How my baby has grown!

September 16th- (birthday)
8 lbs 5 oz
20 inches

October 1st-
9 lbs 5 oz
21 1/2 inches

November 20th-
12 lbs 12 oz
23 inches

January 3rd-
15 lbs 4 oz
26 inches

This girl is growing way too fast. I swear sometimes she looks bigger in the morning than she did the night before! She'll be 4 months old in a week and a half and she is already wearing all 6 month clothes.
She seems to be feeling better every day and is sleeping better at night. (YES!!) The antibiotics are a pain to give her because they don't taste yummy and sweet like the old pink stuff. This stuff is white and chalky. Yuck.
I know some of you want to see new pictures, but we haven't really taken any lately. I'll post some eventually. Have a great weekend!

Plans? What plans?

Well, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! Belated, I know, but don't people always say better late than never? :) Things have been crazy around here. Not the kind of fun crazy where you get to run around town and meet with friends or shop or go to the movies or go out of town. It's been almost boring crazy, if that makes any sense. My last day of work was Friday, the 21st and that is also when the official Christmas break began for Koby. I had plans. So many plans. Some of them big, some of them small...either way they were plans. But, I've realized that sometimes (especially when you have a small baby) things don't always go as planned.

I planned to catch up with some friends for lunch or dinner, or both...didn't happen.
I planned to work on my photo albums...didn't happen.
I planned to catch some of the after Christmas sales somewhere...didn't happen.
I planned to walk every single day...didn't happen.
I planned to get Olivia's ears pierced...didn't happen.
I planned to finish putting up some decorations in Olivia's room...didn't happen.
I planned to transition Olivia from sleeping in her bassinet to sleeping in her crib...didn't happen.

Okay, I think you get the point. Olivia has been sick since about Christmas Eve. At first we thought it was just a cold, but then after about a week she began having a fever so we took her in to see the doctor. She did have a cold, plus an ear infection. We started her on antibiotics expecting her to show some signs of improvement within about three days. Not so much. I took her to see the doctor today and now she has two ear infections and a new prescription for stronger antibiotics. I hate that she is sick and I hate that we have to give her strong medication that will probably give her an upset stomach. Selfishly, I also hate the fact that she is waking up just as often, if not more than she did when she was a newborn. I am exhausted all over again. Oh, and did I mention that in the middle of all of this we were "celebrating" Christmas and New Years? Honestly, I feel bad that both Koby's parents and my mom made the trip from Abilene to see us. At any given point at least one of us, and sometimes all three of us were in rotten moods. Can you say bah-humbug? Anyway, I'm hoping that we'll all get on the sunny side of life soon and get a better start to 2008.
In the meantime I have no plans...none, whatsoever! ;)

Pictures...

...just because she's so stinking cute!!!

Last Days

Today is Olivia's last day of day care...for a while at least.

Tomorrow is my last day of work...at least professional work.

For some reason I am full of emotion and I have a feeling that I will cry as I leave the day care with her, similar to the way I cried when I first walked in. I guess that I'm somewhat nervous about my new role of stay at home mom. I know that I really want to take this route, but I also know that it will take a lot work to be the kind of mom and home maker that I want to be.

I guess only time will tell...

So Much to Say

Almost a month has passed since last time I blogged so there is a lot to catch up on. Read on if you are interested...

Olivia is now 12 weeks old (Koby says she's already 3 months but I say she's not 3 months until December 16th). Anyway, she is really growing so quickly. At her 2 month checkup she weighted 12lbs 12oz and was over 23 inches long. She is babbling quite a bit and loves to sit in her bumbo chair that Rachel let us borrow. She smiles all the time, especially in the morning and when she wakes up from taking a nap. She's really starting to be curious about her surroundings and makes the cutest little faces. She has even mastered the pouty, stick out the bottom lip face! I'll have to take a picture of it sometime.

Thanksgiving was awesome!! We went home to Abilene, but before that we woke up in the wee hours of the morning to welcome the Campbell's back to Texas! It was so wonderful to see Irene, James, John and Rosemary...and I guess Philip too! ;) I missed them so much! Olivia loved spending time with her Tia Irene and getting to know her cousins.

Abilene was busy as always, but we got to hang out with the family, eat some tamales (at my parents house) and some turkey and dressing (at Koby's parents house). We even got to play in the snow! It was the nice fluffy snow too! We wrapped up the trip with a "Meet baby Olivia" baby shower at ACU, an Aggie win against t.u., and some Taco Bueno. What else could you ask for?

The latest news in the Weatherford household is quite possibly one of the biggest decisions that we have made in a long time. Today, I gave my two weeks notice at the office! My new job has the sweetest title ever... MOM. Before Olivia was even born, Koby and I decided that I would not be a stay at home mom and that I would continue to work full-time. Boy how things change. When Olivia was born my whole world came to a screeching halt, re-prioritized itself (without my conscience input) and then took off at a pace I can barely wrap my head around. I look in the mirror and see parts of new person that I never knew existed.

Olivia started day care last week and I started back to work. I'm only working 1/2 days right now so I get to pick her up at noon. She did okay, except that she refused to take her bottle every single day. We've been practicing for quite a while and some days she takes it just fine and other days she puts up a fight...but she always end up taking it. I feel terrible because she doesn't eat until we get home at about 12:45. Everybody has been saying, "She'll take the bottle when she gets hungry enough." Yeah, okay. But in the mean time it kills me to know that she's not eating.

Anyway, for so many reasons that I don't have the time to list right now, we decided that it was worth the sacrifice for me to stay at home. This choice feels right and leaves my heart at peace. However, I will need to find some way to make some money so if you have any suggestions, please share.

I'm excited to start the new year with a new baby, new goals, new challenges and my new job!

Koby & Irma plus One

So have any of you seen that show on TLC called Jon & Kate plus Eight? It is amazing! This couple has a set of 6 year old twin girls plus 3 year old sextuplets! EIGHT KIDS!!!! I can't even imagine what their lives were like when the sextuplets were infants. I'm sure it was chaotic beyond belief (as if it isn't right now). Anyway, whenever I feel like complaining about how crazy and complicated my life is now as a mother of a two month old, I try to remind myself that I have it pretty easy and my respect for mothers of multiples soars to an even higher level.

Speaking of my two month old, Olivia has made me so proud this week...

Yesterday, she took a bottle for the very first time (she even took it from me)! I was really nervous about trying one out for some reason and lots of people told (or warned) me that she might reject a bottle from me because she wants the "real thing". But, she did just fine and took a nice nap on her Daddy's chest afterward. We'll see how she does again today.

Last night she was a little bit fussy when I put her to bed so I was worried that she was going to wake up a lot during the night and I was particularly tired last night. Well, it was the complete opposite. I laid her in her bassinet at 10pm and the little angel didn't wake up until 4am to eat. AWESOME! Six whole hours of non-stop zzzz's for me! It gets better...after I fed her and changed her diaper she went back to sleep until 8am.

Today, for some strange reason (maybe the good night's rest) I decided to go to the grocery store with Olivia. No, I haven't been to the grocery store by myself with her since she was born. I've been to lots of other stores, but most of them have dressing rooms where I can feed her and I'm not having to shop for perishable goods. Anyway, she didn't make a peep the whole time I was there. It was a great trip all around. The store wasn't crowded, the shelves were fully stocked and Olivia snoozed the whole time.

Gold stars and smiley faces for this week!!!

Well, time flies when you're having fun! I absolutely can't believe that Olivia is almost 8 weeks old. It really seems like just the other day that we all came home from the hospital. By the way, I'm confused about something...maybe somebody can clarify. When would Olivia (or babies in general) officially turn 2 months old? Is it at her 8 week mark or two months from her birth date? Anyway, we are all doing great. Olivia generally sleeps and eats like a champ but she REALLY likes to have all the attention on her when she's awake, which is okay but cumbersome.

We recently finalized childcare arrangements for Olivia since I'll be heading back to work in about 4 weeks (tears pouring). We had originally gone daycare "shopping" back in the spring because everybody told us that places had waiting lists that could be several months long. Anyway, we made arrangements with a place and those arrangements ended up falling through. They switched directors sometime this summer and blah, blah, blah. So we were out the $50 deposit and left with 2 months to find childcare. We finally found somewhere this week and it turns out that another little boy that we know from church who is 3 weeks older than Olivia will be starting there too. I'm still not thrilled about the idea of her staying anywhere other than with me (or one of our family members, but none of them will drop everything they are doing, quit their jobs and move to College Station!!!) but I'm sure she will be just fine.

Well, she just woke up and is ready to eat...until next time!

Long time no post...

BIG, HUGE, apologies to those of you that regularly check this blog to keep up with us...

Olivia is growing so quickly! I'm not sure how much she weighs but I know she is growing at a pretty rapid pace. She is already outgrowing some clothes, which I did not expect to happen so soon and is wearing a size 1 diaper instead of the newborn size. Time has really flown by and I can't believe that she is already 6 weeks old. It has been a whirlwind of a journey so far.

She is a really good baby and for me to complain would be plain selfishness. For the first 3 or 4 weeks I didn't have the courage to get out of the house much. I basically stayed inside the house and only went out when Koby could come with us. Now, Olivia and I paint the town every day!! No, not really, but we do get out pretty much everyday. I've learned that dressing rooms make excellent places to nurse her and that she is quite fond of her stroller, so long as it is in motion!

Koby is head over heels in love with his little girl. When he comes home from work the first thing he does is rush right over to her to hold her close. She loves to look at him and rest on his chest. I'm really blessed that he is so helpful and patient and there's nothing more precious than seeing the two of them together!

I'm doing great. Recovery from labor was not as bad as I thought it would be. Except for the extra weight I'm still toting around (and the lack of sleep) I pretty much feel like my normal self. I will be able to stay at home with Olivia until December 3rd. I wish I could stay with her for a lot longer...she's growing, but she's still so little. For the month of December I am going to work 1/2 days and then I'll go back full time after the Christmas holidays.



She is just beginning to give us some "real" smiles and I happened to coax one out of her after she woke up from a nap. Her mouth is stained purple from the medicine she is taking right now... Thanks for all the phone calls, e-mails and prayers we've received over the last several weeks! We really appreciate everything! I will try much harder to update more often. I'll set a realistic goal...at least one post a week, WITH pictures!


What I'm ExCiTeD about...
THANKSGIVING!!! We will be going to Abilene to see our parents and to see Irene, Philip and the kids. It has been since late July since I've seen them and that is incredibly too long! We are also having a "meet baby Olivia" shower at ACU. I can't wait!!

3 Weeks of Olivia

We'd love for you to meet...

...baby Olivia Kate Weatherford!

Sunday, September 16th at 5:30pm

8lbs 5oz

20 inches long

Both Koby and I are madly in love with our little sweetie and still can't believe that she is ours to keep. Everything went well with labor and delivery. It was everything I expected it would be, but at the same time nothing like I expected it would be...if that makes any sense. Anyway, here are just a few pics as I don't have much time right now. But, I assure you, there will be many more to come!