Happy Birthday Andrew Thomas!

Bailey and I are getting ready to head to Birmingham. Andrew is ready to make his grand entrance into this world and we want to be there to tell him WELCOME. We are so excited and praying for a smooth birth so that Chris and Leslie can enjoy their newborn son without the NICU being involved. Leslie's sister had twins in September before Erin was born the next April. The twins and Erin all spent time in the NICU. Then Miss Bailey came along and followed in their footsteps. So we are hoping Andrew starts a new trend today. I'll post some pics when I get back!!

Wow!

Long time, no post! This going to work thing all day and then coming home and trying to find the time to do anything except what Miss Bailey wants me to is sort of tuff. Mom left last Saturday around lunch and Ne Ne (Sid's mother) has had Bailey this week. It's been a great week and although the stomach virus and flu is going around and I surely do not want to expose Bailey to that. But in a way I am really ready to get on with life and bring Miss Bailey to work with me and settle into a routine that hopefully we'll be in for a good while.

Bailey is still doing great, growing so fast, smiling at everything, eating so much, sitting in her bumbo chair, talking to us some, and sleeping all night long. I could not ask for a better baby. We are still seeing the SLP for feeding twice a week but it's really for my needs and not her's now. She got her shots Tuesday and weighed in at about 9 1/2 pounds. She can barely wear newborn diapers now, which makes me sad.

I have some cute pictures to post and hopefully will get time to do that this weekend. Mom and Ne Ne got some cute pictures they tell me, but I haven't gotten any from either one of them. I took one of Bailey last night on the phone with Mom. It looked like she was holding the phone up to her ear, too cute!! And mom bought me a ring with Bailey's birthstone in it that I wanted to post a picture of.

It seems as if Bailey's new cousin Andrew will be born on Tuesday, March 3rd, if he doesn't come before then. We are so excited.

Well, i just wanted to give a quick update and hopefully I can find the time to post more later this weekend.

Hump Day

It's offically the middle of the week and it seems like it should be the middle of the month because it's actually seemed like a really long week. I went to bed VERY early for me on Monday night because I had such a bad headache and then last night I had a meeting at church. I really haven't seen my Bailey girl too much this week and Mom says she thinks she missed me yesterday because she is sort of restless. I think I'll be ready to bring her to daycare with me when the time comes so I can check up on her. But she has had tons of fun with Mimi and I have never seen the baby girl smile like she does for my mother. She for sure doesn't smile like that for me or Sid.

We went to the pedi. on Monday and she does have some reflux so we started her on Zantac yesterday morning but I can't seem to tell a difference. I put some rice in all her bottles for today so we'll see if that helps to weigh it down some. We missed therapy yesterday becasue it was so cold and rainy and I still don't want her out much. If she could get out, then she'd be at daycare with me. haha! So that's why I'm thankful Mom is at home with her this week and Ne Ne will be there next week. So she can stay inside.....

Mom has apparently kept her busy because she has fallena asleep for the night around 9 this week and slept the whole night. This morning Sid had to wake her up at 6 to feed her before we left at 7. Mimi has definatly been busy working in our house. She has rearranged and cleaned and rearranged some more. Sid and I have to reward hre with some Casino time at some point. haha! For real, we, or I for sure, really appreciate what Mom has done this week. So thanks mom!!!

Oh yeah, she weighed in at 9 pounds 6 ounces Monday!!! Such a big girly girl!

First Day Back To Work

Well I'm at work. And my Bailey Girl is about the ONLY thing on my mind. But I am happy to report that it felt good to get up this morning and get back to the swing of things. And it felt even better since my Mom is at home with the sweet girl. I know they will have a great day and it's probably easier for me to get some much needed work done wihtout Bailey in the next room. So thanks Mom!!!! You are a life saver for sure this week.

Bailey is going to the doc this afternoon about possible reflux and I'm not sure if she'll get her shots or not since she is 8 weeks old today. Can you believe that it's been 8 weeks since that crazy, crazy Monday on December 22nd? I sure can't!!

Happy Valentine's Day

FROM THE SWEETEST VALENTINE EVER!!!

 

 

 

 

I have to give credit where credit is due. My Aunt Marianne read on the blog that I wanted a tutu for Miss Bailey and she found the perfect one for this tiny little girl. I was waiting on the perfect time for the big reveal and decided Valentine's Day was as good as any. Thanks Aunt Marianne!

I got the best V Day present a new mom could ask for. SLEEP!!! Sid got up with Bailey last night and when I finally rolled over this morning it was...well...it was too late for me to publically admit. But it was some good, much needed sleep.

We hope everyone has a great day loving on those that matter the most!!! We love you all!!

Clarification

Those of you who know me well know that I can not stand to be wrong. I loathe it! But when I am wrong (or make a mistake) at least I'm not afraid to admit it. So I made a mistake and I want to clarify. Last night I was reading back over some old blog posts of mine and I had made the comment that I wished we lived closer to Erin and Andrew because Bailey and Andrew would grow up together and be the same age. I said that I didn't grow up near my cousins and I thought that would be neat. Well, Bailey WILL grow up around her cousins Mason and Brady. I just meant that she and Andrew would be in the same class and same age and "really" grow up together. But as I was reading back over that, I made it sound like Bailey had no family/cousins here and that is not true. In fact, I happen to think Sid's dad is one of the sweetest, nicest men I've ever met and he has Mason loving some tractors. Although I dread the day Bailey really wants to get on the tractor, I am glad that she will grow up a well-rounded little girl. Since she'll be around all boys here and her Daddy and Papppaw Whitehead hunt, I think she'll be a little like Will's girlfriend Lacey, who we all adore!

The Name Game, The Bucket List

Ok, this is very random and I copied it from Face Book, but I laughed reading others so I wanted to do it for myself. Try it! You'll laugh at your's too!

Name Game
Everyone has an alter ego - the closet stripper, soap diva, etc. Let's see what your secret alias are!

1. YOUR REAL NAME:
Barbara Anne Self Whitehead

2. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother and fathers middle names)
Marie Eugene (that so sounds made up)

3. NASCAR NAME: (first name of your mother's dad, father's dad)
Marvin Thomas

4. STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name)
Whiba

5. DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Blue Dog

6. SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, town where you were born)
Anne Birmingham (that could be for real)

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd fav color, fav drink, add "THE" to the beginning)
The Pink Dr. Pepper

8. FLY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)
Baad

9. STREET NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie)
Chocolate Oreo

10. PORN NAME: (1st pet's name, street you grew up on)
Ziggy Redwood

11. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of last name plus izzle)
Whiizzle

12. YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one of your pets)
Black Champ

13. STRIPPER NAME: (name of your fav perfume/cologne, fav candy)
Paris M & M

And now for The Bucket List (I mean really, I should be sleeping!)

The Bucket List. Place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not, then send it to your friends (including me).


Things you have done during your lifetime:
(X) Gone on a blind date
(X) Skipped school
(x) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
(X) Been to Florida
( ) Been to Hawaii
(X) Been on a plane
( ) Been on a helicopter
(X) Been lost
(X) Gone to Washington, DC
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
( ) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang Karaoke
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't.
(X) Made prank phone calls
(x) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose & elsewhere
( ) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( ) Danced in the rain-naked
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
(X) Gone to the movies
( ) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( ) Gone snowmobiling
( ) Lived in more than one country
(X) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(X) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(X) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( ) Been on a cruise
(x) Traveled by train
( ) Traveled by motorcycle
(X) Been horse back riding
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco Cable Car
( ) Been to Disneyland
(X) Been to Disneyworld
( ) Been in a rain forest
( ) Seen whales in the ocean
( ) Been to Niagara Falls
( ) Ridden on an elephant
( ) Swam with dolphins
( ) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
( ) Saw and heard a glacier calf
( ) Been spinnaker flying
( ) Been water-skiing
( ) Been snow-skiing
( ) Been to Westminster Abbey
( ) Been to the Louvre
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
(X) Been to a Major League Baseball game
(x) Been to a National Football League game

Just A Few Pictures

I took these on Monday before we went to see Mrs. Felicia, the speech therapist. Bailey is doing so good with her feeding now. Basically all she really needs at this point is some pacing. But as far as sucking and swallowing and breathing, she's got it down pat. I am so very thankful that I knew where to go for help with this and even more thankful to Mrs. Felicia for loving my Bailey Girl, too, and wanting to help us. She looks so forward to Bailey coming and everyone at the rehab place (they have OT, PT, and speech all in the same facility) just ohh's and ahh's over her each time we go. The lighting was off and I tried to fix it so that's why the color is off.

 

 

This picture is a bit fuzzy because I was laying on the floor at eye level with Bailey and a little too close to get a good picture, but I took this during her "tummy time" tonight. She has always held her head up really good and not ever really needed a whole lot of support. I can put her on my shoulder and she'll hold her head up and just look at me and give me kisses. It's the sweetest thing. She doesn't really enjoy tummy time but I try to do it at least once a day. Look how good and high she has her head!

 

Be sure to check back on Valentine's Day! Miss Bailey has a special surprise!!!

Today

Today is the first day of my last week at home with my sweet Bailey Girl! So bitter sweet!

Look At My Bailey Girl!!

She is getting so very big!!

 

 

 

 

The Twilight Saga...and Other Stuff

Do you have any idea how hard it is to read 4 HUGE books with a 6 week old at home? VERY HARD!!! But Bailey is such a good baby and I probably would have gone crazy sitting at home this whole time without these books. They are sooo good! I'm about half way done with the 4th and last book and I'm ready to be at the end. Everything else has taken a back seat to these books, including my house and husband and I know he is ready for some attention. And I know my house is ready or some attention. But like I said, at least I did have something to pass a little time with since Bailey still can't get out much. If you haven't read these book, I recommend you do so. I know, I know, you say you don't want to read something about vampires. But I promise you, the vampire part is really the best part of the whole series. They are good vampires, not bad ones. So if you are a reader, give them a try.

Bailey has done really good in her bed. I must say that I failed last night and let her sleep with us. She always lays down with Sid and falls asleep and then I go get her and put her in her bed. But tonight, I just left her in our bed with Sid. And of course, she slept until about 3:30 when she got up for a quick bottle and went right back to sleep and slept til about 6:30. But she has done well in her own bed. She has been going to bed about 9:00 and waking up every 3 hours. Sometimes I try to get her to go back to sleep but most of the time she acts hungry. But she won't take but an ounce or two and she is right back asleep. So for the most part, I guess she is sleeping in her own bed, when I don't get selfish and let her sleep with us so we can get some sleep.

It is a beautiful weekend. The weather is so nice. Unfortunatly, Sid is working all feakin day. They had like 7 bodies at the funeral home this weekend. The Dixie National is in Jackson this weekend and they have what they call The Wagon Trail (i think that's the name of it). Anyway, it's large group of people who meet at the Fair Grounds and ride horses all the way to Jackson. They stop every night and camp out. Well, the first night out, which I think was Wednesday night, a couple from Philadelphia died in their sleep in their horse trailer from carbon monoxide posioning from their generator. They were in their mid 20's and left behind 3 children under the age of 5. It is so sad. So those two funerals are this afternoon and I'll be glad when they are over because Sid has had migranes worrying about it. I guess you can't do what he does and not be affected by it somehow, sometime.

We plan to get out of the house tomorrow and spend some time together as a family. We really haven't had Bailey out that much since she isn't supposed to be and it has been so cold. But with the weather being as pretty as it is this weekend, we are going to try.

Ok, I'm off to find out what's going on in my book and maybe get a little laundry and bottle washing done in between!

7....and 4

Count 'em! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7....that's how many times Bailey got up night before last. Sid and I decided it was time to get her to sleep in her bed and she apparently did not like it. 7 times, 2 of those Sid actually got up because I was worn out from going back and forth. But, we didn't give up. We put her right back in there last night and she got up 4 times. Which is a better and is a start I guess. Maybe eventually we'll be back to the regular 2 times and hopefully she'll pull an all night sleep like she did a few night ago sometime soon.

She is such a good baby and she tends to take to change well and is easily comforted when she cries so we really don't have much to complain about. I had a meeting at chruch last night and when I called to check on Sid and Bailey, he said they had been vaccumming and such. She'll just let you hold her and do whatever you need to do. She'd much rather you be holding her doing those things than a by-stander.

I am offically going back to work on the 16th and in some ways looking forward to it. Obviously in some ways I'm not!

6 Weeks

My sweet Bailey Girl is 6 weeks old today and can I believe it? Absolutely not. I just cannot imagine what life was like for me and Sid before she got here. That life seems like such a distant memory now. I made plans today to TENTATIVELY go back to work in 2 weeks, when she is 8 weeks old. My mom will come stay for a bit and then Sid's mom will take over so that I don't have to take her to daycare just yet. That is such a blessing. But I just get so sad that our time together, doing what we want to do, is almost over and we will go back to the real world. In some ways, I think it will be good because hopefully we will establish more of a routine than we have now, but on the other hand...life at home with my sweet Bailey Girl has just been beyond words.

And on the eve of her 6 week birthday, Bailey took about 6 ounces of formula with cereal. She has been getting cereal for about a week now, but eating it from a spoon. She loves it and she does so well with the spoon. But, she has been eating it at around 6 p.m. and then getting her bath. Then she'd get all wrapped up in her blanket and sit with Sid in his chair until she fell asleep around 9 p.m. She wouldn't wake up to eat again until around 1 a.m., which was nice but since I don't go to bed until 11 that wasn't helping me much on the sleep end. Well, last night she took a bottle around 5 so at 6 she wasn't ready for cereal just yet. I decided to try and hold off with the cereal as long as I could and she got her bath at around 7 p.m. I didn't want to feed her the cereal with the spoon after her bath because she gets sooo messy with it, so I decided to put it in her bottle and she chowed down. I even had to fix more. At about 9 p.m. she was out like a light and slept until 6 this morning. The bad part is she has not slept AT ALL today, but that's ok, I guess you can't have it both ways. And sleeping more at night than during the day is a start, because she has for sure had days and nights messed up. We'll see how tonight goes, but I probably just jinxed myself.

We had a good visit with the fam in Bama this weekend and at the baby shower. Sid got to go to Bass Pro and spent his gift certificates. It just kills me that we aren't closer. Erin is soooo good with Bailey and it just does my heart good to see them together since Erin was practially my life before we moved over here. And if we lived closer, Bailey and Andrew (Chris and Leslie's little boy that is due in a few weeks) would grow up together and be in the same class. I didn't grow up near any of my cousins so I think that would be neat. Leslie says she feels the same way about being so far away from her family, too, so I suppose that's just the way it is.

I don't have any new pictures to post but I do have some pictures of Bailey with her Mammaw and Pappaw and cousins Brady and Mason that I need to post soon. Baliey is really growing and she is doing so good!