movie - Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Tried to watch movies that I knew Brandon would not be upset if he missed. After watching Bev Hills Chi, I took a nap with Catherine. Then Emily Ellwood, an old friend, came by for a chat. When she left, Catherine and I jumped in the tub for a relaxing soak. She loves to soak with me in the tub. Brandon came back from his conference about that time, helped me feed and dress Catherine and we were off to the Salk Lick for some good ole Texas BBQ! What a lovely day! And this is why I never want to work again!

Catherine's BIG weekend

Gee I really love you, and we're -

This past weekend we went to Austin for Jon Paul and Andrea's wedding! It all took place at the Barton Creek Resort, and WOW, it was beautiful! I was a bridesmaid, so I got to participate in all the wedding festivities! The day started with a bridesmaid luncheon in the hotel restuarant, followed by a trip to the salon for hair, nails and toes! Catherine was with her daddy all day while he got (tried to) some reading done. I returned to the room just before the wedding started to grab a few last minute things and found a very stressed, half dressed husband with a screaming baby. Brandon was trying to get dressed for the wedding but was having a few mishaps along the way. Apparently the whole day was filled with "mommy duties." Brandon didn't get any work accomplished. And he wonders why I have all this time off for maternity leave but don't get much done throughout the day. Catherine requires a lot of attention :)

After getting dressed (Catherine too!), Brandon and Catherine attended the wedding. They sat in the back so Brandon could leave if she started crying. I of course was at the front, standing with the bridesmaids. Fairly soon after the ceremony started, Brandon left. Later, he said she was doing well until the Jewish cantor began to sing in hebrew. Apparently she didn't like his voice. Everytime he sang, she cried.

But the rest of the evening she was a real trooper. She slept through the reception, band and all. Must have been tired from her day with daddy. At one point, the band called for all UT graduates to come forward and join in singing The Eyes of Texas. I was holding Catherine (a future UT graduate) at the time, so I took her up there. She cried the whole time..... I guess she wants to be an aggie??

Everyone thought she was sooo cute in her little pink dress. We searched for a long time before finding this perfect little dress fit for a princess.

I just have to end this post by thanking my wonderful husband! This weekend was a special weekend, getting to be a part of Jon Paul and Andrea's wedding. Brandon never complained about watching Catherine so I could go shopping for a dress for the rehearsal dinner, never complained about the money I spent on a dress (and shoes and cardigan and the other things I found while searching for a dress for the rehearsal dinner). He got off work early on Friday and hurried home so we could leave. He watched Catherine all day Saturday so I could attend all the bridesmaid functions. And he kept Catherine occupied at the rehearsal dinner and wedding reception so I could enjoy myself. Brandon is the best husband and friend I could ever ask for, and I thank my lucky stars everyday that I found him! I have thought often over the past few weeks about how much I truly enjoy being a mother to our little girl. It's no secret I am dreading the day I have to return to work. But one thing I am quietly aware of and appreciative of is having Brandon as my partner in this adventure. Sharing this with him has made my experience so much richer, and I love him even more for that!

Watch Me Grow...

Date	Weight	Length	Head Circumference
Birth	5.0 lbs	18.3 inches	32 cms (12.6 inches)
May 18th (2 mos)	10.0 lbs	21.5 inches	15.5 inches

Weighing in at a WHOPPING 10 lbs...

I went to the doctor yesterday for my two month check-up. Everyone was so excited to see me because I have gained so much weight - look at me. For a preemie, they said I'm doing great! I weighed 10 lbs even, was 21.5 inches long and my head circumference is 15.5 inches - all in the 25% for a FULL TERM baby! Dr. Filak is really awesome. She told mommy not to change a thing because I'm doing so well. I have a little umbilical hernia that mommy was concerned about - not to worry, Dr. Filak says it's "tiny" and should resolve on it's own by my first birthday. Mommy also asked about my diaper rash and my heat rash - neither of which concerned my doctor. She said it's just a normal part of being a newborn! We also talked about my favorite pastime - grunting! It's not a problem, may be a sign of reflux (which we are just going to watch...), and I should start cooing soon. I still haven't smiled, but I think I'm trying in that picture up there.....

Everything was going very well and I was cruisin through my check-up until Dr. Filak told us bye and left the room. Mommy didn't redress me right away, we just waited, and waited some more. Then another lady with blue eye shadow came in with some sharp objects and some little sticky strips with bugs bunny on them. She told mommy to give me kisses while she held my little legs down.... OUCH! I hate bugs bunny!

Bath Time!

This week we have battled diaper rash and spitting up. I just can't seem to rid the diaper rash completely. I change her diaper every hour or two, or whenever I hear her go. I apply buttpaste with every diaper change, and it just wont go away. The past few days, I have been letting her do tummy time without a diaper so that her little bum is in the air and can dry completely. I think this is helping some. But she poops a little something Q5minutes!


A collage of Daddy giving Catherine a bath. She likes her bath, as you can probably see. We bathe her in the kitchen sink in a cute little tub that our friend Sarah gave us. It has a sling insert for newborns that she can sit in - which she is quickly outgrowing. She's a real ham.

Brandon took this week off and has really enjoyed spending time with his daughter (mini-me). They hang out on the couch together while he reads or does his research. Catherine loves her daddy!

Well, better go, a snuggle bug is waking up...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Happy Mother's Day!

Today was my first mother's day, and it sure was fun! I am really enjoying being a mother to such a beautiful and wonderful little girl! And a wife to such a loving, supportive, and thoughtful husband!

My day started by waking up with my husband and feeding Catherine around 8am. Brandon took the 5am feed :) so I could sleep in a little. We then visited with my dad who came to visit late last night. After helping out by mowing our yard for us, my dad left to go visit Grannie for Mother's Day. We took showers, bathed Catherine, dressed her in a beautiful pink dress, and went to La Madeline for a Mother's Day brunch. It wasn't very busy when we went, so it was a perfect outing for little miss Catherine. After lunch (and another bottle), we went to the Houston Garden Center. I love to garden and have really missed doing so in the past months. I can't wait to introduce Catherine to plants and flowers when she gets a little older! We bought lots of flowers and greenery for the front flowerbeds and will plant them tomorrow morning when it's a little cooler outside. Houston in the summer gets pretty hot as most of you know!

To conclude my first Mother's Day, I am sitting on the couch, Catherine in my lap with full tummy, blogging. What a perfect day!