52:7 Your Baptism

I Want to Remember

Your Baptism

You were so sweet this morning. Mommy was such an emotional mess, but you slept through all of mass. You stretched just a little as father poured the water over your head and you fell right back asleep.

Anniston was baptized on August 19th, 2012. Talk about an emotional morning. Not sure why, but this Momma could not put herself together. But we had so many friends and family that came up to support Anniston on her baptism. 

Annie with her godparents: Uncle Jake & Auntie A

52:6 Your First "Real" Smiles

You are already six weeks Annie Bananie! We cannot believe how time has passed already and all the changes you've made. In the past few days we have definitely noticed that you're starting to recognize that there is a lot to take in around her - tracking objects that are further away, following our faces and fingers, and you even smile for us now! Sometimes I still think its just because you're gassy, but other times I am certain that you are giggling at our ridiculous baby voices, made up stories, songs, or faces that we are making at you.

Her are a few snapshots of her taking it all in!

Playing with her new activity play mat! So much to take in!

All smiles at home, with grandma and for snuggle time!

52:5 Giving You Your First Bath

 I want to Remember

Giving You Your First "Real" Bath

I remember your first bath in the hospital. I didn't even give you this bath and I just felt like grabbing you from that nurses arms and holding you close to me. I knew it was something I had to do, but knowing you hated it, made me hate it.

Sponge Baths are Incredibly Stressful.  

Oh my, no one prepared me for how awful sponge baths are! They were filled with tears, goosebumps, and shivers from both Mom and Anniston! We had to give sponge baths at the beginning because her umbilical cord was still attached, but Anniston was NOT a fan. The first time Nick and I got ready to give her one I had the camera ready to capture the moment. As soon as the water touched her she was not impressed. It was the first time I saw her cry tears, real tears. So then I cried tears, real tears. Luckily, dad was there to jump in and rescue both of us. 

Baths in her Bath Tub are Incredibly Sweet. 

I must emphasize, the “in her bath tub” statement! Needless to say, after exactly one week she lost part of her umbilical cord (which was a story within itself) and then by 2 weeks and 2 days she lost all of it. So, now that her belly button is cord free we are onto her little bath tub, and she loves the warm water and her eyes just light up whenever I set her in it. It is one of my favorite things to do with her now! Here’s to happy suds and soap! 

Bath time has turned into my favorite part of the day. You love the water! Watching you kick and splash in the water is bliss. We've even taken a few baths together and daddy just sits with us and watches us play in the tub. You like to push off of me and feel the water run over you.

52:4 Strange Symptoms are Normal Symptoms

I want to Remember 

Strange Symptoms are Normal Symptoms

Everything that you do is new to me. I am not sure what is normal, good, bad, scary, or common - but I am learning quickly. Thank you for being patient with us as we try to tackle this parenting thing, one strange symptom at a time.

It’s official. I am a mother.  

So far I've been peed on, pooped on, spit up on, cried on and sucked on and I still love her to pieces. In the past four weeks Nickolas and I have definitely learned a lot, but we couldn’t be more in awe of our little Annie. She does something new every day that amazes us and makes us fall more in love. I feel like we have grown and learned so much already, but most importantly we have learned that strange symptoms are normal symptoms.  I feel like I should just have a nurse move in with me to reassure me that she is just fine! So far I have talked to the doctor about her blue feet, twitching while sleeping, baby acne, projectile spit up, and thrush. The only thing that was a slight cause of concern was the thrush. Not painful for her (for me, yes), but regardless we both got some medicine and are doing better! Other than that, all those other symptoms are completely normal. Who would of thought?! 

52:3 The Way You Sleep

 I want to remember

The Way You Sleep  

I want to remember the different ways that you sleep. Our daily naps are heavenly. I'm pretty sure any mother would agree her favorite thing is to stare at her newborns face. I am no exception to this, but I find myself staring at your face for so many different reasons. It's crazy how much you have changed in a weeks time. I will never have the way you looked those first few days in the hospital back. You are changed forever and I will only have that little look through pictures I have taken or the memories I have stored. I'm very lucky to have experienced those looks and moments at all. I want you to know that our daily snuggle sessions make my heart melt and whenever I look down at you Anniston, I know that I was meant to be a mommy. 


Shhh...She is Sleeping

Literally on her three-week birthday, Anniston slept in her crib through the night! I repeat, she slept through the night and she was in her crib! Trust me, we were as shocked as you are, but she is that fabulous! Around week 2 ½ I started putting her in her crib in between feedings and for some daily naps, just to get her adjusted to both the bassinet and her crib. Then on her three-week birthday, I put her in her crib at 10:40pm and I finally woke her up 6:00am because I was in dire need to feed her! Just awesome. We have had a few nights where she won’t go to sleep until 12:00am, but then she still sleeps well into the morning! More reason to be completely in love with her! I will give all the credit to her swaddle blankets and her daddy’s amazing lullaby skills every night! 

I love the way your body shifts during your naps and nightly sleeps. Whenever you take a nap I catch myself just staring at you and thinking about how perfect you are. You are so sweet.

Newborn Pictures

These are Anniston's newborn pic's shot by Anniston's Grandma Parr and her co-worker Shannon. I love their simplicity and how they captured every little detail. 

Thank you grandma for such a beautiful experience! 

2 Week Check Up 

Doctor: Dr. Chaun Cox 

Height: 22.16 inches 

Weight: 8lbs 3 ounces 

Head Circumference: 36.3cm

52:2 The Way You Eat

I Want to Remember 

The Way You Eat

I want to forever capture your sweet coos and soft cries. I love that when I hold you, I can feel your body relax. I love that when I feed you, you seem at ease. I can honestly say that feeding you is my favorite part of every day. It is a bond we share that is truly unexplainable.

Boobs are for Food, Not Fun. 

Well, lets face it. The first time Nick saw me use the breast pump I knew our relationship was on a whole new level. Annie is literally an eating machine and I am her favorite vending machine. If she isn’t eating, she still just likes to lay next to them as if she is letting dad know, they are all hers now. And no one prepared me for the constant milk flow either. When I shower they leak. When I am cold, they leak. When I give hugs, they leak. When I take a bath, they leak. When Annie cries, they leak. When I go one minute over three hours of feeding, they leak. It is ridiculous, but at least I know I have quite the supply for the time being.

52:1 The Way You Took in the World

I want to remember 

the way you took in the world those first few days

I want to remember the way you took the World in so quickly. Even in the hospital room you seemed so alert. The nurses kept commenting on your eyes and how they were really taking everything in. I love staring at you, while you take in everything for the first time. I wish I knew what you were thinking. I hope we show you a beautiful world. 

We have been overwhelmed with all of the well wishes, family and friends visiting, and the constant support following Anniston's birth! The last few days have been so much more amazing than I ever could have imagined. I still haven't really slept and I still can't believe she is here. And there are moments where I look down at her and think. She is still here. She is still perfect. And she she is ours. Forever. 

It is really a feeling I can't describe to anyone else and it's quite overwhelming. Each day she is changing and I find myself just holding her tighter just to stop her from growing. She makes my heart melt and daddy's extra sweet side come out. I cannot wait to start making memories as a family.

Here are a few (of the hundreds) of photos that grandma, Auntie A, and I have already snapped from this week. She is definitely a heartbreaker and has stole daddy's heart and melted mine.

All set to go home.

Welcome Home Anniston Jean!

She was so exhausted she wanted to test out her crib right away!

She still has to grow into it quite a bit!

Annitston Jean - Day Four

Oh Please Mom, Stop with all the Photos!

Happy Fourth of July from our Little Firecracker!

My Little Firecrackers were all Burned Out!

52:0 The Way You Felt Against My Skin

I want to remember 

the way you first felt against my skin

 No books, no class, no conversation could have prepared me for how my life would change once you were placed against me. I know at the time I was completely exhausted, but it was the first time I felt like I knew what my purpose was in life. To love, hold, and care for you.

Meet Our Annie

Anniston Jean Rehder arrived at 6:17pm on June 30th, 2012. She weighed 7lbs & 12 oz and was 22 inches long. She has a full head of beautiful dark hair, sweet sounds, and is already nuzzling us during skin to skin time. We are so in love and couldn't feel more blessed!!

First family photo after 40 hours of no sleep!

Daddy doing skin to skin time

So sweet. So in love.

39 Weeks!

How Far Along: 39 Weeks (6/25/2012)

Stretch Marks: Nope! I am very thankful for this!

Sleep: Pretty rough. My ribs are bruised and pretty tender so sleeping on my sides isn't very comfortable. Last night I headed down to the couch around 3am and slept upright for the remainder of the night. But definitely waking up every few hours for the bathroom, to readjust, to take a bath, to put lotion on, etc. Pretty ridiculous!

Best Moment This Week:  We are an auntie and uncle again! Quincy Ganna Mboob was born on June 21st and doing great! He is at home now with mom and family and couldn't be more adorable! I cannot wait to meet him and hear all about his progress over the next few weeks! My friend Meghan  also had her baby today, on her birthday!! She named him Brock Patrick Rozell and I just know our babies will be great friends! My teaching friend, Brittany had her little Conner last week and we were lucky enough to see him at the hospital and that just made us so excited and anxious to meet our little one!! And my high school friend Betsy had Tayden Elroy, a healthy little boy on Monday! So happy for all the new mommas! Cheers to happy and healthy babies all around!
Around the Home: We finished packing, the nursery, painting our exterior doors, and ALMOST done painting the garage. (Yes, Nick insisted on painting the garage. It guess it's a "guy thing" and I don't understand).

Hardest Moment of the Week: Well I had my doctor appointment this week and this was "supposed" to be the big week. I was certain that I would go in and he would send me to the hospital since I have been having contractions since Thursday. I think he was even thinking that would be the case. Unfortunately, after checking, there was no progress and he told me he would probably see me next week! Yup, back to the original due date. Looks like we might have a firecracker baby after all!

Miss Anything: Sleeping on my tummy and the idea of drinking a big margarita after these HOT days!

Movement: Big movements and like I said, I have been having irregular contractions since Thursday. Most are very mild, but I have had a few that make me take a few deep breaths.

Food Cravings: Fruit and brownies! Weird I know, but both taste so delicious!

Symptoms: Contractions, pressure and sore ribs!

Belly Button: Still slightly popped out!

Mood: Happy, excited, emotional (whew), and anxious!

Looking Forward To: Baby R's D-Day! Seriously cannot come soon enough! 

P.S. Stay Tuned for More House Updates and Nursery Updates!