Last Week/First Blood

Stella and I are into our last week of maternity leave. It has been an amazing time of transition. As I look back, I can now laugh at those first few despairing and restless weeks. I'd never thought we would get to this place of confidence and joy. I have, on occasion, referred to myself as "mom"; I finally feel that I deserve that title. Stella is cozily sleeping in her swing while I type this, and it has been such an honor to be her caretaker these last three months.



We've been making the most of our week thus far: reading in bed, playing with toys, nuzzling, playing dress up with Kate and Lindsay, squishing chunky thighs into the bumbo seat, and meeting up with some chums for lunch. New Years Eve is tomorrow night and we will be staying in, and hopefully staying up, for the ball drop.



Grandad Ian is leaving the hospital, which is wonderful news, and Stella will be spending some quality time on his lap this weekend. I believe he is the only person to date that has made her giggle, so she's bound to have a nice time with him.



Today we met up for some Indian food with Kelly and Jake, Steph, Laura, and Lisa. Jake was very funny with Stel; he grabbed at her hands and sucked on her bib. She could not be baited by his approaches, however, and she was pretty much unaware that he sought her attention. He was very jealous of the bottle she received, and he pouted accordingly. Too much cuteness, and she is quite tuckered out from the day. Thanks to the ladies for braving the snow for some much needed adult time!



Also, here is a pic of Stella's first injury! She picked or scratched her ear and bled all over her bassinet sheet. I guess now that I am a mommy, I'd better learn some stain removal tricks!

Baby Stella's First Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas! This past year has been so full of joy and blessings, and it was difficult to not tear up as I thought back to this time last year, as we hoped and prayed for a baby. We now get to hold one in our arms, and she is beautiful and healthy. We are incredibly lucky.



Stella spent Christmas Eve at Grandma Louise's with Mom, Dad, Uncle Jack and Colleen, Uncle David and Amy, Michelle, Stephanie and Vito, Mason, and Jan Anderko. As is the tradition, chinese food was ordered and an evening full of laughter was enjoyed. Stella received a lot of cute outfits, books, some developmental toys, and some baby's first ornaments. She wasn't too aware of the gifts (with the exception of those that flashed lights and played music) but she enjoyed all of the cuddling and love.



Stella stayed up very late (12:30 am) and was quite sleepy the next morning when Santa arrived. She was so sleepy in fact, that we have yet to open her Mommy and Daddy's gifts to her. I got her Stellaluna (a book), and Daddy got her a glow worm. We hope that the glow worm will be her "transitional object" for bedtime. We will probably get to the gifts sometime today.



Here is a video montage of Christmas Day. I am still figuring out this flip camera's editing software so I apologize for the sideways view! Grandad Ian must have taken fifty videos as well, so I look forward to seeing those!


We headed out to Elgin on Christmas Day to Aunt Jennie's to play with the Stahlmann family. We were late of course; it was difficult to get out of the door with all the baby gear and gifts. Stella looked like a little present in her velvet outfit. Grandad and Grandma were there waiting to snuggle, as well as Aunt Jennie, Uncle Tony, Uncle Dave, and her cousins Mari and Eric. Stella watched Eric play with his new train set while the family ate and ate and ate some more! Amber, Justina, and Kristie Jackson came over after dinner to open gifts.



Stella got a really cool crawl around ball and a peapod ornament for her ornament box. I intend to keep these marked for her for when she is a grown woman with a tree of her own, although it is daunting for me to think about that!

Getting Loud & Getting Big

We have been having more visitors lately, and it has been a breath of fresh air to have some adult company. Grandpa Gary has been coming up now and again from Kankakee (and usually brings me a latte) and spends some time playing with the babe and making silly noises.

I got it in my head that I wanted to have a dinner party, so I had Grandma Louise come over to keep Stella occupied while I cooked. We had a few pals over, ended up taking out Pita Inn instead, and attempted to watch Public Enemies. Naturally, Stella talked over the movie the whole time, and I couldn't find my glasses, so I had no idea what was happening in the movie. We turned it off. The guests stayed until 11:30- woah, late night! Stella slept well that night, just like Mom and Dad.



Stella has been playing with her tongue the last few days. It appears that she has been learning how to manipulate it, and she will stick it out at us and smile. It is making feedings a little more difficult, and reminds me of Kiss, but hey, it's pretty cute nonetheless.



Stella makes a great alarm clock these days, and this is what wakes us up most days. To be honest, I'm not all that quick to jump up and pick her up because it is really fun to hear her chatting. She will often talk to herself (or perhaps, yell for us) for up to ten minutes. As soon as we peek over at her, she gives us her most charming smile.


Stella has been taking in the world around her. Here is a little video of her checking out the TV, looking at the dog, and having a peek to see what Mommy is fussing over. We have instituted "TV-Free Weekdays" to try and quell her insatiable urges to gaze at the boob tube. Instead, we dance around to the ipod, or play on the bed. She still isn't quite taking to tummy-time, but we give it a go every now and again.

Play All Day

Stella has been making some motor developments and is showing off her head control as she looks from side to side to try and watch TV. She can often be seen peeking at the football scores with Daddy. Any day we should be able to pull out the Bumbo seat and prop her up.



Stella has a favorite toy; a bug that lights up and rattles. It's easy to make her smile when she is crabby as long as this bug is within reach, and she gets excited and looks around as soon as she hears it.



Much like cats I've known, Stella is a hair eater. She will often grab a handful of my hair and quickly try to get it into her mouth. She hasn't started mouthing other objects yet, but is quick to lick anything that comes close to her face (shoulders, clothing, couches). We were laying on the couch and she was trying to have a hair ball snack.

Baptism Video and Finger Licking Good

Here is a little vid from Stella's Baptism on 12/6..


Stella has found her hands and sucking on them is currently one of her favorite pastimes. Apparently, all the kids are doing it.

Chatterbox Cheeto

Our little cheeto is beginning to be quite the chatterbox. She started yesterday morning and didn't stop for a few hours. It is so exciting to hear her little girly voice.

Baptism

Stella was baptized this past Sunday at St. Mary's in Des Plaines. This was the same church where my brothers and I were baptized and confirmed. We had a tremendous showing, and I was teary-eyed as I witnessed the outpouring of love. We are so blessed to have such an exceptional group of family and friends that love and support us. It is such a relief to know that Stella will always have people to turn to and love her.


Stella was baptized in the gown that Great Grandma Virginia made for me thirty-two years ago. I am a sucker for this sort of thing, and I wanted to cry the whole time. My "Weema" was so important to me, and impressed upon me not only the joys of baking, but the importance of family, history, and tradition. I know that she was with us, and that she would be proud.


Stella is very lucky to have wonderful godparents; Jennie and Jack. After the baptism, everyone headed over to Grandma Louise's for a packed house party with Pita Inn. It was fun watching a lot of relatives try new foods: that is dolma, a grape leave; that one is falafel, it's yummy; this here is some awesome hot sauce. We got to watch Exador, the new parrot, show off. It was a great day. Many thanks to my mom for the food and for hosting us. Thanks to all who came to celebrate.


Finally, you may have heard me say that when Stella is upset she looks like the Stay Puft Man when the Ghostbusters blast him. Mason made a side by side so you can see for yourself.

Best Job in the World

Stella and I are getting on famously! I love every minute we get to spend together, and it is astonishing how much I love her. I never knew love could be this big. I am certainly blessed to have the opportunity to spend fourteen straight weeks with my baby.

Stella had her two-month appointment on Monday. She weighs 13 pounds (97th percentile) and was 22 3/4 inches (75th percentile). She also got five inoculations. She looked shocked after the first shot, and lost it after the second. She had a minute long meltdown, but was smiling and happy in no time. In fact, she cried more when I took the bandaids off! She was a bit cranky until the next morning, but overall we survived without major trauma.


Today, Stella had her first restaurant outing. We met Sheri and Mikey at Gail's Carriage house, a kitsch little breakfast place with a great menu. Despite the temptation, I stuck to fruit and decaf. I still have 25 pregnancy pounds to shed. Sheri and Mikey are expecting their first baby this January, and they played with Stella for some practice. Hopefully, Stella will have a new little friend for play dates soon! We enjoyed the time out of the house, and I enjoyed some adult conversation.

Feetsies- Good To Walk With!

Chris=Hilarity and Cuteness.

Thanksgiving and Thanks

Stella had a very wonderful Thanksgiving and proved to be quite popular with her relatives. Everybody wanted their hands on her, and she was plum tuckered out by the time we got home. She slept until 8 am the next morning and napped the morning away. It was her first long trip and her first time in Wisconsin.
Stella visited Streamwood today to see Gram and Gramps and Aunt Jennie. She missed them on Thanksgiving, but got to watch Eric romp around. Lots of fun, but she was a little tired and crabby from all of the Thanksgiving festivities the night before...

We are having trouble finding opportunities for Stella to debut her expansive wardrobe before she gets too big, so here is a little ditty including an ultra-sheik sweater with a pompom. Wicked cuteness.

Bathtime is getting to be a bit more fun and more frequent since the day I couldn't figure out what the smell was- and the smell was my baby's neck. Here is a little video of how it is happening these days.

And who doesn't love a naked baby...

And finally... The little chatterbox is beginning to show off a bit, but only when Chris gives his Swedish Chef impression...

Stella Smiles

Cutie Stella has had some fun lately. Grandma and Grandpa Stahlmann played with her over at their house, and she also met the birds and Finchie and Grandma Lundgren's. She is looking forward to Thanksgiving at Aunt Maria's (although she doesn't know it). I picked up some wrist and foot rattles and we have been having fun with those as well. She also loves her new butterfly mobile.

I captured Stella smiling on film for the first time as well!

Moving and Shaking

Our blue jean baby queen got to rock her first outfit. We have been in sleepers every day until this fresh ensemble was debuted. Stella got dressed to kill for her first play date, and looked very preppy in the process.

Daddy has decided that the moby wrap from Second-Cousin Sarah is super fly. He is sporting it often these days. Stella is snug as a bug as he lumbers around the house.

Stella slept through her first family walk. She opened her eyes a bit over big bumps, but was way too cozy to wake up and take in the sweet Fall views. Daddy managed the dog, and we made the loop around Friendship Park. Mom was sore after the exercise, but it was great to make use of the $50 infant stroller. We have used it twice, so that is $25 a walk! By the time the weather is good enough to go out again, we will be in the jogging stroller in the Spring!

Stella Starts Doing Stuff

Stella has had a few new experiences lately. Chris and I have been bathing her, and she is learning to love it. The first bath, as shown by the photo, was a bit unpleasant. We were scared of scalding her, so we made the water way too cold and she certainly let us know! She really enjoys baths now, and kicks and splashes. She hates, however, getting out of the bath, but we can't blame her for that.

Some co-workers from school gave her a pumpkin outfit for Halloween, so that's what she wore all day. Chris went to a party at Aunt Jennie's, but Mom and Babe stayed home and played. We missed out on candy, but enjoyed the day nonetheless.

Stella went over to Kelly's to meet Jake and have a first play date. Jake is 14 weeks, but Stella is just as big (she is only 6 weeks). Stella pretty much slept the whole time, but woke up to eat and get a new diaper. She got to wear her outfit from Andrea and looked super cute in her jeans. Mom liked the day out, but was majorly freaked to drive her all by herself!

Stella met her great grandparents when they stopped by for a brief visit. Great Grandma Margaret got to hold her for a bit, but Stella was a crabby girl. Great Grandpa Lundgren agreed that she looks a bit like Grandpa Gary.

Some Photos and Videos of Queen Baby

Here are some photos of Baby Stella and a recent video.

Welcome Stella Abigail!

Stella is now a month old, so I believe it is time that I start her blog.  I've planned to use this forum as a means to update and share pics and videos with interested parties, and I hope to keep up with it!  I guess I will start at the beginning, with a brief synopsis of her wonderful and anticipated arrival...

Baby Stella Abigail was born September 30th 2009 at 4:12am and was 8lbs and 7 oz, 20 inches long. She was born on her due date!

We had just gone into the doctor, who checked me and told us that we had no progress and that we were scheduling a cesarean on Friday. We had been expecting a c-section, so we weren't totally bummed.  I think that I had major labor fears during the pregnancy, and this led to my desire for a c-section.

We stopped for dinner on the way home from the appointment and ate some Portillo's. We ate a lot of Portillo's during the pregnancy- we went after every appointment!  When we arrived home I laid down with a book. Suddenly, I felt a pop and my amniotic fluid gushed everywhere! I yelled for Chris, and as I yelled, there was more. It was all over the floor and I was soaked. It was just like it happens on TV, despite my having been told that it doesn't happen that way.

We headed into l & d and because I had just eaten I was told that we'd have to wait six hours for our c-section. I started contracting an hour later and I am amazed by my body and how it just new exactly what to do.. I have never been so astonished by nature, nor have I felt more "womanly". I know it's dorky.

I labored really well, and was fully dilated in six hours. I had an epidural at 6 cm, and since I had progressed so quickly- we decided to scrap the cesarean and give it the old college try. I pushed for thirty minutes only, and kept asking, "What's the catch?" Everything was just so smooth and, dare I say, easy. Pushing was a lot of work, but the whole team there was pretty impressed with my effort. I didn't swear or cry and I managed to tell a few good jokes.

Stella is perfect and sweet girl. We adore her. I am so floored by how very blessed I am, and I have never been more in love. I feel like I have been waiting for her my whole life, and I didn't even know what I was missing. It is a little overwhelming.

The last month has been incredible and exhausting!  Stella is a hungry girl and doesn't allow us to get much sleep.  With Chris back at work, I have been trying to take the majority of the nighttime feedings so that he can be as rested as possible.  She is waking about every three hours, and since we are bottle-feeding, she takes her sweet old time and can take up to an hour and a half per bottle!  

She is starting to do some cool things though- she really likes to watch us and we have some serious staring contests.  She has given us a few smiles, and is starting to vocalize (other than crying) a bit.  She really likes to be held, and requires this for the whole day, and won't fall asleep without being cuddled.  We don't mind cuddling, but we are looking forward to her being able to self-sooth a bit.

Overall, we are adjusting well, and love the feeling of finally being a family!