2 Months Old!!

My Dearest Cutie-pie,

I cannot believe that you are 2 months old.

Time seems to move faster since you've been born. And yet some days it seems like time stands still (you'll understand one day when you're a mommy).

You've had some more changes this month.

You are now officially a "cloth baby". You look so cute in your cloth diapers. I just patting your little bum (Sorry Mommy's kind of strange, I'm sure you'll get used to it). You go through about 10-12 diapers in a 24 hour period.

Another change is how much you eat. You take about 4-5 oz. now every 3 hours. The first week of this month you were only being breastfed and I was so excited and happy that I was able to give you that. But something happened and now we're back to the bottle, breast milk and some formula. Sometimes I start to feel guilty about this, but then I just look at how happy you are and how much weight you're gaining. Just know that I am trying to do what's best for you because I love you so much.

Another change is the way you have started looking directly at your daddy and I. Last month you just looked everywhere but now you follow us with your eyes and sometimes make eye contact. It's so wonderful.

Sometimes we set you on your play-mat and you just stare at the toys. Sometimes you even grab or kick them. And you really like talking while you play.

You are starting to make even more sounds now and sometimes we even think you laugh.

I am so happy to be your Mommy and I hope you always know that Daddy and I love you so much Chloe!

love-

Your Mommy

Adventures in Cloth Diapering: What are all those snaps for??

I know that most people are not unfamiliar with today's modern cloth diapers. Most people that cloth diaper now days do so not only because it's better for the wallet and environment, but because they are just so adorable! I mean seriously, have you seen how cute some of these cloth diapers are!?

When Christopher and I made the decision to cloth diaper we did so for one big reason; we honestly can not afford disposable diapers (and it just makes things easier that they are so cute).

When we first started apartment hunting we wanted to find apartment with a washer and dryer. Well unfortunately we could not find one that we could afford, so that's when I started looking for alternative ways to wash our dirty diapers. I found the Wonderwash. It makes hand washing so easy.

Although the wonder wash makes it easier there still is a whole process.

The Process:

As soon Chloe makes a #1 dirty diaper  I put it (diaper and insert) in the wonder wash barrel. When she makes a #2 dirty diaper I rinse/wash it off in the toilet and then put it in the barrel. Once the barrel is full (about once every 24 hours) it's time to wash.

First)  I soak all of the diapers in hot water for 15-20 minutes. And then drain.

Second)  I put detergent in the barrel and then fill it up with hot water again. Then I crank/spin the barrel for 1 minute. (60-70 rotations) and then drain. 

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Third) Rinsing. Next I fill the barrel up with warm water, spin for a minute and then drain, and then I do another rinse with cold water, spin for a minute and drain. 

Fourth) I ring out the diapers and hang them out to dry. Inside or outside depending on the weather.

Fifth) Lastly I stuff the inserts back into the diapers and snap them up so they can look neat. And then I put them away.

 I know that cloth diapering is not the most glamorous thing in the world but it saves our little family money.

The Start of Something New... (Don't judge my High School Musical title.)

We're here... We're finally here!!
We are now living in our own place. I always have hot water!! I don't have to wait on my brother for the bathroom! Chloe has her own room! I have my own kitchen, again!
I'm sorry for all of the exclamation points but I'm so happy!

And now for the "Grand Tour"

So here's our living room...

and this is the view of our kitchen from our living room...

the rest of the kitchen.

our bathroom... I know super interesting.

And our bedroom

I have almost finished unpacking and everything is getting organized.

(I don't want to post pictures of Chloe's room until it is completely finished. We are still needing some furniture for her.)

Christopher has started back at Chick-fil-a and has started taking classes.

As happy as I am to be here I am also pretty sad. Christopher and I had really started to find our place in Owasso. We had friendships there that we've never had in Springfield. We are already missing our friends. We are already missing our church. We pray that we can make some lasting friendships here soon.

One Month

( I realize that I'm a few days late, but I did write this out on the day she turned One Month old.)

My Sweet Chloe,
Today you are a month old! Your Daddy and I cannot believe it! You have already grown so much this month.

Things that have changed in this month;
When we first brought you home your hands were all wrinkly and red but now they are smooth and match the rest of your body.

A few weeks ago you hated your bouncer and swing but now you usually go to sleep soon after I put you in either one of them.
When you were in the hospital right after you were born they had us feeding you 15 ml every 2 hours (a little over 4 oz. a day). But now you drink 3-4 oz every 3 hours. You're still taking both formula and breast milk.

One of my favorite things to do with you right now is to give you a bath. You still cry when I wash your body but as soon as I start to wash your hair you stop crying and start closing your eyes and calming down. You love when I wash your hair! (I love it too!)

This past week you have started to make coo noises, It's adorable!

You are such a snuggle bug!! You love to snuggle up next to Daddy when he lays on the couch. You usually burrow your face in his chest.

 You have been in disposable diapers all month but we are about to start putting cloth diapers on you next week (you're actually big enough for them now.).

You were dedicated the day before we left Oklahoma. Everyone was so supportive and kind. Your Great-Grammy and Great Aunt Laurie even came! We promised in front of everyone to raise you in a way that would be pleasing to God.

We just moved into our own apartment and I am starting to get your room set up. I am so excited that you are going to have your own room. I can't wait to get everything set up in your room. I LOVE your crib it's so precious.

I cannot believe you have already been here an entire month! We love you so much Chloe. This month has been so life altering but so rewarding! We can't wait to watch you grow more and more into the woman God has you to be. I love you baby girl!

- Mommy

What I've learned since becoming a parent

As I was sitting in my room pumping I was trying to come up with a new blog entry.  I thought it would be a good idea to write about motherhood so far. I am obviously an expert since I've now been a mom for three weeks (please note the sarcasm). Oh and I'm sure I've heard mothers say all these things but I guess I'm more of a hands on learner...

What unconditional love actually means.

Imagine someone making you so frustrated that you want to scream and cry and then seconds later that same person making you so happy and proud that you completely forget how upset you were 5 seconds ago. I mean it's obviously easy not to hold a grudge when she doesn't understand what she's doing but still such an awaking to how Christ loves us.

Being a parent is not easy. 

I remember thinking in high school how cool it would be to have a baby. I even took one of those classes where you take those microchip babies home and have to takes care of it every time it cries. So unrealistic! There are times when Christopher and I have stretched to our limit and we have to find strength from some place deep inside. Chloe doesn't know how tired we are when she has gas all day or cries for no reason, but I do hope she learns very soon that Christopher and I are always here to help her when she needs us.

This season will one day end. 

The crying, the late nights and early mornings, the frustration of not knowing what is wrong, the diapers, the screams from my daughter as I change her clothes yet again, the checking every minute to see if she's still breathing, the breast pumping, all of it will one day fade away. As I sit here and imagine all of these things going away it gets me to thinking about all the other things that will go away with them. The sweet tiny cry she made her first week (that's already gone), the times I get to hold her and watch her sleep in my arms, the silly faces she makes without even trying, the sound of her breathing in her cradle next to me, the little baby sounds she makes, how teeny tiny she is, how proud I am when she lifts her head or finally burps, getting to put her in adorable outfits every day, when Christopher holds her with such gentleness. The more I hope for this tiring season to pass the more I see that the good will pass too. I need to make sure to breathe in this long, sleep deprived, season because it will be gone before I know it.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

I love being a Mommy and I love this girl so much!! Thanks for reading.

- Allie

Chloe Mayme: Birth Story

I went in with Christopher on Tuesday night at 8pm.

I had a scheduled induction. They wanted to give me some medication to soften my cervix before I was to be induced.

When we went in the receptionist had my paperwork right next to her, all ready for me. She told us to wait in the waiting room for a nurse to come and get us. We waited for what seemed like forever. There were two other groups in the waiting room with us. They were anxiously waiting for loved ones to deliver. It made me excited and anxious about what was to come.

When the nurse came I had butterflies in my stomach. Her name was Erika, and she was one of the prettiest, nicest people I have ever met. She put me right at ease with her smile and wonderful explanations. She walked us down to my delivery room.

Once we were down there I changed into my gown and answered some questions. They hooked up some monitors to watch my contractions compared to Chloe's heart rate and then gave me the first dose of medication to soften my cervix. I was told that it might start contractions. They then told me that I would get the other half in the morning around 1am. At this point I was not dilated at all.

At midnight I started having contractions that were 2-3 minutes apart. When 1 am arrived they decided not to give me the rest of the dose because I was having so many contractions. At 4 am my water broke as I was using the restroom. Let me just say, how disgusting it was! I am so glad I was in the hospital when it happened. Once my water broke they checked my cervix again and I was still not dilated.

At 5 am they started the pitocin (it's what actually induces labor). Once it started, my contractions were every minute, and they were terrible. They were a little worried for awhile because Chloe's heart rate sometimes  would drop after I would have a contraction. My nurse told me that if it kept happening that they would have to take me in for a C-section. They watched her heart rate all morning and it seemed to get better.

At noon they checked my cervix again and it was only dilated 2 centimeters. I was so frustrated and in so much pain. I had been having a contraction every other minute for 12 hours. My original plan was to not have an epidural. We didn't really have money for the epidural deposit so we had planned on going without. I told Christopher that I couldn't handle it any longer (especially if I was only 2 centimeters) and he asked the nurse if there was anyway we could still ask for the epidural.

About 10 minutes later I got an epidural and oh my goodness... Not only was I no longer in any pain, it sped labor up so quickly. I know there are strong opinions about epidurals but I just decided that it was what was best for our situation. I absolutely loved my epidural. I took a three hour nap and when I woke up it was time to push. 

While I was pushing my doctor told me that she could see her head but that she was having trouble coming out on her own. My doctor had to suction her out. (We later found out that Chloe had her hands in her face and it made it harder for her to come out on her own.)

The moment Chloe came out was so amazing. Seeing her for the first time gave me such a wave of wonderful emotions. She had so much hair and was so beautiful. She made a tiny little cry. She had to be rushed away so they could clear out her throat because she couldn't breathe because she had so much fluid in her throat. Christopher went with her and they brought her back a minute later (it seemed like a lot longer though). While they were cleaning her off all I could do was look at her while the doctor worked on me. They brought her to my chest and it was such a precious moment. I was finally holding my daughter in my arms. I cannot properly describe how amazing it was. She was so beautiful and perfect.

She was born at 5:07 pm and weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces and was 20 inches long. She was healthy and here.

My second favorite moment was when I got to see the love of my life holding our daughter for the first time. His face was so priceless. He was so happy to finally get to feel his daughter in his arms.

We later were moved to a postpartum room and had some family and friends visit.

It's been five days since her birth and as tiring as these days have been I would not trade them for anything. All I can think about is how one day she will be all grown up and I will miss these sweet precious moments with her. I already want her to stay this tiny forever...

"Be still my beating heart..."

James 1:17

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

These pictures were taken by mdvisuals.

Induction Day Thoughts

My Dearest Daughter,

I am so excited to finally meet you! I am going in to the hospital tonight to start the induction process. I wanted to write to you about what your father and I are thinking and feeling, and maybe some advice to you in the future when or if you ever have children of your own.

Our thoughts are totally on you. We are so excited to finally get to kiss your cheeks and hold you in our arms. We already love you so much. Something that your father and I take great comfort in is that God loves you even more than we do.

Psalm 139:14-18

        I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

I awake, and I am still with you.

I hope you always know that no matter how scary something seems that God will always be right by your side. I am very scared about these next few days but I know as soon as I see you it will all be worth it. 

Your dad is worried about our safety. But I know God's ways are always higher than our ways. 

Your dad is taking such good care of me, calming me down, helping me practice breathing, and so much more. I hope that you find a man someday that is as wonderful to you, as your daddy is to me. He is such a caring man and I can't wait to see how he is with you. 

I cannot wait to develop a relationship with you Chloe. I want you to be able to talk to me about anything. I don't want to make our relationship all about me. You are so precious to me and I want you to know that every single day of your life. I never want you to feel like you disappoint me. I hope you never have to question my love for you. I love you so much! 

You are already so strong and you haven't even been born yet. You are already in our hearts Chloe.

See you tomorrow, 

Love, your Mom