Stella is 40 days today and OMG has she changed our lives! She has grown so much (we estimate she weighs 9-ish pounds now) and she is smiling now; she is also one squirmy baby. Stella is staying awake a bit longer now and the 3-hour schedule is basically non-existent now. We basically just feed her when she gives us the sign. I know we should have a schedule with her but Stella has her own schedule and she's obviously the princess of this household now. Anyway, our baby is no longer able to wear newborn clothes...we sadly had to store those away and bring out the 0-3 months clothes.
Ms. Stella went out to have lunch with her grandpa Tom and grandma Elaine yesterday at the Prado in Balboa Park. She obviously had to dress up for the occasion.
It's been 35 days since Stella made her debut. Her progress has been incredible: she can now hold her head up for a few seconds; she likes tummy time; she no longer screams when we give her a bath; she's cooing a lot and also makes some funny monster sounds; and she's found her hand, so now she's eating her hand all the time. Matthew was a thumb sucker when he was a baby, so who knows if Stella will do the same. On a sad note, my little baby is almost out of her newborn clothes and the newborn diapers are almost too small. I just can't believe how fast she is growing.
Maybe it's her growth spurt; perhaps it's due to all hallow's eve; or maybe, just maybe we have upon us the strange case of the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde baby. Yes, Stella is changing and growing and is becoming a very, um, how should I say this...demanding baby. She is pretty calm most of the time, she laughs and smiles, and becomes mesmerized by the ceiling fan and by her shadows, but if we are even just ONE MINUTE late in feeding her, she goes crazy. And I don't mean crying like a baby, but actually screaming and she even frowns at us as if trying to say, "What are you two doing? I'm starving ova hea!" Anyway, I guess we have to read her cues of hunger earlier and we definitely need to work on our communication. I'm thinking I'll teach her how to sign when she's 3 months and see if that will help us out in understanding each other. Hee hee. Here are some pictures with her pumpkin outfit her cousin, Luisa, gave Stella.
Our little Stella smiles all the time when she's asleep. I read that doctors say babies smile because they are passing gas, but Stella sometimes even breaks out on a loud laughter. So she's either really gassy or just a very happy baby. We like to think it's the latter.
Matt and I have turned into photography maniacs with Stella now. I guess this was expected since we're new parents and all. Both of us are quite surprised how fast this little girl is growing. She is almost out of her newborn outfits, but the 0 - 3 months are still too big for her. Here are some so-called artistic pictures I tried to take of Stella. The last picture is of her Winnie the Pooh outfit she received from her tia (or cousin, I'm not sure), Claudia.
Yesterday my baby turned 3 weeks old. Stella has been an incredible little baby and so far this baby journey has been overwhelming, fun, tiresome, amazing and definitely a learning experience.
I can't believe how much Stella has grown in just three weeks. Her face is beginning to change and she is already shedding a little of her hair. Her eyes remain gray, so it's a mystery what color her eyes and hair will eventually turn to. Stella is already trying very hard to put her head up and we've discovered that she's an anti-swaddle baby. We're trying to keep her on a 3-hour feeding schedule, but at night she can "sometimes" go 4 hours. Stella has been a pretty good baby, so far. She only cries when she's hungry, needs to be changed or is gassy. I'm looking forward to the next three weeks and see what other amazing changes this little girl goes through.
Stella's umbilical cord fell off last week and so now she was ready for her first bath. It was a team effort: Matt cleaned her up while I held her head and shoulders. Stella didn't like the water much at first... and she cried throughout the entire bath (it only took us 5 minutes because we were trying to do it as fast as possible) and Stella finally settled down when we towel-dried her. Hopefully she'll start enjoying her baths more as she gets older, but the good thing about the bath is that we gave her her bottle and she immediately fell asleep. Awww, we got three hours of precious sleep!
Stella will be two weeks on Thursday and she has already gained 5 more ounces. She weighed 7.3lbs on Monday. So our little gelflin is doing great, it's just the sleep and eating schedule that is causing me much sleep deprivation. Thank goodness Matt does the morning feeding this way I can get 4 hours of non-stop sleep.
Stella's jaundice is almost gone and her umbilical cord finally dried off, so she'll be getting a bath soon. Her grandparents from Minnesota will be visiting her on Thursday and I think they'll be so happy and smitten with our little one. Right now all she does is sleep, eat, poop and pee, and sleep some more. I'm having issues with my breastmilk--I'm basically not producing enough so we are supplementing her with formula. One of my sister-in-law's friend's let me borrow her electric breast pump, so I'm hoping that will stimulate my boobies to produce more milk. I'm not giving up yet, though, I'll give myself another two weeks. At least Stella is getting some breastmilk, albeit it's not much but I hope that it will give her some of the antibodies that I know she needs.
Stella has also had many visitors this past week: so far her great-grandparents Sanchez have stopped by, tia Mary and Adrian, prima Mara, bis-abuelita Amador, tia Isela, cousin Tito, Claudia, Diego and Carlo, pinchi Michelle and Ben, uncle Tom, tia Lindsey and prima Luisa, and her abueltios Tom, Elaine, Danny and my mom. Also, her uncle Michael is here visiting from New Mexico. Below is a cute picture of Luisa saying hi to Stella. I just can't believe that not too long ago Luisa was just a little as our little Stella. It's amazing how these little babies grow so fast.
My little baby girl has arrived! She came a week early, but that's OK with mama and papa. Stella Marie was born on October 1, 2009 @ 10:32pm. She weighed 6 lbs and 15 oz and was 20" long.
The whole birth was definitely something I will never forget. And yes, the entire pregnancy and the labor (and the labor pain) was worth it. It all began on the night of September 30 and I was experiencing extremely bad cramps and lower back pain. Eventually, the back pain started coming every 15 minutes apart then 9 minutes then 7 minutes. I wasn't sure if I was in labor because all the pain was in my back. I never experienced any belly pain. I called the doctor and told them about the back pain and they told me I was having back labor. I said, "WHAT?" I had no idea there was such a thing. And let me tell you, the back labor pain is excruciating. I mean it felt like a thousand little ice picks were stabbing me. My doctor told me to go to the hospital and have them check me.
So, Matt and I were doubting that I was really in labor because we were so used to seeing pregos on TV with the stomach pain and their water breaking, and nothing like that was happening to me. So on the day of October 1, I actually worked from home for a few hours, then we went to the Harley dealership, and ran a few other errands. By the time we got to the hospital it was 12:30pm. The doctor checked me and I was only 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced. He didn't want me to go home, so he told us to go walk around for 2 hours and come back. Once we did, I was 3 cm dilated and 100% effaced. I got checked-in to the hospital. By this time, the back labor was 3 minutes apart and the pain was getting worse.
The doctor decided to break my water, and about an hour later I was 5 cm dilated. Now the back pain really began and I asked for an epidural. By the time the anesthesiologist got to me, I was now 8cm dialed and in so much pain that I was shaking and crying. Finally I got the epidural and around 9pm I was 10cm dilated and started pushing. My little baby girl was born an hour and a half later...and yes, I know I'm not a typical first-time pregnant mom. The nurses were all telling me I was a text book delivery case because it went so good; I beg to differ, though because that back labor was unbearable.
So, in case you didn't know, there is such a thing as back labor. I never knew about it and I was upset because I read so many books and magazines on pregnancy and there wasn't much about the back labor. Basically, this happened because Stella was "sunny-side up" and her head was pushing against my back.
But, like I said, the pain, the pregnancy, the whole shebang was worth it. I am extremely overwhelmed and scared, but at the same time beyond happy and so in love with my baby girl. She is adorable and the most beautiful baby I have ever seen.
I was 38 weeks pregnant last Friday and we have 2 weeks to go before your grand arrival. The doctor gave me an estimated due date of October 9, however your daddy and I are hoping you'll get here a little sooner (perhaps by this weekend?). Eventually you'll find out that my pregnancy with you hasn't been a piece-of-cake. I've gone through all the pregnancy ups and downs like morning, noon and night sickness, leg cramps, migraines, back pain, UTI's, champagne withdrawal, and too many food aversions to write down. And today I found out that the pain I've been experiencing on my tail bone that radiated down my left buttock is actually sciatic nerve pain. Oy! But, despite all this, I'm not regretting anything and I think your daddy and I made a good decision in planning you--and yes, you were planned despite a lot of shock around the family when they found out I was with child.
Your nursery is 99% ready and you have to thank your dad for all his help. He painted it pink for you, although he wanted to leave it blue. He also painted you a beautiful wall mural that I think you'll love. I already washed all your baby clothes and put them away. You have SO MUCH stuff already, it's incredible. Thanks to your three grandmas, and all your tias and especially your cousin Luisa for all your lovely clothing and shoes and socks. You will also have a little fat doggie for you a few weeks after your arrival. Her name is Lilu and she's pretty crazy, but she adores kids and will love to play with you when you're old enough. In the meantime, she'll probably play with Luisa when she comes to visit you.
Now it's just a waiting game. I'm actually really hoping you come soon because your mama doesn't feel too good anymore, especially now with this sciatic pain. And your dad is pretty anxious, too, but we know you'll come when you're darn-tootin'-ready. The doctor told me I'm 2 cm dilated and 75% effaced today. Which really means nothing except that my body is getting ready for you to get here so that me and your daddy can hold you and kiss you, and hold you some more and introduce to all your abuelitos, and great-grandparents, and your cousins and tios and tias and all our friends...and your mama can finally have some sushi and a glass of champagne!
I hope that when you get here our weather will let up a little because it has been very hot here in San Diego...and your dad and I have a feeling that you'll end up a warm-blooded Blaha like him instead of a "I-have-to-wear-socks-at-night" Amador like me! Also, Luisa is eagerly awaiting your arrival. She'll probably be walking by the time you get here and I'm sure she'll give you some pointers when it's your time to start crawling and walking. Oh, and you, me and your daddy (and Luisa) know your name is not really going to be Flavia, but we actually enjoyed keeping the family guessing what your real name will be. I think everyone will be happily surprised when we finally announce it! Well, my little mamas, we can't wait for you to arrive.
Love, mommy & daddy
About Me
I'm just a girl who became a mommy and who likes to cook, take pictures of food, watch the Red Sox, drink champagne (although that's on hold right now) and blog about my every day silly mommy and baby life.
