One week later . . .

Summer turned one week old yesterday. I can't believe its only been a week since she's joined us. Garrett loves sharing with her--note the school bus in the picture. The blanket was cross-stiched by Nana.

We sent Brad back to work a day early so he would have a personal day if we needed it down the road. I must say, my first day alone with two kids was SO much easier than I was expecting. Summer is so mellow, she snoozed in the wrap or sling whenever we were home so I could play with Garrett. We went to Brad's office for a quick visit and then to JoAnne fabrics to pick up some stuff to do crafts with Garrett. He loves making things, so I thought it would help keep Garrett occupied while I am off work. When we got home, the neighbor kids were out, so Garrett played with them until it was time for Daddy to come home. He fell down and did a number on his chin and lip, which he was proud to show off this morning for the camera:

Today has been more of the same, the only real issue we are having is Garrett's lack of naps. Drives me insane!! When he is tired, his ears go off and he refuses to hear anything I say. I wouldn't mind the lack of nap if he didn't NEED one, but he definately still does. Oh well, it is what it is.

As for me, a week later I am 15lbs lighter and only 7lbs off my pre-pregnancy weight. I fit in my old jeans already, although they are a little on the snug side, We're walking every night, a little further each time. So all is well on that front!

Little Piggy and Blue Puppy

Yesterday was a good day. Garrett climbed in to bed with us in the wee hours of the morning, but slept until 7, which meant he was pleasant for pretty much the entire day. He didn't nap, despite his daddy's best efforts to get him to do so, but that is neither here nor there. Imagine our surprise when I walked into our bedroom to find none other than THE blue puppy perched on Summer as she napped in her Bassinet. That's right. THE blue puppy. Garrett gave Blue Puppy to his baby sister. How sweet is that! And as soon as she woke up this morning, Garrett said "Let me hold her!" So we did, and he kept saying "She's sooo cute! I like her. Baby Summer, sister!" So that was just the best way to start the day.

Brad's been feeling a little under the weather, so he decided to stay home from the appointment we had with the pediatrician. We wanted Dr. Geraldi to check her out because of the issue of not knowing when my water broke. I was GBS positive, which can be an issue if your water is broken for very long. Summer also had the tiniest bit of meuconium, but she didn't aspirate it. Anyway, Dr. Geraldi checked her out and gave her a clean bill of health. And she has gained--are you ready for this??--2 oz in 5 days. Yeah, most babies usually loose weight their first week, especially little breastfed babies!! Not our little piggy. All she does is eat. So it was a good visit. She and I then went on a solo trip to Target. It was crazy to be out alone with an infant after all this time, but a great precursor to being out with both of them.

Garrett "helped" Brad put his HAM radio in the Focus, and came in filthy. You really can't see ALL the dirt in this picture, but he was REALLY dirty. He has been ALL about the dirt here lately!
And here is my little piggy girl. I must say, I am enjoying dressing her in all these cute girlie clothes. The little jumper is a hand me down from our neighbors, the Largents, and the sweater is a beautiful handmade knit from our friend Sidney. She got so many complements while we were out. Isn't she cute?


Today I took Garrett and Summer out for a while to a playdate here in town so Brad could rest a little--he's feeling under the weather still and was up early with Garrett so Summer and I could catch up on our sleep. It went well enough for our first time out solo--Summer napped in the sling. Garrett had some listening issues, so we came home early. Work in progress!

Helping Hands

Summer with our midwife Laura, 3.5 days old. Not sure we would have had a second baby if we Laura wouldn't have been available to take care of us for our pregnancy and birth.

Photo Overload- not even 3 days old

Summer's first cute little dress, plus proud big brother and the adorable balloon/stuffed animal from the Shumans. Garrett thinks the big balloon is the best play-thing ever.

Our friend Karen came for a visit in the afternoon, so it was all in all a busy day for everyone. Summer took some serious zzzzs in the afternoon!

2 days old . . .

Garrett LOVES his baby sister. That being said, today was not one of his better days. Naps have been an issue with us for a while, and he was just tired today. Brad took him to the pool, and poor Garrett had a major meltdown. He's just been a crabby little grump today, and MEAN. The saving grace is that he is NOT mean to his sister, he loves her to pieces. She was crying and he said "Poor Summer. Daddy, why don't you get her!" He'll also give her kisses and tell her not to be sad. He isn't jealous when she nurses, and will come sit next to me. Occasionally he'll ask me to read him a book, and now that she has the hang of nursing I can actually do both. So I'll take anger towards Brad and I, and escalted 2-year-old misbehavior, over being mean to his new sister any day of the week.

As for Summer . . . she's just easy. She is nursing great now, and is pretty efficient. She does nothing right now but sleep and eat. The only time she fusses is when she is getting changed, when she is hungry or just wanting to be held. She LOVES to be worn, in either the Hotsling or a wrap. I just started doing the whole wrapping thing, but it is GREAT for chasing after Garrett. I have a Moby Wrap that we both love, she chilled in it for half the morning while Brad went to the store (G-man refused to go, so I had them both. It went pretty well!) I can't get over how NOT like Garrett she looks. I have a feeling she looks just like me when I was a baby. I also can't get over how hairy she is! Seriously, she has hair on her ears. :-) But she is beautiful, and sooo sweet. And I am seriously getting excited by the prospect of cute clothes. The first picture is from this morning in a warm little neutral PJ that the Shumans gave us, and the second is her first girlie outfit from Grandma C. She looked adorable in it!



Oh, and a fun little thing Garrett is doing now--singing. ALOT. He can sing all of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and most of "Away in a Manger". He also sings "Life is a Highway" because it is in cars. Pretty darn cute. I'll have to try to get a video of it. He loves doing it when I ask him!

Summer's Birth Story

(Don't read it if you don't want details!!)

This pregnancy was sooo much different from Garrett’s. I had been experiencing Prodromal Labor for a month, and was beginning to wonder if our little bugger was ever going to join us. The day before my birthing time began, we were scheduled for a Biophysical Profile/NST. The tech said the baby had a lot of amniotic fluid, and was big (8lbs 14oz). We decided to find out the sex, after waiting almost 41 weeks, in hopes it would help me visualize the birth better and perhaps help bring on my birthing time. The tech ALSO said that the baby wouldn’t come anytime soon. Ha!

The next morning, Garrett woke me up around 3am for his usual walk-me-back-to-my-room/potty routine. I was having some pressure waves, which was pretty normal for me, and really didn’t think much of it. I decided to try some nipple stimulation to see if it would help them continue or get stronger. I did 15 minutes on the breast pump, and had some decent waves going. They were about 10-12 minutes apart and lasting 30-40 seconds. I checked my email and then went back to sleep listening to my Birthing Guide (Gotta love Hypnobabies! I’d been listening to my birthing guide for a few days, trying to bring on my birthing time).

When we went to the BPP/NST the day before, I picked Brad up at work and left my car there, so the plan was that we would get up that morning and I would take him to work so I could bring my car home. I had a feeling that this was “it”, but we decided to still take him to work. After we dropped him off, Garrett and I went to Target to pick out some cars as his baby gift, and then to Chuck E Cheese. I would have SKIPPED Chuck E Cheese completely, because the pressure waves were getting stronger, but Garrett was looking forward to it and I knew it would be a while before I would be able to do something with him alone, just because, again. So we went for about an hour and he played. I’m glad we did, he had so much fun.

Once we got home, however, I really felt like I needed to rest. Garrett had napped in the car, and was not going to stay asleep once we got home. I called my neighbor to see if she could take him ASAP. Right before she came to get him, my pressure waves definitely picked up in intensity. When I would use the finger drop (Hypnobabies technique) for a contraction, my sweet little boy would poke me and go “Are you awake mommy?? WAKE UP!!” Yeah, time for him to go!! He left around noon. Brad came home for lunch. We decided the waves were about 6 minutes apart, and lasting about 45 seconds to a minute. I was 4.5 cm and the baby was very, very low. We felt like we were going to have a baby soon, but after the way my labor stalled with Garrett, we decided that Brad would go back to work for a couple more hours and then come home early. I listened to my “Creating Anesthesia” track in the rocking chair and dozed for about an hour until my midwife called. I was still able to talk through the waves, so we decided she would finish up her day at the office she works at in North Miami and she would come straight to me from there.

I straightened the house a little bit, cleaned the bathroom, etc. Around 2:30 or so, I lost a little bit of my mucous plug. My waves were coming about 4-5 minutes apart, but were very short (30 seconds). I called Brad and told him to haul butt home. By the time he got there, things were getting VERY intense. Laura was on her way back from North Miami. I knew my birthing time was imminent by now, and was SURE this little one was coming at home. Brad started to fill the birthing tub and got the bed ready. He tried to come to support me through each wave. Around 4 I decided to get in the ¾ full tub, because the waves were becoming unbearable for me. Once in the water, I put on my First Stage track again, this time on the CD player instead of the Zune. About 15 minutes after that, I decided to switch to “Pushing your baby out” since I was having some MAJOR pressure. Brad talked to Laura around this time, and said she was stopping at her house quickly. I told him to tell her to come NOW  I was HOT and decided to get out of the tub around 4:40 or so. Right after that, it was time to start pushing the baby out. I labored on my hands and knees on the bed for the duration, which wasn’t very long. I could feel her moving down and kept telling Brad to check for a head. Around 5 or so, there WAS a head. Brad called Laura to let her know the baby was crowning—she was right around the corner. She came upstairs, and a few minutes later, Summer Elizabeth was born.

I have NO idea when my water broke—IF I really had as much fluid as the U/S tech claimed the day before, I must have had a fast leak. Because there was no gush when she was born. She was covered in vernex, has a TON of hair and brown eyes (Garrett had very little hair and had blue eyes when he was born). It took her about 12 hours to take to breastfeeding. She was 21 inches, 7lbs 13 ozs. (Surprise, surprise, the U/S was off by a whole pound!)

Recovery has been a breeze so far. I was in the shower within half an hour of her birth. No tearing. In fact, I honestly don’t feel like I’ve had a baby. My midwife yelled at me because I asked her if we could go for a walk at our 24 hour appt.  Summer is finally getting the hang of nursing, and is SUCH an easy baby. She let us sleep 2 - 4 hour stretches on her second night, which I thought was pretty darn good!!

First night with two kids

Can I just say our first night with both Garrett and Summer home went WAY smoother than I ever imagined?? We had an early dinner (Thanks Leanne!!) and then went out to play with the neighbor kids for a while. Garrett got to go for a little walk with his pal Xander (Thanks Shumans for taking him off our hands for a while, and for the yummy dinner the night before!), and when he came home we started our bedtime routine. Summer is SUCH an easy baby, she just sat in our battery-less infant swing in her room while we read to Garrett. Brad took her to our room while Garrett and I had our cuddle time, and he pretty much went straight to sleep.

After that, we gave Summer her first bath (awesome thing about homebirth, no off-to-the-nursery-for-a-major-scrub-immediately), and she too was out like a light by 8pm. She's already sleeping great in the nursery, and other than the occasional grunt or cry in the middle of sleep, she didn't make a peep again until almost midnight. Garrett woke up around the same time, and it was kind of hard getting him back to sleep. Once we were able to get Summer back to bed, he was willing to go. He took his stool and "helped" me put her back to bed, after giving her a good night kiss of course! He seems to be adjusting so well to her. Garrett finally went back to bed (with half of his new car stash he received from sissy!), and so did we. Summer slept until 4:30, and went back to sleep straight away.

NOT a bad night, at all. Lets hope it continues to go this smoothly! I can't believe our little girl is barely 36 hours old. I feel great, she's getting the hang of nursing now, and Garrett is always asking "Where's mommy's baby?" He'll then say "Let me see her!" or "I hold her!" So far, so good!! More to come . . .

SHE is here!

Summer Elizabeth Compton arrived at home at 5:12 this afternoon. 7lbs, 13 oz and 21 inches. Garrett hasn't met her yet (he's been with the Criders and is staying there tonight, but I think he'll like her :-) Daddy is enamored, I feel great, and the dogs adore her. She's pretty laid back, and not at all interested in eating yet. Oh, and she is a POOP machine. No wonder she isn't hungry!!!

Pictures and details to follow!

Meet Summer!

I still can't believe she's here, and how easy things have been so far. Garrett likes her a lot, but is having to learn how to be nice. He's made her cry a few times already, but immediately says "Sorry Baby!" He'll also go "Poor, poor baby" whenever she cries. So far, so good! Tonight will be the real challenge. We were so blessed that the Criders kept him overnight last night so we could focus on Summer. Now comes the fun part.

She has SO much hair, she definately looks like she takes after my side of the family. Maybe my Dad won't think she's bald, which he said Garrett was when he was born :-)

Being weighed by the midwife

Sleeping with Mommy last night (CHECK OUT ALL THE HAIR!!)

A rare moment where she was actually sleeping in her crib

My husband just LOVES getting his picture taken :-) He's already hopelessly smitten, though.

Garrett holding his baby sister for the first time.

"She's CUTE!" He announces.

Lots of hugs for Baby Summer!

That's it for now. We have no complaints--nursing is going better, and everybody is pretty happy and feeling great. Its so nice to have been home all along. Summer is really laid back, and other than wanting to be held all the time, she's a super easy baby. And who can really blame her for wanting to be held?? :-)

40 Weeks

My "due" date has come and gone. The thing about having babies is that they really don't seem to pay much attention to arbitrary dates (or schedules for that matter). So we are just waiting around for little baby Compton to make his/her appearance. It could still be a week or more, so I wish people would PLEASE stop calling and asking if we "Had the baby yet" . . . seriously, we're as eager to share the news as everyone is to hear it. But it isn't going to happen until this stubborn child is ready!! Garrett was 6 days late, as a point of reference.

Garrett has decided belly pictures are a reason to get excited, because HE wants his picture taken too. This picture is darling, as long as you overlook the fact my son is COMPLETELY naked (He had just gone potty). We've had a nice weekend . . . went to the pool and to Biscayne National Park. Spent some time playing outside and going for walks. Cleaned. Nothing phenominal. Just getting things done while we still can.

Can you believe . . .

That it has been 7 years since the September 11th attacks? It still seems like it was just yesterday. It truely is one of those dates that you will never forget where you were and what you were doing at that time. Brad and I were in college, and had skipped our first class to sleep in a little late. We couldn't believe it when we got to the University Center and saw the footage on the big screen TVs.

In rememberance of 9/11, I thought it would be nice to post all the wonderful blessings that have come our way in the past seven years. Sometimes its so easy to get caught up in the day to day grind, and forget about all of the things we have to be thankful for. This is hardly an all-inclusive list, but just the personal highs.

Brad and I got engaged, and then married.
We graduated with our respective degrees (and Brad went on to get yet another).
We moved into a beautiful house thanks to my Dad, that has definately become home in the past 4 years.
We've had six years of puppy fun from Haylee, and 4 from Aspen, and counting!
Garrett became a part of our lives, and forever changed my outlook on life.
We both have jobs we love, and enjoy.
We've got another addition coming ANY time now!

Thoughts and prayers to all of those who lost loved ones on that aweful day 7 years ago . . . we will NEVER forget.

Wordless Wednesday-2 years ago

Your Garrett-ism for the day

Garrett wanted to go outside to play. Its windy and gross from the outer bands of Ike. Garrett informs me his bug bites are itchy. I tell him we'll put some "itchy stuff" (Cortisone) on it, and that it will make it feel better. He says "Outside make it feel better!" Silly goose.

Another Busy Monday

We had another busy Monday yesterday . . . My Gym in the morning, then out to RSMAS for a quick meeting with my boss and to get a few extra housekeeping things done. Garrett was on pretty good behavior while we were there, which surprised me.

Let me back up a little--our weekend was very nice and relaxing. We were expecting to have to spend it making preparations for Hurricane Ike, but thank God it decided to go much further south. We're getting a little bit of wind from it today, but nothing worth fussing about. We went to the pool, attended a birthday party and just had some good, quality family time.

My Gym on Monday was a blast, Garrett is getting to the point that he really listens to what the teachers say and do what they ask. He is also getting very adventurous, and is willing to try almost anything if you explain it to him. I seem to be having bad camera luck lately--my battery died on me, so I didn't get that many pictures. A few of these were taken by our organizer, Haydee.

With friends Robert and Michael

Yes, I'm still pregnant, no I don't know when the baby will come . . . I'll be 40 weeks on Thursday. Keep in mind Garrett was 40 weeks, 6 days when he decided to enter the world, and even then he was not ready to come out. So we still might have a bit of a wait ahead of us!!

How to tell that your 2 year old is overtired!

If your 2 year old is alternating between crying and shouting "I'm not sleepy" while you are trying to make dinner, then falls asleep sitting in YOUR dinner chair while your back is turned, its probably a good indication he's not getting enough sleep. Seriously, I TRIED to get him to go down for a nap. Just like I TRIED to make him go back to bed when he woke up at 5:10 this morning!! It is 5:30pm, and he is sound asleep. That was one tired child!

Catch up - Long weekend and 39 (!!) Weeks

No, I didn't have the baby!! I wish. Its just been a wierd week around here. We had a nice long weekend, despite yucky rainy weather that kept us inside most of the time. We took Garrett to Chuck E Cheese on Saturday and he had a BLAST since Daddy hardly ever gets to go with us. They drove in the "NASCAR" game most of the time and had too much fun.

On Sunday, we went to the Dolphin mall for a few hours to get out of the house. Stupid rain! Then Brad had to go to my office for a little while, so Garrett and I went next door to the Miami Seaquarium for about an hour. I didn't realize that as a RSMAS employee, I got in for free. I've never been a big fan of the SeaQuarium, and after going again, I would have been majorly PO'd if I'd have paid $35+ go. But since I didn't pay anything, it was a fine way to spend an hour. The highlight for Garrett was not the marine attractions, but the two scuba divers cleaning the dolphin tank. He thought the dolphins were cool, but the "scubie divers" were awesome.

Monday was nothing fantastic--I went in to the office to meet with my boss for a while and get some presentations ready for while I am out on leave. Garrett wasn't feeling well on Sunday night, and woke up with diarreah on Monday. Poor little man. He was telling us he had a "Tummy Headache".

I got whatever he had, and while he is fully recovered, my tummy has been a mess since Tuesday. Its no fun at all. Practically everyone from our playgroup in Homestead is sick, so I have no idea what is going on. At least Garrett is back to his old self again.

Yesterday we went to Chuck E Cheese with our friends Lisa and Austin, again, just to get out of the house. Afterward Garrett and I went to the library and he had a fantastic time playing on a big rug with his cars while I looked for books. He's such a goofball. On the way home, he was proclaiming "No nap, I'm not sleepy" right up to the point he passed out in his car seat.

Sleep has not been good lately, Garrett's been up a ton and is back to becoming a bear to put down. Today he is refusing to nap again. Since he woke me up at **5:15** I am about to die. I've turned the TV on twice now just so I could catch a quick cat nap. I am almost certain at least part of our problem is coming from him watching way too much TV lately, but who knows. I just want to get a LITTLE sleep while I still can before this baby comes.

I'm 39 weeks today--I can hardly believe that. I'm huge, and have gained 20lbs this pregnancy. We see our midwife tomorrow, but I can FEEL that the baby is very, very low. Not that it means anything, it could still be two weeks, or maybe more, before the little stinker arrives. One of our 3 preggers from our playgroup had her baby on Tuesday--a little boy. Like us, she decided to wait to find out the sex.

Jess and Chris brought us a ton of baby clothes, things we loaned them for their little boy and then all of their unisex stuff. So I've been spending today sorting though clothes and just generally cleaning. I know I should REALLY be cleaning, but I'm sooo sleepy! Bleh. Hopefully Garrett will actually go to bed early tonight and we can catch some Zzzz. Of course, part of the reason we are so tired is because I couldn't resist staying up to watch the RNC last night.

I'll update this later with pictures from this weekend from my phone.