Why I'm a Shut-in. An Example

Going out during wonder week (fussy period preceding acquisition of new developmental milestones)...

So I decided to go out yesterday and get an outfit to wear to a NYE party we're attending tonight. Bill was going to meet us so he could watch Calla as I shopped. i even pumped a bottle to save time if she got hungry during the trip.

When i got ready to leave... dead battery. i thought it was an omen... Bill says it's because i never drive my car anymore. Anyway, he picked us up. In spite of wonder week, Calla was being pretty good. We put her in the stroller in hopes she'd continue her car seat nap.

She started fussing while i was in a dressing room. Some nosy old woman told Bill that the baby was to young to be shopping and stood there staring at him while he tried to calm the baby. He told me about it and I was so mad i wanted to find her and give her a piece of my mind - but who had the time for that!

He gave calla the bottle and she was fine. I went into dressing room again and then i heard my baby screaming. Being the bottle newb that I am, I forgot the vent thingie, the bottle worked fine at first, but then it spilled milk all over Calla. :( She was soaked!!! And mad!

THEN when I changed her into dry clothes, I discovered the spare outfit i brought was too small!!! I guess my 11 wk old is officially wearing 6-9/6-12m sizes now, no more 3-6m. I just had to squeeze her into the outfit, which was a footed one-piece (poor Calla), so she wouldn't be naked until we got home.

In short, it was an adventure! I told Bill that my fear of that kind of outing is why i'm being such a shut-in lately. He reminded me that we have had several good outings, too. True, but i was SO glad to get home.

Test

Too Cute Not to Post

This will be my last post of the day, I promise! This was too cute not to post, though:


Calla (11 Weeks) with her dad.

Xmas Tree

Vids from Xmas

More to come...

Merry Xmas

Merry Christmas!

Calla's New Friend

Among the Xmas gifts from Gram for Calla was a Raggedy Ann doll who has quickly become Calla's best friend. I had no idea that she could become so fond of a toy at this age, but she has.

She "talks" to the doll, she smiles at the doll, and today when her mother carelessly positioned Calla where she couldn't see the doll, she cried real tears until her friend Raggedy Ann was back in sight!

Calla with her friend:

Xmas Is Next Week???

We haven't even begun shopping! Yikes! Oh well, at least Calla is ready:





The cape won't fit around her neck/chins!!!

Calla Is Two Months Old Today!

And she had her first shots. (See the band-aid on her chunky little thigh?)


She didn't cry when she got her shots! I nursed her while it was being administered and she didn't even flinch. She hated the cherry flavored oral vaccine however. I'm glad she didn't find the shots traumatic since we're using Dr. Sears' Alternative Vaccine Schedule, which requires more sticky pokes overall.

Here's Calla's stats:
Weight: 15 pounds even
Height: 24 inches

She's healthy and doing well!

Calla Good

Cooing on Cue

Calla wants a cookie?

Cat and Calla were in Calla's room and Cat thought that Calla said she wanted a cookie. A few seconds later I heard it with my own ears, Calla said "Cookie" clear as day. Was this a coincidence or is my daughter already knowledgeable of the power of cookies?

Poppa Bee

Recent Photos

We've been a bit busy lately. Never too busy to take photos, though. Here are a few:

Calla in a great mood after her nap.

Calla all bundled up.

Calla and her daddy watching the ceiling fan. Fun!

Proof I fit a turtleneck around Calla's neck/chins.

A rare photo of Calla giggling. Although she smiles and giggles often, these photos are hard to get because she stops smiling when the camera comes out.

Calla @ Abyssinia

Calla was a good baby when the family went out for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.

Calla Holding Up Her Head

We have five straight minutes of video where Calla is holding up her head like this:



She's so strong!

Happy Baby!

Calla has been returning my good morning smiles for a while now, but today was the first day she smiled at me first! Aww! She has been extra smiley this morning. Maybe she's happy to be back home?

Here are cute pics of her grinning on Friday before we went on our road-trip:

Thanksgiving Weekend -Calla's First Road Trip

Calla hamming it up with a diaper on her head:


Calla went on her first road trip on the Friday following Thanksgiving when Poppa Bee drove the family to middle Tennessee so we could introduce Calla to several of my relatives. She met her uncle, both sets of great-grandparents, her great-aunt and great-uncle, as well as her mama's Nanny T, along with a slew of cousins and family friends. We all had a really good time. I loved showing off Calla, who was quite the charmer overall.

She was extra good in her car seat during the four hour drive to our destination. She didn't cry at all. We made sure to stop frequently to change her diapers and see if she wanted to eat. I was so proud of my little darling, who used to cry at nearly every red light or stop. She was on her best behavior.

On the ten minute drive from the hotel to Aunt Susie's house, however, she decided to cry and scream the whole way. I have to admit this drive took place during her usual "fussy period" anyway, and I couldn't blame her for not wanting to be in the car seat anymore after being in it for such a long time already.

We had a really great time visiting with Aunt Susie and Uncle Cayce, Granny and Gene, Aunt Linda, Cousin Richard, and Cousin Lindsey along with her two adorable daughters: Kylei and Savannah. The girls were fascinated with Calla and loved stroking her baby hair. They were too cute! Calla slept for most of this visit, even though I was hoping she would wake up so they could see how fun she can be. Everyone was in love with her anyway, though!

We were worried how she'd sleep in the hotel, but she did great on Friday night. Thank goodness because Mama was still tired from Calla's antics on Wednesday night when she was up half the night nursing and fussing. Everyone woke happy and well-rested the next day.

We'd hoped to introduce Calla to her Grandpa Ron, but he got sick and had to go back to the hospital the day before. She'll meet him later, though. She got to spend Saturday afternoon with his parents, Mamaw and Papaw. A little mystery was solved when we took off Calla's hat and Mamaw said, "Oh! She has red hair, just like my daddy!"

Calla was very alert and being cute. She managed to entice my 85 year-old grandfather to join her down on the floor. He was rewarded big big smiles after he told Calla that she was prettier than both her mother and father put together (which is true, after all).

We got to see her Uncle Charlie briefly before he left to go visit Grandpa. We also got to play with Mamaw and Papaw's "baby," Gizmo, a spoiled toy chihuahua. Giz has a bib and Mamaw spoon feeds him his dog food. He's very smart and sweet.

Later that evening, we returned to Aunt Susie's for a delicious dinner. In addition to Uncle Cayce and Aunt Susie, Richard, Granny and Gene, my Nanny T (Teresa), and Cousin Jennifer and Terry were there. It was so great to see everyone. Dinner was delicious, and we had a lot of fun. Calla woke up and even smiled a bit, especially when everyone laughed after Poppa Bee put a diaper on her head. She had Granny down on the floor with her this time!

Want to see photos from the trip?

Everything went so well, I can see us going back to visit again soon. I really found it exhilarating to be out of the house. It was sort of surreal to go back home, where I spent so many years of my childhood, with my own child in tow this time. And I found it very heart-warming to watch these people I love fall in love with Calla.

From Our Little Turkey...

Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends and family!



We had a great time at Grammy and Popples!

Here are a few photos.

I've been thinking of how thankful we are for all the wonderful people who have been, and continue to be, such a big help to us: care provider professionals, relatives, friends, and neighbors.

October 2008 DDC (Due Date Club) at Mothering.com
What would I have done without the ladies in my online DDC? I'm still in touch with these women (as much as one can be while caring for a newborn). Being able to discuss the numerous questions and concerns that come along with being pregnant for the first time with other women who are going through the same thing is invaluable. Better yet, these were mamas who shared my enthusiasm for natural childbirth - a rarity among most of my friends and relatives (though I got plenty of support from them).

Dr. Rina Roginsky
The perfect doctor for the first two trimesters of my pregnancy, Dr. Roginsky was very attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. When I had a bleeding scare early in my pregnancy, she was able to calmly reassure me that everything was all right. I was disappointed when she moved during my pregnancy, but it gave me the opportunity to discover the perfect doctor for my last trimester and Calla's actual birth.

Prenatal Yoga at Evergreen Yoga with Laura Allen
My pregnancy went so smoothly. I had very few physical complaints aside from morning sickness. I honestly believe that practicing prenatal yoga weekly up until Calla was born had a tremendous effect on how great I felt. Not only did yoga keep my body feeling good, but it helped me relax and focus. Laura at Evergreen is a great instructor, and a warm, friendly person.

Melissa Stallings, DEM
Melissa is a midwife, who served as my doula (monitrice). A doula can be described as being a professional labor coach. I think that without Melissa there's no way my birth experience could have gone so well. Having her around while I was laboring was such a reassurance. Having never been through labor before, it really eased our mind to be able to rely on her expertise. She helped Bill help me and be involved in the process, which was very important to both of us. Also, she is such a really cool, down-to-earth person. A really good person to know. If I were to become pregnant again, I would love to have the baby at home with Melissa as our midwife.

Dr. Lanetta Anderson Brooks
If you ask around for an OB who is experienced with and supportive of natural childbirth, you'll hear about Dr. Anderson. Bill and I immediately took a liking to her when we first met her. She wasn't the type of doctor who merely tolerates the notion of natural childbirth, but she really seemed to understand, respect, and even advocate it. Also, she came in to deliver Calla even though she was not on call, thanks to Melissa calling her. Dr. Anderson and Melissa Stallings work together wonderfully as a team, which was another benefit of selecting Dr. Anderson.

Aunt Stacy
Bill's sister is a former L&D nurse who is an excellent Lactation Consultant and Childbirth Educator. Along with her medical background, she has the practical experience that comes with being the mother of three. She has given me great advice on birthing naturally at her workplace, helped write my birth plan, gave Calla her very first bath, came to our rescue when breast feeding was going abysmally at first (and as we all know it's going quite well now), and so much more.

Methodist Germantown Childbirth Classes
These classes were great for learning what to expect during pregnancy, labor, at the hospital, and once we got the baby home. Our teacher was awesome, and just happens to be Calla's aunt! We're so glad we participated in these classes. We had a lot of fun while learning so much.

Dr. Alison Stiles
Calla's pediatrician is awesome! She understands breast feeding, having successfully breast fed her own child. Also she is very patient. She always takes the time to listen to our questions and give us knowledgeable answers while being respectful of our concerns. We're very happy with her.

Our Family, Friends, and Neighbors
To keep this post from getting too long, I'm grouping these together. It has been so touching to see everyone share in our excitement. We have been blessed to receive their advice, wisdom, and a seemingly endless stream of gifts (for which I still struggle to send thank you notes!).

Bill began referring to all these individuals as Team Calla while I was still pregnant.

THANK YOU TEAM CALLA!

Great Big Grin

Happy Baby!

Getting a photo of Calla while she's smiling is proving as elusive as Bigfoot footage. I didn't get my camera phone on in time to catch the big big smiles, but here you can see a pretty happy baby from yesterday. This was taken just after I stripped some extremely poopy clothes off her and was preparing a bath in the big tub for us since we were both covered in poop!
Calla LOVES to get in the big tub with me. Never fails to get big smiles.

Calla's First Bottle

I am proud to announce that Calla has taken her first bottle and I was the lucky one to feed her! She drank about 2 ounces and did great! Pictures are available here!

Pics

She Peed in Our Bed

But we won't hold it against her, since she's so cute.

View the Proofs from Calla's Professional Newborn Photos

Here's the directions for viewing the adorable photos of Calla! We'll be ordering soon. I'm so impressed with how they turned out especially considering all I remember from the photo session is Calla pooping on me (twice), peeing on me (once), and screaming (non-stop).

Your photography session with Calla is now online! Please visit www.reveriephotography.com and click on "client." The password for your event is "calla". Feel free to give this password to your family and friends. Anyone may purchase directly from the website. Credit cards, checks, and cash are accepted.

If you are interested in a baby parts storyboard for purchase, let us know. It is ONLY sold as a 12x12 or 16x16 artwork. You can either purchase it mounted as a print, or as a gallery wrap canvas. No other sizes can be accepted for the collage.

Check out our specialty page on our website for other specialty items like our designer handbags, custom collages, photo stamps, and birth announcements. Just let us know if you are interested in any of those items as well.

They Grow Up So Fast!

Calla is one month old today!


Already?

It's amazing how much she has grown in such a short time. Since her birth, she has gained three pounds and and is two inches longer; she can't fit into her NB sized clothing anymore! Dr. Stiles even called her a "meatball" :). I never could have imagined how satisfying it would be to watch her develop. Lately she's begun to give me the occasional open-mouth smile (usually right before eating, the little piggie!), and never have I been more charmed!

I snapped some photos of her during tummy time tonight. She is getting so strong. She can hold herself up for quite a while now. She can hold a toy like her rattle and her beloved Mortimer Moose. She's growing stronger, smarter, and more co-ordinated each day, each hour really, and as I see her master each new skill my heart swells with pride. And she's just getting started, too!





Poppa Bee and I are smitten.


Rattle Video:

From One Month Old Tummy Time 11/11/08 8:00 PM

Cute Snoozy Baby

Calla's Vocabulary at 3 Weeks Old

• Horse Whinny
  
• Bird Squawk
  
• Elephant Trumpet
  
• Clown Horn Honk
  
• Super Contented Nursing Sigh
  
• I'm Pissed Scream
  
• I'm Hungry Scream
  
• I'm Going to be Pissed Whine
  

ETA:

• Anh (means "Hey" in Callanese)
  
• ANH ANH (means "HEY!!!" in Callanese)
  
• Monster Growls when latching on to nurse
  
• Piggy Oinks and Grunts when nursing
  

She's like Michael Winslow from Police Academy!


Well, she's a lot cuter though! Enjoy the photos below:

Flashdance Calla!

Inspired by Calla's cute little BabyLegs (baby leg warmers) and her healthy appetite!

More Pics of Calla - Why Not?

Calla Needs a Vacation!

We knew it was just a matter of time until Poppa Bee photoshopped the baby! Bill says Calla needs a vacation because she's tired from her photo shoot at Reverie today. I'm a bit tired, too. We did lots of nekkid baby pics, and my little angel pooped on me... twice! We're looking forward to showing off those photos soon!

Calla Pics

Cute baby!


Calla with Dad, clean and dry after her first tub bath (which she did not find pleasant).


Calla complaining to her mother about the bath.


Calla's first tub bath.


Calla with her cousins!


Calla snoozing with Dad.

More recent photos of Calla.