Today after the gym, Charlotte and I went to the park. She was amazed by the vast grassy world she was allowed to explore. She'd start to move faster and faster away from me, and then stop, turn around, and look at me as if to ask, "Are you coming, Mom?" I enjoyed chasing her around and watching her experience new sensations like sand and mud.
To the right of the park was an elementary school. As we played I couldn't help but feel a little sad that I wasn't there teaching. However, as I watched the "big kids" playing at recess, I realized how quickly this period in Charlotte's life will pass. A part of me may miss teaching, but I am so thankful for the opportunity to stay home with my daughter. Soon she'll be one of those big kids, and when she runs away from me, she won't look back.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Charlotte's First Year
Here's a video I created of Charlotte's first year on Earth (outside of my womb).
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Around the house
With our move to California, I have the extreme blessing of getting to stay home with Charlotte while Andrew goes off to work. Rather than a day full of teaching kinder-8th graders, I get to teach my daughter new concepts each day. As a teacher I loved those "light bulb" moments when my students finally understood. Now as a stay-at-home mom I get to experience those moments with Charlie on a daily basis. A few weeks ago I showed her how to turn on the music on her stacking toy; now she presses the button with her thumb like a pro. Today I helped her turn off the light to our closet and then she-on her own- turned off the light to the bedroom. She watches like a hawk and takes in everything we do, so that she may then try it on her own. This development is so fun to watch, but it also keeps me on my toes. Before I can blink, she's at the first landing of the stairs, staring over the edge, ready to tumble. Gravity: a lesson we must all learn someday...I just hope she gets it the first time around and doesn't need a refresher course.
Here's a video of one of Charlotte's new skills.
Here's a video of one of Charlotte's new skills.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Quick update
I know I've been sorta absent lately, so here's a quick update on how things are going. Andrew had a major blow out on I-5 just outside of Tracy on our way into Sacramento. That delayed our arrival by 2 hours, but I was just thankful we made it safe and sound. We arrived on July 1st, so we've really only been here for 2 weeks; it seems like so much longer. The first week was spent trying to get things moved around so we could find someplace for all our stuff. I'm still trying to find room. We also got all the logistics out of the way (registration, licenses, etc). For me the second week here was filled with more and more sorting, purging, and organizing of stuff that hasn't been touched in years. Andrew had his first week as a manager, which he realized has some perks. He's been learning so much, so fast, that it's like drinking from a fire hose. He's brillant, though, so I know he'll catch on quickly. So those are a few of the details on what's up with us. We miss all our friends in Arizona and all the fun we had getting to know you over the last 5 years. We hope to make a visit back in the near future.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Weight Bench
Here's video of the weight bench we're trying to get rid of before moving back to CA. I couldn't find my point and shoot, so I went all Spielberg and tried to capture the essence of the bench for your viewing pleasure.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Month One
Mommies are like professional athletes without the salary.
I thought I had plenty of training before Charlotte arrived in my life. I'd baby-sat, ran a children's ministry, taught school, and read a myriad of parenting/baby books; however there is nothing that can prepare you for the real thing. Every day is different from the other and like a professional athlete, I've found myself latching on to anything that appears to work. "Charlotte went 6 hours between feedings. It must have been because she was wearing her knit hat." So like a baseball player in the World Series who refuses to wash his underwear because he swears it keeps the team winning, I faithfully put on Charlie's knit hat to get the same result. Unfortunately, Charlotte is not aware of the superstition and doesn't play along. I know it sounds ridiculous, but when your world is turned upside down, you'll cling to anything that seems routine. After all, our brains are designed to recognize patterns, right?
Through the ups and downs of being a first time parent, God continues to walk beside me, reminding me over and over again: "Let go. Let go. Let go." It's a theme that has popped up numerous times in my life, but I've never so acutely felt God teaching me this lesson than over the past month with Charlotte. This baby is a little person, separate from me. I have as much control over her as I do over any other person. So for now I rely on God for the strength, patience, and love I need to meet the needs of my daughter and let the rest fall to the wayside.
The Highs:
Mommy Milestones:
1. Taking Charlotte shopping on my own
2. Leaving Charlotte with daddy and going out with the girls
3. Taking my struggles to God and ignoring the "mommy guilt" from Satan
Daddy Milestones:
1. Pulling his first over night shift (fabulous job!)
2. Mastering the snot sucker
3. Balancing work and fatherhood
Charlie Milestones:
1. Putting herself on a somewhat regular 3 hour routine
2. Going 6 hours between feedings (1 time)
3. Finding her fingers to soothe herself
The Lows:
1. Baby Blues
2. Charlie's first cold
3. Sleepless nights
4. Gassiness and giving up dairy
Check out our flickr page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewandlarissa) to see updated pictures of Charlie. For now, here's my favorite from our photo shoot at JC Penny's when Charlie was 9 days old.
I thought I had plenty of training before Charlotte arrived in my life. I'd baby-sat, ran a children's ministry, taught school, and read a myriad of parenting/baby books; however there is nothing that can prepare you for the real thing. Every day is different from the other and like a professional athlete, I've found myself latching on to anything that appears to work. "Charlotte went 6 hours between feedings. It must have been because she was wearing her knit hat." So like a baseball player in the World Series who refuses to wash his underwear because he swears it keeps the team winning, I faithfully put on Charlie's knit hat to get the same result. Unfortunately, Charlotte is not aware of the superstition and doesn't play along. I know it sounds ridiculous, but when your world is turned upside down, you'll cling to anything that seems routine. After all, our brains are designed to recognize patterns, right?
Through the ups and downs of being a first time parent, God continues to walk beside me, reminding me over and over again: "Let go. Let go. Let go." It's a theme that has popped up numerous times in my life, but I've never so acutely felt God teaching me this lesson than over the past month with Charlotte. This baby is a little person, separate from me. I have as much control over her as I do over any other person. So for now I rely on God for the strength, patience, and love I need to meet the needs of my daughter and let the rest fall to the wayside.
The Highs:
Mommy Milestones:
1. Taking Charlotte shopping on my own
2. Leaving Charlotte with daddy and going out with the girls
3. Taking my struggles to God and ignoring the "mommy guilt" from Satan
Daddy Milestones:
1. Pulling his first over night shift (fabulous job!)
2. Mastering the snot sucker
3. Balancing work and fatherhood
Charlie Milestones:
1. Putting herself on a somewhat regular 3 hour routine
2. Going 6 hours between feedings (1 time)
3. Finding her fingers to soothe herself
The Lows:
1. Baby Blues
2. Charlie's first cold
3. Sleepless nights
4. Gassiness and giving up dairy
Check out our flickr page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewandlarissa) to see updated pictures of Charlie. For now, here's my favorite from our photo shoot at JC Penny's when Charlie was 9 days old.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The Fast and the Furious
The Arrival of Charlotte Rose Kelly
It all began the morning of October 8th. After a very restful night, Andrew and I awoke around 7:30 and started discussing our plans for the day. I thought for sure that Charlotte would not make her arrival until the next week, so we were searching on ticketmaster.com to see if we could go to any shows with my parents that night. While in bed I started to feel some discomfort; as I had never had a real contraction before, I thought I was having some intestinal cramping. So, I got up, used the bathroom, and returned to bed. This happened a couple more times until I decided to finally just get in the shower and get ready for the day...about 8:30 am. On my way to the shower I felt wet...did my water just break or did I lose bladder control? Rather than invite Andrew in on my ponderings, I got into the shower. After some more cramping, I told Andrew what was happening. He pulled out his iPod Touch and we started tracking my contractions...3-3 1/2 minutes apart. I was in labor.
Andrew went and woke up my parents to let them know what was happening. My mom came into our bathroom to see me bent at the waist, holding the counter, and rocking back and forth. When my contraction stopped Andrew asked me if it was "mild," "moderate," or "firm," all options used to stop the contraction timer. I picked "mild" because I'd never been in labor before, so I figured these were just the warm-ups. My mom thought otherwise; by the time she looked like me, she was much farther along. I guess I should have listened to her.
Instead of listening to my mom, I figured I had some time. I wanted to finish putting on make-up and blow-drying my hair. Andrew needed to eat so I sent him to Sonic to get a hamburger. Finally, around 9:30 am we left for the hospital...but not until I updated my status on facebook. Priorities, right?
In the car ride, it became abundantly clear that I would not be sent home from the hospital. My water broke and my contractions came on faster and harder. Never has the 1 hour trip to Banner Thunderbird gone by so slowly, yet so quickly. I wanted to reach the hospital more than anything, but my contractions kept me so preoccupied, that by the time we reached the hospital, I was surprised we'd made it so quickly. Either way, I didn't care. I was just glad we made it.
As I got out of the car and wrapped a now soaked beach towel around my waste, I had another contraction. Andrew asked if I needed a wheel chair, but I refused. I made the quick walk to OB Triage before my next contraction started. From this point on, things begin to blur...it was now 10:30 am.
Andrew left to go park the car and I was whisked back to a small room. Through contractions, I answered all kinds of questions and was hooked up to heart monitors. I don't remember anything I said except, "Epidural. I want an epidural." Andrew returned to the room and they checked to see how far along I was: 7 cm and my water had completely broken. I was ready to go upstairs to labor and delivery. So they wheeled me through the halls and we waited in a lobby for the elevator to arrive. I remember lots of people around and Andrew said I said, "Hello everyone."
Once upstairs more nurses took over. At this point the contractions were coming right on top of one another. I reminded them that I wanted the epidural and they said it was on the way. A nursed checked me again...this time I was 10 cm and the baby was at +1 station; we were out of time. Charlotte was coming...no time for an epidural. At this news the room went into full production. Lights were turned on, beds were broken down, instruments were set out, but where was the doctor? My doctor was in South Carolina at a Medical Missions Conference, but I didn't care. I'd take anyone who'd get Charlotte out.
A couple minutes later a small man walked in and tried to shake Andrew's hand. Andrew, holding onto the fetal monitor so it wouldn't slide out of place, awkwardly met the man who'd be delivering our child: Dr. Gullinson. Because this man didn't know me, Andrew let him know that I'd prefer not to get an episiotomy if at all possible. For how fast Charlotte was coming, that was not possible. From here on out, all I remember is pain and then them telling me to push. I pushed through 2 contractions and then everything stopped. No more pain, no more urgency. I opened my eyes and saw the doctor holding my daughter. He put her on my chest and immediately everything I went through was justified. I now held the reward to my labor and I'd do it all again for this, my sweetest gift. It was 11:27 am.
So Vin Disel, you ain't got nothing on me. From start to finish, it took Charlotte 3.5 hours to make her arrival into this world.
Baby Statistics
Name: Charlotte Rose Kelly
Birthday: October 8, 2009
Time: 11:27 am
Weight: 6 lbs, 14 oz
Length: 21 inches
Apgar Score: 9.9
Cuteness Rating: 150%
It all began the morning of October 8th. After a very restful night, Andrew and I awoke around 7:30 and started discussing our plans for the day. I thought for sure that Charlotte would not make her arrival until the next week, so we were searching on ticketmaster.com to see if we could go to any shows with my parents that night. While in bed I started to feel some discomfort; as I had never had a real contraction before, I thought I was having some intestinal cramping. So, I got up, used the bathroom, and returned to bed. This happened a couple more times until I decided to finally just get in the shower and get ready for the day...about 8:30 am. On my way to the shower I felt wet...did my water just break or did I lose bladder control? Rather than invite Andrew in on my ponderings, I got into the shower. After some more cramping, I told Andrew what was happening. He pulled out his iPod Touch and we started tracking my contractions...3-3 1/2 minutes apart. I was in labor.
Andrew went and woke up my parents to let them know what was happening. My mom came into our bathroom to see me bent at the waist, holding the counter, and rocking back and forth. When my contraction stopped Andrew asked me if it was "mild," "moderate," or "firm," all options used to stop the contraction timer. I picked "mild" because I'd never been in labor before, so I figured these were just the warm-ups. My mom thought otherwise; by the time she looked like me, she was much farther along. I guess I should have listened to her.
Instead of listening to my mom, I figured I had some time. I wanted to finish putting on make-up and blow-drying my hair. Andrew needed to eat so I sent him to Sonic to get a hamburger. Finally, around 9:30 am we left for the hospital...but not until I updated my status on facebook. Priorities, right?
In the car ride, it became abundantly clear that I would not be sent home from the hospital. My water broke and my contractions came on faster and harder. Never has the 1 hour trip to Banner Thunderbird gone by so slowly, yet so quickly. I wanted to reach the hospital more than anything, but my contractions kept me so preoccupied, that by the time we reached the hospital, I was surprised we'd made it so quickly. Either way, I didn't care. I was just glad we made it.
As I got out of the car and wrapped a now soaked beach towel around my waste, I had another contraction. Andrew asked if I needed a wheel chair, but I refused. I made the quick walk to OB Triage before my next contraction started. From this point on, things begin to blur...it was now 10:30 am.
Andrew left to go park the car and I was whisked back to a small room. Through contractions, I answered all kinds of questions and was hooked up to heart monitors. I don't remember anything I said except, "Epidural. I want an epidural." Andrew returned to the room and they checked to see how far along I was: 7 cm and my water had completely broken. I was ready to go upstairs to labor and delivery. So they wheeled me through the halls and we waited in a lobby for the elevator to arrive. I remember lots of people around and Andrew said I said, "Hello everyone."
Once upstairs more nurses took over. At this point the contractions were coming right on top of one another. I reminded them that I wanted the epidural and they said it was on the way. A nursed checked me again...this time I was 10 cm and the baby was at +1 station; we were out of time. Charlotte was coming...no time for an epidural. At this news the room went into full production. Lights were turned on, beds were broken down, instruments were set out, but where was the doctor? My doctor was in South Carolina at a Medical Missions Conference, but I didn't care. I'd take anyone who'd get Charlotte out.
A couple minutes later a small man walked in and tried to shake Andrew's hand. Andrew, holding onto the fetal monitor so it wouldn't slide out of place, awkwardly met the man who'd be delivering our child: Dr. Gullinson. Because this man didn't know me, Andrew let him know that I'd prefer not to get an episiotomy if at all possible. For how fast Charlotte was coming, that was not possible. From here on out, all I remember is pain and then them telling me to push. I pushed through 2 contractions and then everything stopped. No more pain, no more urgency. I opened my eyes and saw the doctor holding my daughter. He put her on my chest and immediately everything I went through was justified. I now held the reward to my labor and I'd do it all again for this, my sweetest gift. It was 11:27 am.
So Vin Disel, you ain't got nothing on me. From start to finish, it took Charlotte 3.5 hours to make her arrival into this world.
Baby Statistics
Name: Charlotte Rose Kelly
Birthday: October 8, 2009
Time: 11:27 am
Weight: 6 lbs, 14 oz
Length: 21 inches
Apgar Score: 9.9
Cuteness Rating: 150%
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