Gigi and Grumpy

Gigi and Grumpy came over to visit Baby Sara last night.

Playtime with Nana and Julie

Hallie has really enjoyed Aunt Julie and Nana being here this week. She's played in the pool and colored with markers!

Bilirubin Update

Sara's level is 14.2 today, so it looks like we'll have one more day of the blue light (hopefully). But she gained 4.5 ounces overnight! So the doctor said we don't have to be quite as diligent about keeping her in the spacesuit at all times. This means her Nana, Papa, and Aunt Julie can hold her for a little while tonight before they go back to Cookeville tomorrow.

Happy Anniversary!

Jason and I will celebrate four years together tomorrow. The fourth anniverary is the year for sending flowers and fruit. So, in celebration, Jason got me a fruit bouquet from Edible Arrangements. It has chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate and white chocolate covered bananas, plain strawberries, grapes, and pineapple. Yum!!

Thank you for four wonderful years, sweetheart! In four years, we've moved twice, gotten Archie, had two precious girls, and started more than a couple of new jobs. Lots of changes, but I'm glad to have shared them with you!

Glo-Worm Update

Sara's bilirubin level was 16.4 today. It has to be 12 or below before she can leave her little tanning bed. The nurse will come back and stick her little heel again tomorrow morning around 10:30. So, say a prayer that her level really drops overnight!

In better news, Sara gained 2.5 ounces overnight! She'll be a chunky monkey in no time at this rate!

The Big Sis

I have to brag on my little helper this morning. Although Hallie is catapulting into toddlerhood (and thereby earning nicknames like "Hurricane Hallie" and "Wild Woman"), she is still such a sweetheart. She is figuring out her role as the big sister, and has been very loving and gentle (as gentle as a toddler can be, anyway) to Sara. She likes to look at her occasionally and stroke her head and then go back to running around.

This morning she went to the coffee table, where Sara's burp cloth was sitting. I told her that the cloth was Sara's. So, Hallie took the burp cloth over to Sara's cradle to give it to her. And yesterday when I explained that the pacifier Hallie had in her mouth belonged to Sara, she took it out of her mouth, walked over to Sara's bouncy seat and put it back where it belonged. This was a truly monumental feat for a little girl who is somewhat attached to her pacifier and is working through the idea that she can only have one when she goes to bed these days.

I am very proud of Hallie's adjustment so far, even though I'm sure there will still be a few kinks in the works along the way. It makes me happy to think that my girls will be so close and share so much.

Visit from Kristin

Kristin came over to meet Sara tonight! And she brought gifts for Hallie and Sara--including these adorable bears dressed up as a ladybug and a bumblebee. Aren't they cute?

Photo Shoot

Aunt Julie and Nana took Sara's picture this morning before our trip to the doctor.

Yawn!

Beam Me Up, Sara

We took Sara to the doctor this morning to get her bilirubin level and weight checked. Although her weight was stable, her bilirubin count was too high. (It was 18, for anyone who's curious.) So, the doctor sent a home health nurse to our house this afternoon to set Sara up with an ultraviolet light system. She has to stay on this light all of the time, except for feedings and diaper changes. The light helps her body break down bilirubin in her blood because her liver isn't developed enough to do it yet. The nurse will come back out each morning to stick her heel and check her bilirubin and weight. The nurse indicated that the average time for this treatment is 2 to 3 days, so we'll hope that her levels decrease quickly and we can get back to cuddling our little girl. Meanwhile, she looks a little like a science project...

Testify

Sara likes to sleep with her hands up in the air sometimes.

Best Babysitters Ever

A huge thank-you to our babysitters over the past couple of days. While we welcomed Sara into the world and stayed in the hospital this weekend, Nana, Aunt Julie, and Uncle Jon took excellent care of Hallie. Looks like they had a great time!

Ready for Football Season

Getting Settled at Home

Homecoming!

More Pictures

Stats and Stuff

Thought I'd give a few details about our sweet Sara. She was born at 10:15 am on the dot and weighed 8 lbs, 8 oz. She is 21 inches long. This makes her 5 ounces heavier than Hallie and one inch shorter. (Of course, she was also 2 weeks earlier.)

She is nursing well and slept a lot yesterday afternoon and night. Apparently, being born is hard work.

As you see in the picture below, Hallie met Sara yesterday. She wasn't quite sure what to think. She touched her face, and I think she really liked how soft Sara's skin is (for anyone who doesn't know, Hallie is a really tactile little individual). And when Sara cried while they were bathing her, Hallie seemed genuinely concerned. But other than that, she was really more interested in emptying her Nana's purse than staring at the new baby. I'm sure this transition will continue to be interesting and that when the new baby actually comes home to her house, Hallie may have a few more things to say about it. But the initial meet and greet went very well, and Hallie entertained the nurses at the nurses' station with her prissy little walk and big grin.

We are doing well this morning. Sara is seeing the pediatrician right now, so I'm going to enjoy my breakfast and wait for her to return. Thanks again for all the well wishes! We are so very blessed.

Mommy and the Girls

Happy Birth Day to Sara!

We've had lots of wonderful visitors today. :)

Meet Sara Frances Head!