Happy Friday!

6 weeks

Taylor had her 6 week doctor appointment. After the Dr. looked her over thoroughly, he announced that she was "perfect", which of course we already knew! She weighed 10 lbs 10 0z which is in the 75th percentile, she was 23 in long, 90th percentile and her head was in the 25th percentile (which the doctor said was a good thing). She also started her vaccinations this visit. This consisted of three shots and an oral vaccine. Watching her get those shots was heart wrenching. She cried the hardest I have ever seen her cry for amount 30 seconds, I loved on her and she went to sleep. It amazes me that she gets more and more precious each day.

Happy Birthday to my mom!

Yesterday was my mom's first birthday as a grandmother!!!!

Happy Friday!

Five Weeks

Taylor's fifth week of life was filled with lots of firsts (of course) and lots of fun. Despite the wonderful feedback I received about letting her cry it out, Pete and I decided we were not ready for that method of parenting, and stopped doing it with the thought that we would revisit it when she was older if need be. However, thanks to the God sent invention of a pacifier and the hard work involved with getting her to suck it, I do not think we will have to return to the CIO method. We are now able to lay Taylor down in her bed, awake, with a pacifier and she will go to sleep by herself. It is WONDERFUL!!!!!! Now instead of the inconsolable crying, she sucks the day lights out of that pacifier and Pete and I feel like we are regaining some sanity. Thank you Lord for the Nuk!
This week included Taylor's first Thanksgiving. We had planned to travel to Georgia to spend Thanksgiving with my family, but after much thought and prayer, decided that we did not want to expose her to the possibility of germs and a 6 hour car drive. We instead, stayed at home and cooked dinner and had her first Thanksgiving as just our family. My parents and Clay stopped by on their way back from Georgia to see Taylor.
The day after Thanksgiving we bought our Christmas tree. We set the tree up in the library and decorated it with the ornaments that we bought last year at the after Christmas sales. I thinking it is our prettiest tree we have ever had and I love turning it on at 1:30 in the morning as I am feeding Taylor. Taylor likes laying on the rug and looking up at the lights and listening to Christmas music.

Taylor's first Thanksgiving. A ten pound baby and a ten pound bird!

Meeting her Uncle Clay for the first time.

Taylor's favorite new spot in the house.

Four Weeks Old

Taylor's fourth week of life as been a little slower and low key. We reread Baby Wise and are working hard to get her on a schedule. Keeping her awake long enough to eat and putting her down for her nap awake are the two most difficult parts. We are letting her cry it out during her naps and that might be one of the hardest things we have had to do. Hearing her cry and not picking her up seems unnatural and mean. But, we are powering through in hopes that she will be much happier in the long run. We are praying that the Lord gives us guidance and wisdom each day.

Her yawn might be the cutest thing I have ever seen in all of my life!

Visitors

We were blessed this week to have many wonderful visitors. Colt came and stayed with us for the weekend, on Monday Don and Delores came and spent the day with us, Tuesday my mom and Granny game up, Wednesday, two friends form school came by, Thursday my best friend Lis drove up, Friday my mom spent the night, Saturday my church threw me a shower, Sunday, my aunt Katie and my cousin Cora drove over from the other coast. The weeks was filled with family, friends and lots of wonderful memories.

Taylor and her Grandma

Don's only granddaughter and he thinks Taylor is perfect!

Uncle Colt

Melissa is pregnant with Taylor's future best friend! :)

Taylor getting some love from Lissa

Cora and Katie with Taylor

This was Cora's first time holding a baby. We feel very privilaged that Taylor got to be her first.

Three Weeks Old

Taylor's third week was one of learning (for Pete and me) and crying (for Taylor and me). Taylor had been eating well and sleeping fairly well but there was quite a bit of evening crying. Pete and I tried our hardest to figure out if she was hungry, gassy, tired or just upset. We did a lot of walks around the house and a lot of different holding positions (the football hold was especially helpful). Pete wisely enlisted the help of his earmuffs and that did take the edge off when her cries were cutting to the bone. It broke our hearts to hear her cry and not have any idea how to help her through it. We also gave Taylor her first real bath, she was not sure what to think. Although the crying was trying at times, each day we were reminded what a gift she was and felt deep gratitude for the opportunity to be her parents.

Pete, after a long evening.
Sweet baby girl!

2 Weeks Old

Taylor had gained a pound at her two week check-up, weighing 7 lbs. 12 oz and measuring 21 inches long. These are some pictures of Taylor at two weeks old. We think she is so beautiful!!!