Big Smiles

Got some big time smiles from Leighton tonight and just let the camera go.

Belated 8 Week Update

I'm about 2 weeks late posting the update for Leighton, but thought I'd get the info up on the blog anyway :)

We went to our 8 week appointment at her pediatrician's office on December 10th and she did great despite the multiple vaccinations she needed that day. No one likes watching their child cry in pain, but it was brief and she didn't seem to be affected by them for more than a few seconds.

She weighed in at 10 lbs 5 oz and was 22 1/2 inches long. She still seems super tiny and is just starting to transition from her newborn clothes and diapers to 0-3 month stuff. I'm sad to see the teeny tiny outfits go, but excited to get her into new and fun outfits!

Leighton is still our amazing sleeper and has been sleeping 10 hours a night since 3 1/2 weeks old. There are many days when I still need to go in and wake her up because I don't want her to sleep too late into the day.

She is starting to be awake more often during the day and is full of smiles and coos. She LOVES hanging out on the dining room table staring at the light that hangs above her.

Her new best buddy is Colby and they are getting along well. Colby is gentle with her and gives her lots of licks/kisses on her feet, hands and face. We still watch them like a hawk, but I think the two of them will do well together as she gets older.

My cousin, Suzanne, came up to Chicago a few weeks ago to play with Leighton and give me time to bake my cookies, which was wonderful!! I was able to bake about 15 different kinds of cookies this year, which was really fun and relaxing! I was so surprised that I was able to fit the baking in this year with Leighton in our lives, but it is nice to know I can do it :)

We'll be staying in Chicago for Christmas this year (again), but without Jan and Shaun :( So we'll (Mike, Leighton and I) go to Christmas Eve mass and then have our little Christmas together on the 25th. We'll then make the short trek to Grand Rapids for New Years Eve to stay with the Hagleys and do the annual Hormuth Family Christmas weekend.

Then...sadly...I'm back to work on Monday, January 4th. I can't believe my maternity leave is almost over. I know Leighton will be well taken care of at her daycare center, but I wish I could stay home and be with her. The time we'll spend together will be so much sweeter though and I'm keeping that in mind.

I hope those who are reading this have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

December 14 Pics

December 7

If you're having trouble seeing any of the slideshows, make sure you have the latest version of flash flash player here: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

Happy Thanksgiving

We're Sitting Up (sort of)

Leighton is showing some pretty incredible lower back strength as she starts to hold herself up. Her neck strength seems to be catching up. Christina's hilarious facial expressions behind her are the best part of the pics.



And these are from Sunday - just more pics I couldn't help from snapping.

1 Month Update

Leighton scared me a little bit this morning when I woke up to Mike's alarm at 7 am to realize that she had not woken up during the night/early morning for her feeding. I jumped out of bed to see if she was ok and found her sound asleep (to my HUGE surprise) and realized that she had slept from 11:30 pm to almost 8 am by the time she actually got up!!!!

We took her to her 1 month check-up at the pediatrician's office and all went well. She weighs 8 lbs 13 oz and is still 21.5 inches long!

The doctor confirmed that we should start introducing a bottle every day in her feeding schedule which will be a really nice break for me. Plus...Mike gets some time to spend with her. She also pointed out that L is being sneaky and trying to get too many feedings out of me with the 1-1 1/2 hour feedings, so we have permission to make her wait until we hit the 2 1/2 hour mark before she gets to eat. So far it has been a little hard as she is screaming in protest as I type this while Mike tries to rock her. Oh well...we will all be better in the long run if she waits a bit :)

We then made a trip to my work after the doctor's appointment where L got to hang out with my work friends and get a little time with everyone. All in all a really good day for us!

New Pics - we're smiling now

First Trip to G.R.

New Pics

At some point I need to put the camera down. We just can't seem to be able to do so.

Who does she look like?

Lots of people have asked us this. I've decided she doesn't necessarily look like either of us, but definitely resembles a lot of Christina's baby pictures.

Happy Leighton

Pics with Aunt Barbara

Thanks for everything!

Happy Halloween!

More new pics

There are a bunch here, click on the slideshow player for a link to the thumbnail format.

Leighton Waking Up

Forgot to post this when I recorded it earlier this week.

2 Week Update

Mike has been posting all the pictures, but we haven't really posted any updates on Leighton and how she has been doing the last 2 weeks.

We had our two week appointment on Friday and she did great! She's now weighing in at 7 lbs 3 oz and that has our pediatrician very pleased!

Unfortunately, we had a little scare earlier this week when we learned that Leighton tested positive for a mutation of the Cystic Fibrosis gene in her newborn screening test taken at the hospital. We had to bring her in for more testing and thankfully learned that she does not have CF, but is an unaffected carrier. This basically means that if she wants to have children some day she would need to be aware that if her husband is also a carrier, they have a 25% chance of having a child with CF.

That being said, we are just happy that we have a healthy child at this point!

Leighton is an amazing baby. She is so easy-going and doesn't make a peep unless we are changing her diaper or she is hungry. Other than that, she is calm and a joy to hug and kiss and cuddle. She's just so tiny and cute!!!

We are definitely in love with her and can't imagine our lives without her. We also can't remember the last time we slept for more than 3 hours, but we somehow don't care when we look at her sweet face.

We'll continue to update with pictures and can't wait to share her with all of our friends and family!

-C

Some new pics

Tried to actually set up a few photos at home with some ideas I stole from pictures I saw online.

Leighton's First Bath

Maybe not her favorite experience so far, but pretty entertaining for us!

Leighton is Home

Leighton came home yesterday and we survived our first night on our own. And of course, more pics.

Leighton's visitors

Leighton Olivia

She's here!

D Day is Fast Approaching!

Okay...so tomorrow is my due date day or "D Day" as I am calling it. And based on the last few weeks of doctors visits, I am going to assume this day is going to come and go without a peep or contraction from my little stubborn one.

So...we'll be counting down the next few days and come hell or high water, this child is coming into this world on Thursday, October 15th!

Say your prayers folks and send me all the spicy food you can find!!!

Love

C

ND vs. Nevada

Pics from the weekend

Hi everyone. Thanks again for everything you did for us this weekend! Here are some of the better pics from Sunday afternoon. Connor might have won for most photogenic on this day, and I swear he looks like George W. Bush in the last picture of him running! Here is a link to a larger slide show. Let me know if anyone wants any originals.

Belly pics with the new camera

So we bought a new "semi-professional" camera to take tons of pictures of baby Hormuth when she arrives.  In an effort to get comfortable with the thing before baby comes, Mike started practicing last night.  My belly and Colby were the test subjects :)

Baby's Room in Progress

Sorry for the delay in posting.  It has been a busy summer so far!  Looking forward to the next few months and some fun lined up.  

The Hagley's are coming next weekend for some Chi-town action and then later in the month we are in Ohio at Indian Lake with the Burns' for some lakeside relaxation.

Then comes August and the boy's draft and fun at the Lewand's.  Plus...the baby showers! :)

The crib and rocking chair for the baby's room came in last night and so we canceled our movie plans to put it all together :)  Starting to look more and more like a nursery and less like an office.

It's a Girl :)

Stumbling into my 30's...

So yesterday I managed to fall out of the car when trying to go to the bank and have now injured my ankle.  

No...I wasn't drinking (hello??? pregnant!), but I was full from dinner and might have been a little weighed down in the front :)

Anyhoo...I'm now sitting at work in an ankle brace and irritated that yet again, I can't take any good pain killers to get rid of the pain.

Tomorrow is the big 3-0 and I might be limping through it!  I just hope I am better by Sunday for our 5 mile walk for ACS.

I know I owe a posting with a belly pic, so I'll make sure to have Mike take one soon.  T minus 7 days and counting until we find out if we are having a boy or a girl!!!  I'm so freakin' excited!

-C

I think I have Swine Flu...

not really, but this cold thing is getting old.  I've been sick for over a week and I think it is cruel and unusual punishment not to allow those who are pregnant to take drugs.  A humidifier and chicken soup just doesn't cut it.

Other than that, not much else to post on our end.  We finally had a few days of warmer weather here in Chi-town, but the rain didn't make it very enjoyable.

Looking forward to my 30th birthday in a little over two weeks!  Mike is taking me to see Jersey Boys and then to dinner with some friends.  I can't wait!  I've been dropping hints for Jersey Boys for about 2 years!!!!

If you are interested, we go in for our 20-week appointment on May 19th, so we'll be posting the sex of the baby for all to see.  The name is top secret :)

Ok...back to the humidifier and soup...stay tuned for the next post :)

God Help Us...

Mike just landed in Vegas and I'm praying that we don't go broke!  JUST KIDDING! :)  He's on "mancation" with Shaun, Jim and a few others, so let's hope they behave.

I doubt they will remember to take pictures, but if they do, I'll post them upon his return!

Wish him luck!

-C

Mike Turns 30

Hit the big 3-0 with a night of bowling and this awesome cake from Christina!

Oldies but goodies - test answers from kids