Violet - 2 weeks

Weight - 8 pounds 10 ounces

Length - 21 inches

Head Circumference - 14 inches

Dear Violet, 

What a week it's been! Thankfully you are still our rock star sleeper. Not that we're on a schedule yet but you are still blessing us with 2 hour stretches of sleep at night in between your feedings. A couple of times you've even given us a 3 hour stretch. Daddy is especially grateful for this since he has returned to work this week. Even though you seem to be sleeping well Daddy and I are still adjusting to getting our sleep in 2 hour segments. 

We've learned a lot about you during diaper changes. If we lay you down for a diaper change and you appear calm and peaceful, we are usually moments away from you filling up your diaper. You usually stretch your legs out really straight and stare off into nowhere as your bottom makes noises that some would deem unacceptable for a little girl. But who are we kidding, you make daddy proud. Speaking of bodily functions, your burps are often a source of laughter for us. Who knew a little body could make such a loud noise. Granddad better get ready for a little friendly competition! 

You have also started to have more quiet alert time with us during the day. It's still not all that often or for very long but there are times we can interact with you and you with us. I love watching your eyes look around and take everything in and if we put you on your tummy you will lift your head up and turn it towards us. Usually after you do that you are over tummy time and you let us know with a little huff and puff cry. Your dad and I are both surprised at the strength you have in your neck even if sometimes it means you throw your head off our shoulder as we try to burp you. 

This week you had quite a few new experiences. We took you for a walk around the playing fields in Norwich and showed you the playground we'll get to explore together. We also went for your first car trip - a drive up to Rutland to meet your Nona. It appears that you enjoy car rides - the engine and acceleration seem to put you to sleep in your car seat. Lastly, we gave you your first bath this week. Thankfully your Nana was still here to help us. She would run to gather whatever item we forgot to bring with us for bath time. The first bath was definitely a learning experience for all of us. It was a quick bath but you seemed to thoroughly enjoy yourself and you smelled so clean afterwards. 

I can't believe my little 7 pound bundle of joy is already moving out of newborn clothes and into 0-3 month clothes. At your Doctor's appointment this week we found out that not only are you eating well but according to him you are "perfect", but we already knew that! Since your Dad was having so much fun with the Ergo I finally broke out the moby wrap and had fun wearing you around on Sunday. By the time of our next update we'll have survived our first few days just the two of us and we'll have transitioned you into cloth diapers. We both can't wait to see how much you change over the next two weeks!.

Love,
Your Mom and Dad

Tap that Tree!

It's sugarin' season people! That's right, the weather is finally warm enough during the day and cold enough at night for the sap to run. So this past weekend Marc headed out to the trees we had marked in the fall and tapped them.

The first step in the tapping process was identifying trees, which we did in the fall when they still had leaves. We identified 5 sugar maples that we hoped would be big enough and provide enough sap for us to try our hand at maple syrup making. Marc is hopeful that we'll be able to get 10 gallons of sap out of each tree. It can take up to 50 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup so hopefully we'll be able to make almost a gallon of syrup this year.

Over the last few weeks we've been collecting supplies to get ready for sugarin'. My parents have been drinking lots of milk so that we can save the gallon plastic jugs. Marc bought some taps from the general store in town, and I took care of the baby.

Marc used a 3/8ths drill bit to make a hole (1 1/2 inch deep) in the south side of each tree. He then used a hammer to tap-tap-tap the metal spouts into the tree.

Drill Hole

Add Spout

As soon as the spout was placed, you could see the sap beginning to run out the end. Marc then attached the milk jug to the spout to catch the sap.

Since we tapped the trees we've been out a few times to see how much sap has been collected. So far we probably have about a quart of sap. We're hoping that if the weather stays good we'll be able to start boiling maybe as early as next week. Until then we'll be checking our milk jugs everyday and emptying them out as they fill up. 

Violet - 1 Week

Weight - 7 pounds 14 ounces

Length - 21 inches

Head Circumference - 14 inches

Dear Violet, 

In just a week you've already gained 10 ounces from your birth weight. Dad wasn't surprised at all because he's witnessed how much you love breastfeeding. He's also been watching me put my Certified Lactation Educator training to work! You tell us you're hungry by letting out a mid-level cry and searching for food with your tongue. During this week you have been a fan of cluster feedings in the evening but the rest of the day and night you like to eat every 2-3 hours. It's amazing how much my milk is able to fill you up in comparison to just my colostrum. It really cut down on your crying and increased your sleeping. It also allowed us to see your happy-milk-drunk face. Personally one of my favorites. 

The first night in your crib you would only sleep for 20 minute stretches before asking to be held again. But by the second and third night you seemed to settle right in to your bed. Since then you have been our sleeping rock star; except for the one day when we let you sleep too much during the day and thus you were up every hour during the night. So far you usually eat every three hours like clockwork during the night. Your feeds last about an hour from start to finish (feed, diaper change, feed, swaddle) and then you happily sleep for two hours until your next feeding. Your Dad and I are both very grateful that we are able to take advantage of this and get some much needed rest. Your Dad has also been a great help when I'm tired, taking over the diaper change and swaddle parts of the middle of the night feeds. As you'll see we work pretty good together as a team. 

Your eyes are always searching. You really enjoy staring at the brick fireplace when we put you in your bouncy seat to join us for family dinner. Your Dad also really enjoys the way you gaze at him when he carries you around in the Ergo. Speaking of being carried around, it appears that you like riding around in your car seat - especially when we are accelerating onto the freeway or driving down a bumpy road. 

Your Dad and I have also been watching your cheeks fill out. It's amazing how much your little face has changed in the last week. We're still waiting to see your chubby thighs but we know they are coming. And your hair, oh that hair! I'm still amazed everyday at how much hair you have. It has gotten a little lighter in parts but the top is still a dark brown with "frosted" light brown tips. I'm really hopeful it won't fall out but will continue to grow in. 

Happy First Week Violet!

Love,
Your Mom and Dad

Family Walk at Occom Pond

Today we decided to take advantage of the beautiful sunny weather and take our first family walk. After loading up the car we headed across the river to Dartmouth and had a wander around Occom Pond. It was really nice to get everyone out of the house, watch the ice skaters and hockey players, and to explore the ice and snow sculptures from last weekend's winter festival.

Ice Block Sculpture

Rapunzel in her tower

Thanks to Uncle Andrew and Aunt Carly we had the perfect snow suit to bundle our little one up in.

She wasn't so sure about it at first but once she was all strapped into the Ergo carrier she was very content to be outside with us.

I have to say I am really glad Marc suggested we all get out of the house this afternoon. Not only was it nice to show my Mom a new part of town but it was also nice to know that if we want to go out we can. It's always best to time our trips in between feeds but, since I have already completed two impromptu feeding sessions in the backseat of the car, if we are out and Violet's hungry - I'm always ready.

1 Week

Hard to believe that exactly 1 week ago, February 10th at 9:10am, this little lady made her way into this world. We arrived at the hospital at 4:30am as contractions were about 5 minutes apart lasting approximately a minute to a minute and a half. My water hadn't broken yet and after being checked we found out I was already 8cm dilated. Little Miss Violet had decided that she would head down towards the birth canal with the boney back of her head against my spine. This meant the next four hours of labor were quite painful as she moved lower and lower into my pelvis.

By 8am I was fully dilated and the decision was made to break my water to get the pushing started. My water was broken at 8:30 and 40 minutes later we had our baby girl. Thinking back I am still completely amazed how uncontrollable the urge to push was and just how much relief there was when she finally made her way into this world. I am impressed by the midwife and student midwife who attended our birth - they were compassionate, knowledgeable and great instructors in coaching the labor. I am also so grateful that I was able to deliver at a Birthing Center where I had a lot of say and choice in how the labor would go. I attribute Violet's alertness from the beginning to the fact that we had a successful natural birth.

This man was my hero. He provided reverse pressure on my back and watched as the area that needed attention slowly moved down my spine - following the movement of the baby. When I would shout "not there, here!" and indicate that his fingers were a mere 1/4 of an inch off - he adjusted. When I politely shouted "would you please stop sniffling in my ear and go blow your nose!" he walked to the bathroom and blew his nose. When he would tell me I was doing "Good" and I responded with, "Nothing about this is good!" he started telling me I was doing amazing. And from the second Violet was born he has been the best Dad to our little girl.

We could not have made it through the last week without the support of my parents. My mom was here for the entire labor and delivery. My Dad arrived Sunday evening. Thanks to the two of them Marc, Violet and myself have been able to focus on sleeping, eating and figuring out a routine for our family of three. My parents have cleaned the house, made sure laundry is getting done, grocery shopped, made sure meals are on the table three times a day and so much more. Marc and I are so appreciative that they've been here during this transition. 

Marc and I were very happy to be home on Tuesday afternoon. It's still a little strange to look over and see this little human that is ours but we are both loving being parents. So far Violet seems to be settling well into being at home. Just like any infant she spends lots of time eating, pooping and sleeping. The difference between the beginning of this week and now is that Marc and I are beginning to understand her needs. Not to jinx it but so far we have been really lucky with the amount that she sleeps at night. Marc and I are clocking about 5-8 hours of sleep per night and then napping a little during the day. It continues to amaze me how each day is better then the one before. 

There's nothing better then Mother Daughter Time

Wearing her summer squash hat from the hospital volunteers

Nap time with Daddy

Daddy is already trying to brainwash my sweet 49ers Fan

Trying out the Ergo Baby Carrier for the first time (Thanks Allie and Marion!)

Snuggle Time 

Contented Breastfed Baby

My Valentines

Marc and I don't normally celebrate Valentine's Day per se. We like to pick a fun holiday close to Valentine's Day and celebrate that. Over the years we have celebrated Presidents Day, Daytona 500 Day, National Foundation Day, and this year we had picked Ferris Wheel Day (little did we know Google would too!). 

However now that it's actually Valentine's Day it feels a little different. There is absolutely no way that I couldn't celebrate with my two most favorite Valentine's - our daughter and my amazing husband.

Violet Stephanie Aquila

February 10, 2013 9:10am  

7 pounds 4 ounces  19 3/4 inches

Shortly after birth - alert and wondering "what just happened?"

Cleaned up and wearing a hat knitted by Grandma Diane

There is absolutely no way I could have made it through 9 months of pregnancy and a fully natural delivery without Marc by my side. He has taken every hormonal shift in stride. He read the same birthing books that I did during our pregnancy without even batting an eyelash. He coached me through our labor and delivery with every ounce of love and support you could ever imagine possible. And he is an amazing father to our little girl. 

First Family Photo - seconds after birth

2nd Family Photo - getting ready to leave the birth center

Enjoying every moment of burping a screaming child

Finally getting some cuddle time together

Happy Valentine's Day from our family to you! 

The Nursery - Step 2: The Dresser

Ever since we found out we were pregnant, I've been searching the local thrift store looking for a dresser for our baby's room. I was looking for something long enough that I could also use as a changing table and with enough drawers to store all those wonderful baby items. I found a few dressers here and there but nothing that ever seemed to be the one. Thankfully in December I came across this.

It's a little hard to see in the picture but the dresser has 6 large drawers and 3 small drawers down the middle and was painted sage-ish green with gold accents. What I loved about it was the routing details on the drawers and also that the entire thing was made out of real wood. So I quickly texted Marc to make sure that he was okay with it and stood there eyeing anyone else who even turned an eye towards my dresser. Thankfully Marc responded that he liked it, I was able to purchase it and then returned later in the evening with the truck to pick it up. What made a good deal even better is that when I arrived to pick it up the thrift store employees informed me that it came with a matching framed mirror. I was beyond excited!

Once we got it home I took to giving it a makeover. I removed the handles and, after testing the paint to make sure it wasn't lead based, I started to sand down the top of the dresser. The plan was to stain the top of the dresser a dark wood color and have the base of the dresser and drawers painted white. Let me just tell you the sanding took forever.

But I ended up with this beautiful sanded wooden top with a beautiful wood grain pattern.

The next step was painting the drawers white. Since I don't have a spray gun for paint I used a combination of paint brush and roller. I used the brush to put paint into the detailed routing on the front of the drawers and to spread the paint across the front of the drawer. I then used a roller over the top of the wet paint to give it the texture I wanted.

The outsides and insides of the drawers each got two coats using this technique.

The fronts of the drawers each got four coats, just to make sure it was as uniform as I could possibly make it.

It's a bummer I didn't find this dresser earlier in the summer because now that the weather's been cold we've been limited in where we can work on the dresser. I have been painting the drawers in the living room but I have had to leave the staining to someone else because it has to be done in the garage downstairs and to be honest, it's not something a pregnant woman should be handling. Thankfully my mom agreed to stain the top of the dresser for me.

She did an absolutely amazing job of staining the top and then coating it with a clear top coat. I couldn't be more excited with how it has turned out. I was also able to convince her to spray paint the handles for the dresser with Rustoleum's Oil Rubbed Bronze.

The last step was to get one of our friends in town to come over and help Marc move the dresser base from the basement up into the baby's room. Being made from solid wood the dresser was a bit heavy to move but I think it will last us a very long time. Here it is in the baby's room.

And because I love before and afters here's a side by side comparison so you don't have to scroll through the post to compare the pictures.

Next step, hanging some things on the walls.

Pregnancy Update - 40 weeks

Today is the due day for our Baby Girl. So far she seems to have missed the memo. While Marc thought she was going to be early, and I hoped she would be like me and be on time, it seems that she has other plans for her arrival into this world. I've been chatting with her and letting her know that we're ready for her to arrive and also trying my best to make sure she's not too comfortable in there. Unfortunately it seems that when I make her uncomfortable she ultimately wins by making me uncomfortable. I guess that's the back and forth of a mother-daughter relationship.

This morning in celebration of our due day we had a delicious family breakfast. Marc is working from home today and my mom is here awaiting the arrival of her 5th grandchild - 3rd granddaughter. Together we enjoyed french toast and thick cut bacon.

This afternoon we had our weekly midwife appointment. According to the midwife we are now 80% effaced, 2 cm dilated and at 0 station. If you don't know what that means there is a nice little slideshow here that explains it all pretty clearly. Or in other words my body is getting ready for labor - ultimately we need to be 100% effaced, 10 cm dilated and +5 station. I'm still having just a few braxton hicks contractions here and there but nothing that could be considered labor contractions. While we were at the midwife's office we ran into two of the other mothers from our prenatal group. It was so nice to have a mini-reunion and hear about how they are handling the wait for their babies. Secretly I think we are all hoping to run into each other again at the hospital.

We're located right above the dash between the 18 and 24

In case you haven't heard, winter storm Nemo is heading our way this weekend, promising to bring with it a projected foot of snow. They say that a change in barometric pressure can lead to contractions as the air pressure changes faster then the water pressure around the baby. I guess we'll see whether it has any affect on us.

I apologize for the terrible Instagram self portrait 

Oh yeah and I cut 10 inches off of my hair for locks of love. This is the second time I have made a donation, last time I had 13 inches of hair. This is also the first time I've had a major haircut since Marc and I got engaged. It's interesting to think about everything that hair has been through but the shorter cut is definitely much more manageable.

Tonight we are celebrating our due day with a nice roast chicken dinner with all the fixings. Then for dessert we have homemade apple pie with fresh whipped cream. Since I'm not celebrating today with a baby in my arms, I'm so grateful that I had the next best thing by enjoying the day with both Marc and my Mom.