Smile!

There is just nothing sweeter than a child's smile and laugh. That's what got me through my workday as a teacher and that's what makes my day with sweet little Siena. She is starting to make little "cooing" sounds, which are few and far between right now, but I know they're coming! But I'm telling you...the smile gets me every time. And I'm proud to say - I think she is actually starting to smile at me now! You see, since we saw the very first smile (that wasn't from gas) the only thing that could make her smile automatically was the ceiling fan! That's right - not me, not Matt, the boring old spinning ceiling fan. It cracks me up! I'll lay her under the fan and she is set - she thinks that thing is the best thing ever! Who needs toys?! But now she will smile at me, which I take as a great compliment - I'm almost as cool as the fan! What a treat! It makes me wonder what goes through her head when she smiles these days. I guess, who cares at this point! I'll take those smiles every day, all day long. It just melts my heart to see her little face and cheeks light up with the biggest smile.
Here's a few pictures of her, smiling away...

Daddy's #1 Fan

Siena is going to have to love football whether she likes it or not! Fortunately for us, so far...so good!
For starters, Siena decided she wanted to come and be a part of the outside world the very morning that football practice started. In fact, we were admitted into the hospital the same time that Matt was supposed to report to the high school for the first official practice. So, right off the bat, she made it very clear that: 1) so much for plans...she's going to do everything in her power to let us know that we are on HER schedule, and 2) Siena and football are going to have to go hand in hand! And that's all fine with us!
On August 14, the football team had their first preseason scrimmage. Siena and I went up to surprise Matt at the game - being 4 days old, he didn't expect us to make it. But we were bound and determined to make it up there! Although we were extremely late due to the "her schedule thing" I mentioned earlier (a major blow-out as we were about to leave the house), we made it before the team left the field. Matt was so excited and showed her off to his coaching buddies and the team. She did great!
Since then, we haven't missed a Friday night! She has done incredibly well! Even at the away games, she held up for the entire game! At halftime, we have the fun ritual of going back to the van to nurse and get her second wind for the second half of the game, but she doesn't seem to object!
This past Friday night, Blue Springs played Rockhurst...a huge rival. For the "big game", Siena and I decided to pull out all the stops and really get her dressed out for the game. So, we put on her purple and gold tutu, her purple sparkly shoe socks, and a big purple ribbon to go in her hair. I couldn't stop laughing! She looked so stinking cute! She was a hit at the football game too. She certainly had the team spirit!
We hope to continue this "good luck" with her and football games. The weather has been wonderful and the games have been great to go to. Siena loves the loud noise and the atmosphere of football - and she sure loves her daddy! As long as she's happy, so am I! Here are a few pictures of her at the football games...

This is her very first football game - at 4 days old! What a trooper!




Here is her in her "pouch" - I love this thing! She must love it too...she's sound asleep!


She's giving a big "shout out" to daddy, cheering him on. How cute is that?! :) Too fun, seriously...

Meeting Laurel

Today our Parent Educator came to the house to see Siena for the first time. As a teacher, I was really looking forward to meeting her and seeing what she had to say about Siena, her development, and what we could do to help her reach her little milestones and grow to be a smart, healthy little girl. From the moment Laurel walked in the house, I could tell it was going to go great. She was wonderful in every way. I got Siena out of her pack-n-play (she was resting up for her "big visit") and I introduced the two of them. Laurel took Siena in her arms and it was so neat to watch the two of them interact. Laurel was so natural with her and Siena was fascinated by her voice, her pictures, and just having a guest in the house.
Siena did a great job tracking the pictures that Laurel showed her. Laurel would show Siena a black and white picture and then move it from side to side. Siena would follow it all the way around. It brought little tears to my eyes to watch my little one grow and show signs of learning and intelligence already. I was so proud of her. It's amazing what a little 5-week old child can already do and comprehend! Laurel would talk to Siena and she even got a couple of real, on purpose smiles out of her! I couldn't stop smiling - just watching Siena was very special for me.
We put Siena on the floor for a little "tummy time" to see what she could do with her neck and back. Again, she just did so amazing! She lifted her head up and moved it around and just looked at everything. We put books up of black and white figures in her view and she looked at them and focused so well! And then, before we knew it...she rolled over!! It was completely by accident and it doesn't mean she can do it all the time, but because her neck is so strong and she was holding it up so long, her momentum just popped her right on to her back!
She also wowed us by using her ears. Laurel would shake a rattle on one side of her head. Siena would stop moving her arms and legs to focus on the sound. I guess that's what babies do when they hear sounds. Then, when the sound stops, babies will wiggle and move around again. But Siena took it one step further...she located the sound and turned her head toward the rattle. That really impressed Laurel (and me too)! I think part of it was also that the rattle was a basketball - and she's already interested in it and wants to play when she gets a little older! :) The other thing I was able to notice clearly was she knows my voice. That was really special moment for me when Laurel pointed that out...with me being the only one home with her every day, I don't always realize those things. And when Matt is home I'm focusing on her playing and recognizing him. So it was really cool for me to see her shift her head and look at me when I would talk with Laurel. We're bonding! :)
I got some great tips from Laurel and plan to really work with Siena to get that brain going and started in healthy patterns. Tummy time, showing her the pictures and having her track them, and reading books to Siena are all going to be part of her daily routine. Unfortunately, we have to wait 6 weeks for Laurel to come back, but we look forward to it already and will work on our activities until we meet again! Thanks, Laurel!!

Oh, the Joys...

Whether I believe it or not, I have an almost month-old baby on my hands! Wow! Time sure flies by when you're having fun, that's for sure! It has been so great spending the days with Siena. We don't do a whole lot - but I sure look at her and hold her often! That's enough for me. :)
Over the past few weeks, Matt and I have gotten a pretty good grasp of what we're doing - all thanks to Siena. She has been such a great little baby. (I'm thinking even if she cried all the time and wasn't so great, I would still say this - but really, she is good!) At her 2 week appointment, she topped the scales at 8 lbs. 12 oz.!!! I gave an instant, "Whoa, is that normal?" reaction - Siena, in 2 weeks, gained almost a pound (22 oz. if you count her dropped birth weight)! I was assured that she was great and is just a really good eater! That being said, our pediatrician said because of her great weight, I could let her sleep up to 6 hours at a time during the night! Hello!! That translates as MOM gets to sleep 6 hours at night too - can you say spoiled?! So, she feeds every 3 hours during the day and then after her midnight feeding we don't eat again till 6! A real treat.
We have had lots of visitors stop by and see sweet Siena - which has been wonderful! It's always nice to have company stop by - that way I get my adult fix in too. Many wonderful people from our church have graciously dropped off meals for us too. I never realized what a treat that is. What I love most about it is that it gives Matt and I that much more time together with Siena. I don't have to worry about food and we can just spend time as a family in the evening...that's what makes the meals so special.
Matt and I have attempted a few baths with Siena too. I think it's fair to assume that a fly on the wall would have pure entertainment at watching us bathe our little one. The first time, we filled the mini tub up way too much and we had water absolutely everywhere in the kitchen. Between a slippery baby and water everywhere - it was a quick little bath, to say the least. We were laughing the whole time...which didn't make it any easier. Poor Siena just had to sit there and put up with us!
Siena has been daddy's #1 fan as she has been to all 4 preseason and regular season football games so far. She's a trooper and seems to love to loud crowd and music at the games. We have a great little system in play: we feed at home, get to the game right at the beginning, go to the van and feed during halftime, and then watch the rest of the game and go on the field after the game to see daddy. It really works out well - and Siena loves the little pouch that she sits in!
Other than that, we have just been enjoying life. I can't tell you how much I love life these days - she fills them with so much joy and entertainment. I love that little girl so much, it's amazing...
Here's a couple of pictures over the past couple of weeks:

With all that hair on her head, we have fun messing with it - it's so hard to keep your hands out of it! She's a good sport...

We sent daddy a hug at work the other day - this is her attempt at an "air hug"! :)

Sweet Siena...sleeping peacefully.

Siena and her daddy...my most favorite time of the day - watching the two of them together.

Siena Grace Marble

Well, it's official...our little angel has arrived! Siena Grace came to meet us on August 10 at 5:36pm. She weighs in at 7 lbs. 13 oz. and is 20 inches long. She is the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on, if I'm being honest (and not biased, of course)!! It has been a wonderful experience.
Matt and I went to the hospital at 4:30am on Monday morning because I was having contractions that were close together and fairly intense. They observed me for a bit to make sure I could stay and at 6am, we were admitted. I really didn't want to be the patient that was sent home because I wasn't even close...and I wasn't! :) For the next several hours, Matt and I just hung out in the room and listened to music, chatted, walked around, and just got more and more excited to meet Siena. When the contractions were getting pretty strong and I became dilated to a 5, the doctor said I should get my epidural - so I did! Boy, does that make the contractions easier! From then on it was just the waiting game. And fortunately, she didn't take her sweet little time! At 4pm I started hard labor. That was a special experience for me as I had been so curious about what that would be like. An hour and a half later, little Siena Grace was born.
For the first hour of her life, Matt and I were able to spend it alone with just her in the room. We cried, we laughed, we stared, we smiled...we just tried to wrap our minds around the fact that this little precious baby is finally here - and all ours. She's amazing. She has a TON of dark hair - to any surprise? She has all her little fingers and toes and she has a set of lungs on her that can't be denied! :) After that hour, and over the course of the next 2 days, we had over 40 people come and see her. Lots of people love that little girl already!!
Now, today, she is already one week old. I love her so very much. She and I have bonded in a wonderful way already. It still chokes me up when I talk about MY daughter - I have a daughter! And speaking of bonding, Matt brings tears to my eyes when I watch him with her. He is the most amazing father - and it's absolutely natural on him. He has done so well with her and she loves him very much. It's a special thing to watch your husband and daughter together. I know that will only continue to grow and strengthen as the weeks and years go by.
Stay tuned for further thoughts! (Although, I can't promise when that will be - my track record hasn't been all that great!) :)

Due To Popular Demand...

What was I thinking - no pictures!! I am very sorry that the last blog entry did not come with pictures of little Siena's room. :) But I aim to please, so here they are...the best I could do. It's hard to take pictures of a room and really get the feel of it, so I guess this is just a taste. You need to come over and see it in person if you want the full effect! :) This is your formal invitation! I have to say, it has been wonderful to walk down the hallway and peek into her room and just smile. I have spent a few hours just rocking in the chair, reading, and listening to sweet baby songs...all in eager anticipation for her arrival! I so badly want to look down into her crib and see her there!! All in due time, I suppose...

Waiting (Not So) Patiently

I thought waiting for Christmas or your birthday was bad - it's NOTHING in comparison to waiting to meet your little one! Matt made the comment the other day that it's like we're living in Christmas Eve every day. We are so excited and anxious for Siena to come...and we wait each day, only to wake up the next day and do it all over again! We are trying to be patient and wait for exactly when she wants to come...but boy, is it hard. :)
The past few weeks, Matt and I have worked really hard to get everything done and ready for her arrival. We have cleaned the house, washed all of Siena's clothes (well, at least the ones she'll be wearing in the next few months), packed our hospital bags, and taken care of lots of little odds and ends things that we didn't want to have to deal with once she arrived. The main project we finished was...her room. Many of you may have heard the "horror stories" of her room, but I'm proud to say that's it's officially done and looks beautiful! But that did not come without a price!
All summer, her room has been "in the works". I had picked out fabrics for her bedding back in March and my step-mom graciously offered to make her bedding. As she worked on that, we found that it just isn't as easy as you ever want it to be. Complications came with that, as some of the material was hard to find, mislabeled, discontinued...you name it, it happened. In late June, the first round of bedding came in. It looked great!! I was waiting for the bedding to come in before I started painting the room. So, when that came, I gave the green light to start on the painting. We wanted to do something fun, yet warm. We started by painting the top 1/3 of the room grey and the bottom 2/3 of the walls orange. The grey turned out real nice...the orange, on the other hand, was quite in your face, to say the least. It was a pretty color, but it took over the room. So...Matt got the job of repainting the bottom orange part with a mustard yellow color - one that was going to accent the colors in her bedding. Before he painted, I did a whole bunch of taping to create a fun couple of lines that went around the room and kept a little bit of the orange and then transitioned into the yellow. Matt painted one wall with the yellow. We woke up the next morning and immediately thought, "Absolutely not!" It was an awful color! It looked nothing like the swatch and it looked more like split pea soup splattered on the wall than the sweet yellow we were hoping for. On top of that, the orange stripe around the wall looked awful. At that point, we were both beyond frustrated and I ended up closing the door to her room and didn't go in there for 3 days. My dad and Joyce came into town in mid-July with the next round of bedding. There were a few tweaks here and there and again, it looked great, but there were a few things that had to be adjusted. We worked on that all weekend, including the third round of paint. We finally landed on a sweet, soft, fun yellow color that looks great with the grey and the bedding! However, due to the amount of layers that were put on before it, we were getting a ledge around the room where the stripe was and so it had to be sanded down and repainted. By the end of the weekend, most of the bedding was done, and the paint was done, but there were many things still needing to come together. Within the next week, the rest of the bedding and fabric was sent to the house - and finally, it was perfect! All the bedding came together and it looks absolutely adorable! During that same week, I hand-painted some little dots on the wall to accent the fabrics and give a little color in the room. They turned out really good too. Matt hung up a bunch of things that I had gathered along the way, and I can officially say...her room is now perfect. It looks just darling! And yet, here it sits, unoccupied...so it won't be complete without little Siena in it!! I also must make the point that I have the best husband in the world - he had to put up with my crazy pregnant brain and my indecisiveness during the entire creation of Siena's room. He was a champ and I owe him one (or ten) for all the things he had to do.
So now, here Matt and I sit. He has off of football this week, so he's home all week. Everything is done around the house...so now we're just trying to find things to keep us occupied while we wait for Siena's arrival. We went to the doctor yesterday and she said everything looks great! Her head is pretty low but not much dialation. In other words, we just get to sit here and wait. We're really hoping she decides to make an appearance this week, as this is the calm before Matt's storm. Football practice starts Monday morning and school meetings start next week too. In other words, craziness begins next week. It would be so nice to have a few days with her before that all starts up, but hey, what do you do? When she comes, we'll adjust and make whatever work!
I am feeling great, by the way. I have been so blessed this entire pregnancy. She seems to have plenty of room because she hasn't made it up into my ribs at all. I've been walking 2 miles every morning with no problem, and basically doing whatever I need/want while I wait. My ankles haven't swelled and I don't have the "I'm going to explode" feeling as I'm in my 39th week. It has been such a wonderful experience and I can't complain one bit. I've been swimming in the pool a lot, and that has been nice too. It's kind of fun to not feel pregnant for a couple hours while I bob up and down in the water. :)
Bottom line - we are so anxious and excited to meet our little angel. We have been waiting to see and know her for so long. She has been such a fighter this entire 9 months and we just want to hold her precious little body in our arms. We can't wait to see what she looks like (and how much hair she'll have)! We are thankful that she is healthy and strong (her legs must be as much as she kicks me) and we will be patiently waiting to meet her for as long as she wants to wait us out. But Siena, don't make us wait any longer!!! :)