Happy Birthday Baby Rufflebum!

Penelope just turned one week old. Wow. Really? It's so hard to believe!

Needless to say, her first week was action packed. Yes, mommy and daddy are pooped, but every second with her makes up for every second of open eye at night.

We will be posting a blog with more detail - but Peanut has gone a lil' bit radioactive with jaundice. Her pediatrician says she is "glowing" - and I've taken to calling her our little Hulk since her eyes have a yellow-green tinge to them. After being poked and prodded for several PKU tests, it was determined that while her jaundice levels are high-ish, they are going down and the likelihood of her needing further treatment is minimal.

She is eating like a champ. She sleeps like a champ, and gives us plenty of rest in between feedings. She smiles (who cares if it's gas - it's a smile). She loves bath time (she is after all, my daughter). She LOVES the camera (which tickles her daddy silly). She has everyone completely smitten as they should be. We are totally and completely in LOVE with this rufflebum baby.

A couple of pics for her 1 week birthday - thanks to her Great Grandma and Popo in Arizona for providing the deliciously sweet wardrobe.

To be loved by you...

How sweet to be home.

Yesterday we signed on the dotted line, ran through the do's and don'ts with the nurse and brought our beautiful baby girl home.

How sweet it is.

We are totally pooped but extremely thankful to be able to sleep in our own bed, rest in our own space and enjoy the quiet with Penelope. We are learning quickly how the three of us will work together and we are doing our best to establish a routine. There is definitely a laundry list of things that we never realized we would run into. Whether it be the quirks of nursing, diapering, sleeping, healing, etc., those little things keep us on our toes and definitely keep our sense of humor finely tuned.

I can say with 100% certainty, that we came home with an angel baby. I'm sure every parent says that - and I'm sure there are those that will say "oh just you wait", but I honestly have met few babies that are so even tempered and mild. She is amazingly alert, she loves to coo and gurgle, she sleeps like a LOG at night (giving her mommy and daddy legitimate stretches of sleep), and she rarely EVER cries. Sure, maybe we are biased, but nurses were surprised by her from the moment she was born so I think we have a good thing going! :)

Thank the Lord for such a gift - I seriously don't think I could love her more. I feel like I've joined the elite group that know God's love in a very unique and special way. The way I love Dana now is far deeper than anything I could have imagined and the instant connection I have with this little girl is profound an indescribable.

I am beyond blessed - my cup runneth over.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Penelope Kay

We did it little one!

Aaaand we're off...

After our appointment with Dr. Awesome on Monday evening, we were left with a decision regarding Peanut's delivery. We hadn't been making the progress Dr. A or I hoped to see so he left us with a decision to make. To make a long story short, after much prayer, counsel and consideration, we decided Peanut was going to be making her appearance this week.

We were expecting to be going in Thursday night to begin the process, but to due to the apparent massive amount of October babies coming we are set up to go in tonight at 7. :) They will begin the process this evening, if needed we will start Pitocin in the morning and if all goes well, baby girl should be greeting her very excited family tomorrow night.

Unfortunately, the piggy flu has dictated that the hospital make visits from family and friends completely impossible. They can't even come to the waiting room...boo. Since I am only allowed two people to stay with me, my support team is made up of my amazing baby daddy/husband/rock star, Dana and my mom who will be joining us tomorrow morning. We are anticipating this little one's safe arrival and praying that the process is simple and uneventful.

We will keep the 'couch' and our FB accounts updated as much as humanly possible. Go easy on us though - we are you know - having a child - that does kinda take priority. ;)

Keep checking in! We will write again from the hospital tonight after we're all rigged up and settled in.