Enjoying the Newborn Days

Having a newborn has turned the Acklen household upside down, to say the very least.  This little bundle of squirming sweetness has thrown us all into an alter-universe of sleep-deprived fogginess. Just now, at the beginning of her 8th week, are we beginning to regain some sense of normalcy. A new normal, as a new baby tends to change everything, in a good way of course.

Josie's siblings are all absolutely crazy about her, and can't wait for the chance to hold her and fetch things for Mama. I never run out of extra arms to hold her in a pinch. A HUGE help, they are. The poor things has been going through a bit of a colicky spell for the last few weeks, but seems to be coming out of it. To the makers of Mommy's Bliss Gripe Water, I'd just like to take a moment to say...Thank You.

Josie has been a busy little bundle, meeting some very important people....

Josie and "BB", my grandmother, at 10 days old (Josie, not BB--Ha!)

With our Paw-Paw (her great-grandfather), the sweetest man on earth!

 

 

6 weeks

 



8 weeks old

Just this Sunday, already holding her head up while having some tummy-time on Papa's (my Dad's) chest. She is growing way too fast! 

 

 

First sibling pic!

Josie Amelia Is Here!

Hello, World!!!

She arrived yesterday (Friday, Jan 11) at 8:39 am, weighing in at 7 lbs, 1 oz, 18 in long. She is like a sweet little shortstack of pancakes :). Too precious for words. We are still in the hospital, where they are being very good to us. Hope to be back home by Monday. Here's a sweet little pic of Josie with a family friend, Mallary, who came to see us yesterday:

My parents brought the kiddos up to see her and they were over-the-top excited! The girls got to hold her, but Elijah had went on to run some errands with his Dad and when they returned, Josie had been whisked away to the nursery. So he did not get to hold her. The poor thing was very disappointed. While on said errand, Elijah asked his Dad to take him to buy me some flowers. He brought back a dozen pink roses, and two of my favorite candy bars. Just for his Mommy. I'm amazed at my kids sometimes....(tearing up). I mean, it just doesn't get much better than this, does it?

 

Yes, those are socks on her hands--someone forgot to bring mittens :). 

A Bit of Preggo Talk & Letter to Josie

Because, consequently, I am now 36 weeks, which puts me a mere 2 1/2 weeks from delivery (C-section scheduled for Jan 11). So...at this point, being heavily with child, it pretty much consumes my every action and thought. Actions being those akin to a mama walrus clumsily scooting itself across a beach. If sheer size were not enough, add in hemorrhoids, constipation, and a pulled rear end/leg muscle to the picture. I think miserable is a good description. And, yes, I did just blog about hemorrhoids and constipation.

Josie Amelia, we await your arrival with great anticipation. We can't wait to hold you and kiss you and hear that first red-faced cry. To watch in wonder as you snuggle up for your first feeding. To count your tiny fingers and toes. To sigh with relief that the 9 long months are FINALLY over :). That you're OUT. Because, dearie, you are somehow managing to lay on both my bladder and tailbone all at once.  Your Daddy is so patient to administer wonderful back rubs every night, but I sense that he too is ready for his wife to return to normal. I can tell that you are running out of room, because your movements are not quite so frequent and small, but slow, big and pronounced.

I wonder if you will be a thumb-sucker like your two sisters. Hopefully the paci will be a good deterrent. Speaking of your sisters, they are two very excited little girls. They love to get out all your pretty outfits and bows, bibs, and blankies and oo and aahh over them. So far, there has not been one inkling of jealousy, though that could change once you are here and taking up so much of Mama's attention. Your big brother still acts a little miffed that you are not a boy, but I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees you for the first time. No doubt he will be completely smitten.

You have a slew of cousins, aunts and uncles, and a church family waiting to love you. You have two sets of great-grands and still around as well. Plus 5 grandparents. You are a lucky little girl. 

I hope that you have grown accustomed to the ruckus around our house from inside your cocoon. Don't be startled when yelling, singing, and caterwauling breaks out around you. It's just the normal goings-on around here. Soon you will be adding your own wail to the chaos. Welcome to the family!

Wrapping Up 12 Weeks

Yesterday (Friday) marked the end of my 12th week! The first trimester is almost gone! I'm gonna be honest, it was rough! I don't remember feeling so bad with my first three. Maybe it's because I didn't have 3 children and all that they entail to take care of, or maybe it's because I was 4 years younger. But, I am happy to report that each week is getting better. The ever-present nausea is subsiding, and I'm down to one nap a day instead of two. My family is so thankful! I have been one cranky Mama (ashamedly). I didn't even like myself!

The kids are SO excited about the baby and are always talking about names and monitoring my nutrition to make sure I am eating healthy for the baby. At mealtime, I can expect to get a suspicious, "Mama, is that healthy for the baby?" from one of them before we leave the table. So, I make sure to have at least one good-for-you item on my plate! They keep me accountable :).

On Wednesday (the 4th of July), we were returning from spending the day with my father-in-law and step mom-in-law when a girl pulled out in front of us and caused us to have a T-bone collision. We hit her on my side (passenger) and although everything seemed fine, the paramedics advised that I go in for an ultrasound for precautionary reasons. I was having some pain across my abdomen, which I believe was caused from the seat belt, but my husband was worried sick and insisted we go to the ER. They ordered a vaginal ultrasound, and as you can imagine, I was overjoyed at the prospect (sarcasm, anyone?). The technician was on-call and was evidently not pleased to be called into the ER on the evening of her 4th of July holiday. She was very curt and rude, not the sort of attitude you want to see in a person who is about to perform THAT kind of procedure on you.  I'd had one before, and it was pretty quick, although not quite painless. But oh, boy, this time, it was neither of the above. At one point, I was so uncomfortable and asked her was she almost done. Her reply: "What do you think this is, McDonald's? Do you want to have this done at McDonald's or a hospital?" I'm still not quite sure what McDonald's had to do with anything, but I think Ronald would have been a lot more pleasant to deal with at that moment.

Although the screened was turned away from me, John saw two little feet moving  and said it looked like he/she was sucking its thumb. I think at this point their hands are always up by their mouth, so hopefully that is the case and we will not have a 3rd thumbsucker!

We are once again camera-less, so no 12 weeks Mama/Baby pics :(. Hope to remedy that soon! But, while looking through my files this week, I came across this one of when I was about 8 months along with Emma. I love this pic! I can't believe how little my babies were and how much they have grown!