Today Ms. Lucia is one month old. Gma Gpa Olson visited and I dressed her up special in a dress. She woke up and was coy and smiling. Now naps are the only grasp on sanity I have as she can't seem to get comfortable. I put on the classical music for her so I'm hoping whatever it is will be slept off. She doesn't have a tempurature so I'm thinking its just growing. I was going to write a bit about her first month but I can't think that hard at the moment so "Happy First Month Luci!"

Seattle!

I'm so excited to say that it looks like I'm going to be able to visit my brother and family in Seattle next month! It will be my first time meeting Madeleine who is going to be 2! already next August. They will be able to meet their new family member Lucia too! That's right: Lucia's first big trip!

Something I wouldn't mind trying to do is taking the underground tour (see above photo) except its not baby friendly. I was happy to see there is a scooby doo cartoon that features Seattle's underground, however. I'm open for things to do suggestions. We're only there for the weekend and will be carting around little girls.

p.s. while reading up I learned what a speak easy is and what a blind pig is too...

Here are some newer shots of Ms. Luci-Lou. The second from the top photo is what "The Girls" affectionatly call "Mr. Poop Face." Which is usually true that it predicts a poopy or what Kent calls, "Poopy in the Panties." It actually disturbs me a bit when he says that.

The pink jacket shots are taken in her car seat. Why is everything is easier when your child is strapped into a chair? I don't know but it sure works.

The last one is what I look at for majority of the day. Little Lucia sleeping like an angel. It is really hard for me to keep from picking her up and kissing her chubby cheeks.

I am well into week three of mommidom and I am amazed at how quickly it has gone by and how it feels as if Lucia was always a part of our family. Despite some difficulty with the weather I have managed to keep the baby blues off my back. My friends have kept me laughing and social on the weekends. Lucia has already enjoyed her first poker night (2 of them, in fact), Valentine's party, trip to the Quad Cities, meals out with friends and grandma, and trips to the library for materials to keep mommy sane while Lucia is asleep.
Everyone visits and goes nutty for baby the first week baby is born. Mommy and baby get excited and then BAM! everything goes quiet. You are left shell shocked by what has just happened and dumbfounded as to how to continue to occupy yourselves. So I have books (haven't started them yet) and DVDs. I'm watching the continuing saga of "Six Feet Under." When baby is awake and calm we try to smile, play and sing. Its not easy to catch baby smiling b/c she's constantly changing expressions.
This coming up weekend (tomorrow) is finally "Bowl for Kid's Sake". The theme is tropical so Lucia and I may head to the second-hand stores in search of something to wear. I have a Hawaiian mu-mu at my parents but bad road conditions prevent Mom and us from visiting. I will post more Lucia pictures as soon and I take some worth posting. My camera is a bit overly complicated sometimes and makes it difficult to take that quick shot when you need it without it being blurry, too bright, or centered. I was excited to get a shot of her smiling today when I found the flash was too bright and washed her face out of the picture. We may have to invest in a point-and-click digital soon for good pictures of Lucia.
As for Kent, his work has decided they haven't aliennated enough of their employees enough with unmanagable schedules so they are now going to eliminate Kent's shift. Kent works 2nd shift (2p-10p). The new shifts will be from 6a-6p & 6p-6a... So we are reeling from this information. Kent really doesn't want to work overnight (I prefer to have Kent by my side) but it would be really difficult for me to give up my job at the school at the moment and find a new job to accomodate this new schedule. I would work 7p-what? Doing what? stocking Wal-mart? no thanks...We'll do what we have to but it isn't going to be fun or easy. But then again-nothing ever is...

I have one ring handed down to me from Grandma Obert. I wear it everyday (last month of pregnancy I couldn't b/c of fat finger syndrome) and it fits perfectly. It was given to her from Uncle Marty as I understand it and he bought it from Zuni Indians who inscribed the inside with the makers' names. I wore it at my wedding and it has special meaning to me as I didn't know her very well. I will hand it down to Lucia when the time comes.

note: I stole the ring on baby's hand idea from my friend Sarah Sparks.

Here are some of the more exciting momenta in Lucia's 2nd week-

Uncle Kurt and cousins Lauren and Lindsey stopped by for a visit. Also, Daddy gave Lucia her first bottle which she promptly scarffed down.

p.s. A Big HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LAUREN (Feburary 9th)! Also notice the sweater Lucia is wearing in the bottle feeding picture. Mommy knit it for her.

This is my Valentine's Day post...

Well, I'm typing this post with the sounds of my daughter cooing as my husband holds and speaks sweet nothings into her ear. I wish marriage and family was always this lovely. Kent got up and made me Eggs Benedict (my favorite) with a benedict sauce mix that was safer for me to eat because there were no raw eggs in it.

He went grocery shopping last night. When he arrived Lucia and I were already out cold and asleep in bed. In order not to wake us with the noise and commotion of our dog, Olivia, he went to sleep on the couch.

Normally, I have a big problem with my husband sleeping on the couch. When I was growing up I noticed that my Grandpa never slept with my Grandma (he slept on the living room couch and she slept on the family room pull out bed) and they later divorced. Therefore, I generally don't let Kent sleep without me next to him if I can help it. However, last night was for a good cause and so I'll let it slide... this time.

I do have such a full heart this Valentine's day and hope that more Valentine's days in the future feel as full of love and family as it feels today. I know there is a natural ebb and flow to marriage. Gotta appreiciate the flows in preparation for the ebbs.

Remember being warm?

The snow just keeps falling and building up. Lucia and I snuggle up under the covers together to keep warm. She falls asleep and I follow suit. We wake up and look at each other and exchange a few sentiments. I think we may be getting tired of looking at each other. More often than not Lucia is anxious for a new view. Daddy is home! She loves looking at him.
All in all, things are still bearable but we wish it wasn't the height of winter. We wish it wan't so cold. Lucia would like to see trees and take in new scenery and Mommy wishes she could show it to her. So we will continue to hole up here and wait for the ice to crack.
Anyone have any suggestions for us to cope with our cabin fever?
I will include a picture from my honeymoon for those of you who are also suffering through this cold long winter for inspiration. I have been quite positive about the beauty of winter thus far but even I must admit... Jack Frost has taken things a bit far.

One week Old and already making progress!

It has been a week already and every morning I wake up to find myself falling deeper and deeper in love with my Lucia. Yesterday, we were visited by the "home visiting nurse". Lucia has gained back all the weight she lost in the hospital and is now 7 lb 13 oz. She lost half an inch (probably due to her head rounding out after the birth). She is at VERY low risk of jaundice, she was rated "2" and I think they you can get as high as 18 before they worry. I forget the name of the test but I think it starts with "Billi". So we are both very happy and healthy.

This the last few days Grandma Obert has come to stay and enjoy new baby. Last night she made her "sweet and sour chicken" that I've been craving. We've only managed one outing to the grocery store because there is a BLIZZARD here in Iowa City. So, we've been knitting and tating and looking at quilting books in our PJs mostly.

Here are some other highlights:

• Melissa and Sara's family visited.
  
• JR and Andy's family visited.


• Grandma Olson and family friend Mrs. Kellerman visited.


• The Nelson Family visited.


• Lucia and Daddy watched thier first super-bowl together and they both cheered when the Giants won. Yea! for the underdogs!


• Lucia can hold her head up for significant periods of time.


• She can clasp her hands in front of herself and cross her arms.


• She is smiling and giggling (one morning when we were waking up together I said, "Good Morning Lucia and she responded with a big smile!).


• She is still sleeping and eating AWESOME!
  
• We think MAYBE we see a dimple (not sure yet).
• Lucia likes to wave her hands, listen to music, sing with Mommy, suck her fingers, and play with her hair.
• Lucia also had her first spongebath!

Hello everyone... Well are you ready to hear of our crazy labor ride? I know you are! Here is the run down... I will bullet it so it's easier to follow:

• Katy called Kent on Monday, January 28th to prepare him that she thought that the baby was going to come that day at about noon (due to details most of you won't appreciate).



• Kent went into work at 1pm.
  
• Katy went shopping at Fareway, did laundry, and cleaned the house while she was in early early easy labor.
  
• Katy got in the bathtub to relieve labor pain. Pains increased... Katy started timing the labor.
  
• Kent received phone call to come home from work around 6pm. He hightailed out of there and returned about 6:30pm.
  
• Kent recorded contraction times until they were 3 mins apart and about a minute long (Katy thought that was sufficent "Labor at home" progress to go into the hospital).
  
• Katy and Kent alerted our labor support person, Sara, and dog sitter, Genevieve, and went into the hospital at about 11:30 pm.
  
• Nurse determined at hospital that Katy was 2 cm dialated and was showing only minute contractions. She sent the labor team to go walk around for an hour to see if any progress would turn up.
  
• At about 1 am Katy was put back on monitor and nurse determined that no progress was made. She told us, "Keep your appointment for friday" and that it was probably false labor. She advised to sit in the bathtub and see if the pain subsides.
  
• Team returns home. Katy sends Kent to go rest and hops in the bathtub where she primarily labors for the rest of the night. Katy used, "Baby dancing" and pelvic tilts to cope with labor pain. She chants, "Making progress" and "Opening" to hypnotize herself and goes into dreamstate to acheive rest between contractions.
  
• At about 7 am Katy starts pushing without really knowing it.
  
• She makes phone call to Mercy Labor and Delivery to warn them of her progress. They advise she can come in but if no progress is made that, "there will be nothing they can do for her."
  
• Katy gets off the phone to discuss with Kent but ends up only able to moan.
  
• Kent and Katy promptly get into car to head for the hospital.
  
• They hit 8 am school traffic...
  
• Katy's water breaks and she feels the baby fall...
  
• Kent drops Katy off at entrance of the emergancy room.
  
• Katy frantically calls for them to let her through to LD.
  
• She gets into the elevator with her hand holding baby in...
  
• She alerts Labor and Delivery that, "This baby is coming NOW!"
  
• Kent arrives by following the sounds of a woman screaming.
  
• They call for a Doctor who opens Katy to find a head.
  
• Baby pulled out and born 8:12 am, January 29th.
  
• Lucia (pronounced Lou-See-Ah) Anne Olson. 7 lb 12 oz (some of which she has lost since then) and 21" long.
  
• Whew. We successfully achieved an all natural birth with sense of relief and pride.

Some of the nice things that have happenned since are:

• Uncle JR visited during his lunch break everyday.
• Grandpa and Grandma Elaine have visited (nice) on Wednesday. Lucia scared them off with dirty diapers (That was not so nice, Lucia).
• Aunt Genevieve and Joshua stayed with us a lot on Tuesay.
• Aunt Sara (see labor coach) stayed with us and baked us cookies on tuesday also.
• Kent's work sent us flowers!
• Katy's work sent congrats in the form of e-mails to hospital that were delivered like daily mail (nice surprise).
• I had the best am nurse: Carla. They took such awesome recovery care of me! Thank god for "ice diapers".
• Olivia is staying with Daphne and the Barrons. Apparently, Daphne (thier yorkie poo) knows how to keep my girl in line when its her house!
• Kent is a natural Daddy.
• Lucia and Mommy are a natural, "breast feeding team".
• Lucia sleeps through the night except for 4 am and 6 am feedings.
• We are a family.