8 Weeks Today!

Hard to believe that only 8 Thursdays ago I gave birth to little Isabel. She has changed so much! While she still has those long, skinny legs- she has definitely put on weight and has little chubby cheeks. She has big, blue eyes (that we don't think are going to change) and she is starting to make cooing noises and is smiling now. Each day we play together on her playmat and she stares at the stuffed animals that hang over her head. (She especially loves the purple elephant for some reason). I try to give her "tummy time" but she conveniently throws up whenever I flip her onto her stomach. (I think that is her plan to get out of doing the "hard work")

We have started a bed time routine and she has been giving us a 4-6 hour stretch of sleep on most nights. Next we need to transition her to sleeping in her crib soon as she is getting too big for her bassinet. (Plus she is such a noisy sleeper and keeps her mommy awake)

As for the "no-dairy" diet the jury is still out on that. It hasn't quite been two weeks yet but her diapers are still pretty slimy and irregular in color. Also, she is still having lots of reflux after eating. On a more positive note she does seem less uncomfortable after eating... We will have to keep watching to see.
Jason tried giving her a bottle this week that was 1/2 breastmilk and 1/2 hypoallergenic formula (the type the doc recommended) and she acted as if she was being poisoned. She was NOT interested in formula. Luckily, I am going to continue breastfeeding for at least one more month. All in all, we are very proud of our little girl and all of her changes. Can't wait to see what next week brings.

Shopping with Grandma

It's no secret that Iabel's Grandma Kathy loves to buy her new clothes... but now she has discovered the joy of buying her baby granddaughter accessories. Last Friday when we went shopping Isabel got a new hat and several pairs of baby sunglasses. Her dad thinks she looks silly but we know that all of the celebrity babies shop like this in order to avoid the papparazi!

A Full House

We had lots of company on Saturday. First, my friends Christine and Josh visited Isabel for the first time. Christine was in town for her 30th birthday party and she brought Isabel an adorbale summer outfit.

Christine and Bell

Later that afternoon we had lots of friends over and they all brought their kids. Everyone had a great time and Jason and I got a peek at what Isabel will be like in just a few years. It goes fast because I remember when most of these little guys were babies or just born.
Matt and Zach

Patrick and Frankie
The little ones LOVED Jason. He has the magic touch!

Casey, Frankie, and Jeff trying to save Jason

Vinny just adored Lucky ( or "Ucky" as he called him)

He chased him around and played with him all afternoon.

Meg and Isabel. (Isabel made sure she spit up all over her- sorry Meg)

Getting "mommy advice" from the veterans Cammy and Meg

Casey was so good with Isabel. Someday we will be calling her for babysitting duties.

Happy Baby!

Yes! I finally caught Isabel smiling on film. She still doesn't do it that often and usually stops as soon as I grab for my camera. How sweet is she?

Week 7- Full of Ups and Downs

Yesterday Isabel turned 7 weeks old. This last week has been full of ups and downs for us. On a positive note she is more awake and active then ever. We have been using her play gym every day and it is so hilarious to see her stare at her toys and begin to realize that her hands actually belong to her.
The other day Jason came home from work early and she treated him to the biggest smile ever. It actually made me tear up! It hasn't all been fun and games though. Isabel visited the doctor again this week because of her reflux and gas. Even though I have been off dairy this week she is still very unhappy at feedings, her diapers look slimy and mucousy and she has been very hard to put to sleep at night (poor Jason- he does the evening shift). She also has been fussy and not eating as much at her feedings. We will be going back for her 2 month apt. soon so hopefully she will still be gaining weight.

I had to include a picture of Isabel in an outfit she wore the other day. Her leopard print "uggs" cracked me up and note that her pink shirt from her Grandma Leppin has a dog on it that looks just like Lucky! (BTW-He was not impressed)

Lunch with the Wedling Moms

Today Isabel and I had lunch with the other Wredling moms who are home on maternity leave this year. Michelle (baby born in Nov.), Jessica (baby born in Dec.) Rachel (baby born in Feb.) and of course Isabel and I all spent the afternoon together. It was fun to compare stories and pick up tips from the moms who have been doing this a few months longer. We hope to get together once every few weeks. Isabel will be happy to have so many friends her age.

Bell Visits the Pediatrician- Bad News for Mom

Yesterday we took Isabel to the pediatrician because I noticed that she had been having some strange looking diapers (not to be too graphic but they were dark green and pretty slimy/mucousy).

In addition, ever since we brought Bell home she has had issues with digestion- gassy, fussiness, uncomfortable before/after feeding, arching her back and neck, spitting up etc. First we thought colic, then we tried medicine for acid reflux but nothing seemed to be helping her. The poor thing just seemed uncomfortable a lot of the time but since she was gaining weight well there didn't seem to be anything to do about it. At yesterday's appointment the pediatrician ran a couple tests on her diapers and found some traces of blood in her stool along with the mucous. This, combined with her other symptoms, lead him to believe that she was having difficulty digesting milk protein. He didn't think it was a true milk allergy, just a sensitivity to milk that may be causing her this difficulty.

SO... the good news is that by me eliminating dairy from my diet I may be able to help Bell with her stomach issues. The bad news is I have to eliminate dairy from my diet! (Boo Hoo... cream cheese, ice cream, dressings, dips, cheddar, etc...) This is going to be pretty tough as I have been known to eat cream cheese straight out of the tub! Well, all I can say is that I really love my little one and we should be able to tell in the next 1-2 weeks if it will help her.

Bell Goes Skating!

Today we helped Lorie celebrate her 28th birthday at Funway in Batavia. (Yes, it is a roller rink and the average age of the other skaters there is about 9 years old. ) Jason and I didn't venture out onto the floor. Jason cited an old knee injury as his excuse and I just plain don't have any coordination and haven't roller skated since 6th grade. Instead we hung out with Isabel, ate junk food, and watched everyone else play "4 corners" and do the hokey pokey. Getting ready to go to the party

Me, Isabel and Julie

Me, Isabel and the birthday girl!

Julie and her daughter Aubrie- It was Aubrie's first time on skates

The only wheels we were on all day- Isabel was asleep of course!

Week 6- Lots of Changes

So cool with her new sunglasses (they are a little too big though)

Isabel turned 6 weeks on Thursday. Wow- she is really changing fast. She definitely has been sleeping a little longer at night (thank goodness) and staying awake for longer peiods during the day too. She has been much more alert and active. She makes lots of funny noises, coos, and grunts, and has been making more eye contact with us. I even think she may have smiled at me the other day but then again maybe it was just gas :) We can't wait to catch her first smile on film for everyone else to see too.

We have also had the most amazing weather the last two days and I am loving it. Bell and I are taking long walks in the stroller now and I must admit I could get used to staying home if the weather was like this year-round!

Take Your Child to Work Day..

Today Isabel went to visit her daddy and his coworkers at Benedictine University. We had to get up early and get ready (I am getting better at packing us both up. I don't even think I forgot anything this time) And even though I was woried about the long car ride Isabel slept quietly the whole way there and back. These are Jason's friends from work below. Isabel thought the memo read "casual friday" so she wore her sneakers and jeans.

Isabel at 5 weeks Video

Isabel is changing so much. When I look at pictures of her from the week we brought her home from the hospital I hardly recognize her anymore. It seems like a lifetime ago. Sometimes I just stare at her and try to memorize her face! Here is a clip of us just hanging around the house last week. Enjoy

Happy Easter!

On Saturday night we took Isabel to church for the first time for Easter Service. We sat in the back and we were pretty nervous that she would cry but...... (surprise, surprise) she slept the whole time!

I have to laugh because her "tights" should be called "loose"- they are so baggy they look like sweatpants. We need to chunk up those legs!

My mom and dad made a wonderful Easter dinner on Sunday. We spent the afternoon at their house and Isabel got an Easter basket from her grandma and grandpa and her Aunt Mandy and Uncle Zack.

Uncle Zack, Aunt Mandy, Diane (my sister's mother-in-law), and Isabel

Isabel's Easter outfit was a hit. My mom bought it for her before she was even born. The bows, ruffles and polka dots are a bit over-the-top but soooo cute! When my sister and I were kids we ALWAYS wore Easter dresses and bonnets- this was a flashback.

Here I am with Isabel's Easter baskets. She got new socks, tights, a Cubs outfit, clothes, and a book about the real meaning of Easter. Thanks guys!

My Uncle Terry finally got to meet Isabel for the first time. Based on her long, elegant fingers he predicts she will be an artist or musician. (She certainly won't get that talent from Jason or I)

Here is a family portrait. I love to take family pictures- Jason gets impatient with my incessant picture taking. Isabel doesn't like to cooperate either. Whenever we take the camera out she looks away, falls asleep, or makes a face like she is having gas!

Another pic of Isabel's Easter outfit

With A Little Help From My Friends....

I love my girlfriends! This Saturday all of the girls came over to meet Isabel and then took me out to lunch without her. It felt so great to get out in the sunshine and have some girl talk. Jason got to be the stay-at-home daddy today. (Of course she slept peacefully the whole time for him:) Thanks for arranging this Colleen- It was a much-needed break! I loved catching up with you all.

Mommy and Isabel

Arian and Isabel

Kelly and Isabel

Becky and Isabel (This will be you soon Becky!)

Kristin and Isabel (she is expecting again too!)

Terri and Isabel