1/31/2010 - This weeks update...

Thanks to our wonderful friend, Hsiu-Mei, we got our house in order and it feels more like a home. We put Stella's new crib together this week and she had a few naps in it.

Stella is not a picky eater, takes formula without a problem, she will sleep possibly up to 3-4 hours straight if the stars are all aligned, has a very strong neck, great focus and attention span, strong grip with both hands and still loves to be held.

She doesn't mind the bouncer chair we borrowed from our neighbors, the Whiteheads, and her farm rocking chair, as well as the play mat. Gives us a nice break for 15-20 minutes so we can eat a meal or do laundry, etc...

Life this past week with the extra set of helpful hands of Hsiu-Mei was great - we enjoyed her company and got so much done...adjusting to life with 2 kiddos is finally seeming kind of normal!

1-27-2010 Latest Pictures

Sun 1/24/2010 Busy busy busy

Busy busy busy with the move, etc. Still adjusting to two kids, no more tag team - it's 1 on 1! Stella is so strong now, lifting her head up, turning her head/neck at 7 weeks! But if only she would burp and not suffer from such BAD gas...where Milicon is no longer the magic potion. She is a loud nurser...sometime sounding like a duck, a pig or a turkey with the sounds she makes...but none the less, we LOVE her so! Baby Stella Rose, you are smiley when you are in a good mood and getting more vocal every day (man can you cry LOUD when you are not happy!)...you are growing and growing and bring us much joy, little sleep and keep us on our feet (literally, if you're not asleep you don't really like to just be held you want to be bounced on the yoga ball). You also don't care for darkness when it's lights out and bedtime for the whole family (thank god for nightlights and 15watt bulbs!).

Sun. 1/10/2010 Likes and Dis-likes

Stella - you love classical music - the Smart Symphonies CD is your favorite. We use to play that when Julia was sleeping in the car! When you're not happy your get very vocal about it - dirty diaper, hungry - too hot, hate changing clothes or taking a bath...
Oh, but your focus and smiles are infectious. You like a good massage, being spoken to, having a staring contest and a new treat is laying in Julia's Princess toddler bed!

You have a little cough and sneeze the past few days - it sounds really cute, but it's not a good thing that you're little 5-6 week old body is fighting the germs in the house...we are all really concerned and do not want you to catch a fever at all.
You love being held - you don't like the expensive swing we bought from BabieRUs...here we go again with sleep training battles in the future...

One Month Old 1/4/2010

Stella Rose is doing great - growing, very alert, likes to have staring contests with daddy, loves kisses and hugs from big sister Julia and of course nursing, clean diapers and snuggling with any member of the family!!!

MOMMY NOTE: SO glad at this point that everything is now okay, at two weeks we hit a rough patch with your jaundice reading being not great (I think they call it the BILI reading), the doctor wanted to be on the safe side and prescribed home "light" treatment UGH with daily blood tests... horrible crying breaks everyone's heart. Finally got to make it better by oiling up your foot/leg before they would squeeze the blood from your tiny foot :( (I guess you got mommy's dry skin) You had to sleep on the machine and mommy/daddy had to hold a light paddle to your chest or back if we were to hold you. It took about 4-5 days but you bounced right back! I have renewed sympathy for families that go through bigger health obstacles- this was TOUGH and I was so SAD about all the needles and how tired and small you looked...

We've attached several pictures to highlight some visitors and events during the first 30 days of your life!