Sarah's first Halloween

We went to Charlie's for Sarah's first Halloween yesterday and had a blast. All four of us dressed up as cats, very appropriate given the acronym for our names KATS (Kathi, Alessa, Tom, Sarah). Sarah was wide eyed and amazed at first, but then fell asleep and slept peacefully in her car seat, through all the noise and the award for cutest she won (Ghost busters 2 DVD).

11 week stats

Age: 11 weeks
Weight: 12 lbs 5 oz. and 23.5 inches (at 2 months, so a couple of weeks ago)
Size (diapers, onesies, etc.) Size 2
Eyes: Blue but a little lighter now
Sleeping: She has been sleeping through the night since week 4 (5-6 hours without waking). Now she is up to 7-8 hours without waking. Bedtime now is around 7-8 pm (in crib and swaddled), then feed her without waking her right before we go to bed (around midnight), monitor is on all night and she sleeps until 7-8:30 am.
Eating: 5-7 oz every 4-5 hours.
Milestones: She has almost full head control now and is smiling a lot, and sometimes even laughing out loud
Favorite toys/activities: Swing, bouncy chair and activity mat - Anton der Affe and Gina die Giraffe. Also likes her crib Acquarium although it doesn't put her to sleep. She also loves being carried in the Baby Bjoern and going for walks/ runs
Words/sounds: Cooing, laughing, squeeking, grunting - she is practicing different sounds every day
What we are looking forward to: Every day - more and more recognition and friendly smiles/ coos.

First post partum marathon

I ran the Nike marathon today and it was great. I felt really good and took it super easy, and still finished in 3:41 (well, running time was really 3:25 as I spent 16 minutes on the restrooms, major tummy issues). The second half went by so fast, I was hurrying to get back to Sarah as I missed her so much.

2-months appointment

Sarah had her 2-months appointment today. She is getting so big - 12 lbs 5 oz and 23.5 inches! 85th percentile for both. She is doing really well. It broke my heart to see her get her shots but it wasn't so bad after all. Now she is asleep and didn't get any reactions.

Photobook

I made a photobook of all the beautiful pictures from the pregnancy, Sarah's first weeks and the baptism. I can't wait for the actual book to get here, but in the meantime here is the online version:
http://tinyurl.com/sarah070809

House empty again

After three weeks of guests in the house (Tom's parents and my dad), it feels strange to have the house relatively empty again. It will help us establish a routine with Sarah. For the first time, she slept alone in her room on September 19. She did fine but I was very nervous, waking up at every signal from the baby monitor. She is such a good baby - she is sleeping at least 6 hours every night now.

Baptism

Sarah's baptism was on September 13, 2009, at 11 am. It was absolutely beautiful. It was a small ceremony and it was so special that Theo, Tom's dad, got to do it. We were able to get St. Matthew's church here in San Francisco. The only guests were Tom's mom, my dad, Charlie (as the godfather) and Jed, and Alessa who also doubled as videographer. Carla took the beautiful pictures. Sarah was so good - she slept through most of the ceremony, even the water. She was wearing the gown Tom wore for his baptism which was so nice.

One month old

Sarah is one month old today!!! It is Labor Day and my own labor day is a month ago. Life is good! We took some pictures with Sarah and a wine bottle (for comparison's sake, we plan to take a picture at every month's birthday). We also tried to take her footprint and handprint - footprint worked somehow but the handprint was not possible. The reflex to close the little hand as soon as we touch it inside is too strong...

Grandparents are here

Tom's parents came on Sunday, August 30. They are staying with us for 2 weeks, including the baptism on September 13. Excited for the baptism and looking forward to having my dad here too on September 12.

The Godfather

I asked Charlie on Sunday to be Sarah's godfather. He was excited and accepted. I am so happy we decided on him - he is wonderful and will be a great role model for Sarah.

Tom's parents are coming to visit on Sunday and staying for two weeks. I am glad Tom gets to take the time off as it would be too much for me to have them in, together with Alessa and looking after Sarah. The house will be really full for the next three weeks...

2-Year Anniversary today

Our two-year wedding anniversary is today - how exciting! I remember so well how I felt on our wedding day. It was really amazing, but it doesn't compare to having Sarah. When I see Tom with her, it is such a great feeling knowing that this is our family.

2 week appointment - success

Wow, the last two weeks have really flown by! Tom and I had a great first week together with Sarah as Tom could take off work. She is so adorable, I can't stop looking at her! I have already taken what seems like hundreds of pictures of her...we are so in love! She is such a good girl, eating and sleeping like a champ.

We also were busy with visitors:
Stephanie and Paul, and Scott came on Wednesday the 12th. Stephanie and Paul brought dinner for all four of us and after having looked at Sarah for a long time, we all ate together. Sarah was a good girl sleeping through all of it.
Then Carla came by on Thursday the 13th. She took some wonderful pictures of Sarah - I am thinking of making some of them in the birth announcement.
On Friday the 14th Karen came by. She will make a great auntie and already volunteered to babysit - I am sure she'll be great with Sarah.
Also on Friday Alessa, our Au Pair, arrived in our home. She is 19 years old and from Germany. She adores Sarah almost as much as we do which is wonderful. We are slowly getting Sarah to get used to Alessa so that when I go back to work after 3 months, she is fine being alone with her. I am so glad we decided on having an Au Pair and not getting Sarah into day care.

Today was Sarah's 2-week appointment. She gained 1 lb 1 oz from when she was born! So excited. The doctor said she is doing great. She was really good at the doctor's and barely cried. So proud of her! We also got the okay to take her out in public so we went for early dinner at the Ramp with her. It felt so good to get under people again, as I haven't been since Sarah was born. Tom was too worried that she'd get sick.

First preview of Sarah - BBQ with Uncle Charlie and Jed

Charlie and Jed came over on Sunday, August 9, to see our little lady. They brought the cutest little Puma running shoes, a little Bonsai (in reference to Tom's name for Sarah before she was born) and ingredients for a Cosmopolitan for Mama and Papa. We had such a good time and Sarah was so well behaved. She is such a good girl!

Sarah Elisabeth is here

Our little girl made her entrance on her calculated due date, August 7, 09. I had such a fast and easy delivery.

4 am: I woke up at around 4 am feeling a little crampy. I went to the bathroom and didn't think more of it, then went back to bed and slept until 6 am.

6 am: I felt more cramps so I got up and did some work on the computer. I felt I could actually time the cramps and they were about 5 minutes apart. They were not painful at that time but pretty regular, lasting about 1 minute.

8 am: When Tom woke up at 8, I told him this might be the day our little girl makes her entrance. We both took a shower and I called the hospital and described the situation. This being my first, they said to take our time to get to the hospital as first births always take long. So we ate some breakfast and went to the hospital.

10 am: Tom was so nervous that he left the hospital bag on the street at home, so he had to drive back after he let me out at the hospital. So funny when we looked into the trunk and the bag was not there! In the meantime, I went into the hospital waiting to be checked out or admitted. The contractions were coming around 4 minutes apart then and were pretty painful. I could handle them walking around or leaning over, but sitting was tough. A nurse led me in an L&D room and said to wait to be checked out. We did some paperwork and questions and she said the doctors would be back soon to see if I could be admitted to the hospital. I continued having contractions and they were getting closer together, and much stronger. I don't think anybody thought I was that far along.

11:45 am: I was 6 cm and the baby was way down. We were excited that we'd have a baby that day! Luckily, Tom was back at that time (with the bag that hadn't been stolen, lucky again).

12:30 pm: The contractions were really close together and so painful I barely could breathe. I asked for an epidural and first they thought they had to do some blood tests (again, they were thinking they had plenty of time). They set an IV and drew some blood, but luckily decided they didn't need to wait for the blood results to come back before the epidural.

1 pm: I got the epidural which was tough as my contractions were so strong and close together that I had a hard time staying still while they set it. The epidural was pure bliss. I went from barely managing the pain to totally relaxed within 15 minutes. Right after I got the epidural, the nurse checked me out and was surprised to see that I was 9 cm and the bag of waters ready to burst. I was able to nap for about 30 minutes.

1:30 pm: The drs came in again to see how I was doing and my bag had just ruptured. I hadn't felt it because it came off as the entire bag, so it didn't actually break. I was 10 cm and could soon start to push.

2 pm: I couldn't actually feel the contractions anymore at all so the nurse told me when to push. I didn't feel any pain and pushing wasn't that hard either. Baby girl was coming down nice and slow. At around 3:30, I could feel her head way out there when I put my hand down - it was so strange! The nurse called the drs to catch the baby.

3:50 pm: Sarah Elisabeth was born, weighing in at 6 pds 11 oz and 21 inches long. It was the most amazing feeling ever to suddenly have the baby in my arms. She has blond hair and blue eyes and is absolutely beautiful. Tom and I are in love!

Belly pictures

19w2d 20w2d
21w3d 22w2d
23w2d 25w4d
26w4d 27w4d
28w4d 29w4d
30w4d 31w4d
32w4d 33w4d
34w4d 35w4d
36w4d 37w4d
38w4d 39w4d
2d pp 1w pp

40 week appointment

Had my 40-week appointment (last one!) today. We scheduled an induction for August 14th but my dr is convinced the little lady comes on her own before that. I am just happy that an end is in sight. Baby girl has grown quite a bit in the last two weeks and is now 50th percentile although I lost a couple of pounds. Weird. My dr said that all 12 pounds I gained in this pregnancy went right to baby and is not worried anymore. Yeah! I have one more non-stress test scheduled for next Tuesday if I need it. I feel much better now that I know I will be a mom in the next 10 days.

Eviction notice

Only a few days to my due date! I am still feeling great and running every day. Just today I did 12 miles, thinking it might get things started. The little girl just seems to enjoy it inside. We are so looking forward to meeting her! I am really glad I decided to work until I go into labor, I would go crazy just sitting around and waiting for her to make an entrance.

Pregnancy questions

How far along? 37w6d
Total weight gain/loss: 12 pounds
Maternity clothes? Still not wearing them and won't be needing them now
Stretch marks? Still none
Sleep: Great
Best moment this week: 10 mile run on Sunday...felt great
Movement: Moving a lot!
Food cravings: none
Gender: girl
Labor Signs: not sure what to look for...I am hoping for them!
Belly Button in or out? in
What I miss: Long run without belly
What I am looking forward to: Holding her in my arms
Weekly Wisdom: Any day now
Milestones: 38 weeks coming up

FULL TERM

I am full term today. Yeah!!! No signs of labor apart from baby girl being way down and in position. Still feeling good, running daily, working out with weights and abs three times a week. The hospital bag is packed and we are so impatient to meet her.

Any day now

Due to my low weight gain, my dr ordered a growth ultrasound which I had done on July 9 (36w1d). The little girl was really active to the point that it was hard for the tech to take the measurements. I can't believe how big the little lady is. She had her hands in front of her face most of the time so it was hard to get a good picture of her. The tech saw her position (way down) and said 'Any day now' which got me in a little panic. I packed the hospital bag that night and bought loads of diapers and formula. My dr told me after that the little girl is on the small side (20th percentile) but everything looks fine. Still, she wants me to do non-stress tests weekly now, starting on Monday. I hope it will be okay...

35/35

I was 35 weeks pregnant, with 35 days to EDD today. I can't believe I am almost there! Need to pack that hospital bag, Tom was born at 35 weeks! I am still feeling great and running every day. The little girl is so active and moving...next appointment is on Monday. I am still hoping I'll go as early as 37 weeks! I can't wait.

Almost 35 weeks

Next Wednesday I will be 35 weeks - that's when Tom was born weighing over 7 pounds! I am so ready to have the little girl although I am still doing great. Still running every day, doing weights and abs three times a week. No issues sleeping, no swelling anywhere, no symptoms really apart from the bump. Pregnancy would be really easy if it wasn't for all the comments and questions - I know people mean well but I am so tired of the constant repeat of having names picked out, what the due date is, how I am feeling etc.

Nursery is done

With the crib finally coming in (after 3 months), and having bought some additional stuff for the nursery, it is almost done. I really like how it turned out.