1 Month Old!

Today is Elena's one month Birthday! I can't believe it has been so long since she was born. She's been sleeping very well for mom (I say mom because dad has as pass on the nighttime feedings until mom goes back to work). The other night she actually strung 6 hours of sleep together. Unfortunately for mom those 6 hours started at 8 PM so mom didn't get 6 straight hours of sleep.

Elena had her one month check up at the doctor today. She was weighed and measured and got one shot. She passed her first test with flying colors. She now weighs 9 pounds 3 ounces, and is 22 inches long. That puts her in the 50th percentile for weight and the 90th percentile for height. After getting checked out she had her hepatitis shot... she did not like it very much at all.

Ater dad gets home from work we will head to Grandma and Pop-Pop's house in Pennsylvania for the weekend to celebrate Aunt Becca's 18th birthday. I can't believe Rebecca is turning 18... I remember changing HER diapers!

City Baby in the Country

This weekend Elena took her first trip out of Baltimore. Juan and I had to go up to Pennsylvania to House/Dogsit for my parents. Elena was awesome in the car. She fell asleep as soon as we pulled away from our house and didn't wake up until we pulled in the driveway at my parents 2.5 hours later.

We took advantage of the good weather on Saturday and took our little pumpkin to the pumpkin patch. We were able to take some great pictures of her a la Anne Geddes. We also picked a 48 pound pumpkin to bring back to Baltimore for carving. In case anyone is doing the math... 48 pounds is roughly 7 Elenas. The pumpkins she is laying on are about half the size of the pumpkin we brought home.

Flying Solo

Today Juan had to go back to work so mom and Elena were on our own for the very first time. I totally underestimated how much work this would be! Juan had spoiled us with all of his midnight feeding/ diaper changing help in the past two weeks so when I had to tackle the whole night on my own I was struggling. Luckily, Elena did sleep from 10:30-2:30 and 3:30-6:30 so I shouldn't be complaining at all.

I was brave today and took Elena AND Bindy on a walk at the park. It took us a while but eventually Bindy figured out how to walk with the stroller. It definitely cramped her squirrel chasing style though. If she pulled her leash to chase something she inevitably had a paw run over by the stroller.

No new pictures from today's activities... handling the baby and the stroller and the dog all at once was challenge enough :)

Meet the Great Grandparents

Today Elena was very lucky to meet three of her four great grandparents. Grandma drove Lauren's two grandmothers and her grandfather to Baltimore to meet their first great grandchild. Everyone agreed that she is beautiful.

Elena stayed awake extra long this morning to make sure she was awake when they arrived. She kept her eyes open for her photo op and then promptly slept for the rest of her visit.

Grandma tried her best to wake her up before everyone had to leave, but she was not interested in the whole "awake" thing.

One Week Old!

Amazing that a whole week has gone by! Mom, dad and Elena are all coping well and settling into a routine. (Just in time for dad to go back to work next week.)

Elena's first week was a busy one...
Saturday saw her first sponge bath at home. Boy did she hate it. Well, everything except for pouring the warm water on her head to rinse out her hair. She really liked that part. But the whole being cold and wet thing was not so fun.

She was a little spoiled on Sunday and Monday when she was able to take her afternoon nap cuddled up on a grandmother's shoulder both days. Mom's parents came to visit Sunday and Dad's parents came to visit on Monday. She is one lucky little girl.

On Monday, mom was going a little stir crazy so we took Elena out on her first shopping trip. Without even blinking an eye we ended up spending the rest of our Babies R Us gift card (I insisted on buying her some smaller clothes... she was DROWNING in most of her hand me downs). She loves being in the car and her stroller. She slept through the entire trip.

Bringing Home Baby

What a long 48 hours at the hospital! Grandma Elaine and Aunt Becca came back to spend the morning with Elena and Lauren while Juan went home to deal with the other baby... Bindy. He brought home the blanket, hat, and outfit Elena wore on Tuesday to introduce the smell. He got creative and dressed up a teddy bear in the getup and put it in Elena's swing. Bindy was then treated to an extra special long walk in the park.

Today was the day we had really been waiting for. As nice as it was to have all the support at the hospital, all we really wanted to do was bring the baby home and have her in our own house. This morning she was taken to the nursery and given one more bath. Mom and dad attempted to dress her in the beautiful dress we bought her. Unfortunately, it was HUGE. The tights were literally the length of her entire body and the bloomers could have fit three of her in them. She still looked beautiful... although she was not happy to be wearing a dress. We put some pictures up on the picasa site.

Bindy has taken quite nicely to the baby. She is treating her like a puppy-- she keeps licking her and stands guard next to her. We all took a nap this afternoon and with every peep out of Elena, Bindy was at the bassinette checking on her, and then nudging me to wake up.

We are so happy to be home and looking forward to our first night with her!

Announcing Elena Grace!

I can honestly say giving birth was the most amazing experience ever. The past three days of laboring have been miserable, but the pushing-- the actual birth... incredible. When I got to 10 cm and it was time to push, they actually turned my epidural off, which surprised me a bit but in the end feeling everything was incredible. After the last push I was able to catch Elena myself and pull her up onto my chest. The doctor and nurse were shocked how quickly I was able to push her out... it was under 1 hour. I was up, eating breakfast and showering less than 2 hours after delivery.

Elena had a busy day today. Ita and Ito (Dad's parents) arrived at the hospital right after she was born so they were the first to meet her. Grammy (Mom's mom) arrived at about 10:00 am. Uncle Jose stopped by after work, and Pop (Mom's Dad) and Aunt Becca came after Aunt Becca finished her Physics test (oh the joy's of high school :) . So she has officially met all her grandparents and her god parents.

Mom and Dad are going to try to get some sleep while she is sleeping... but paparazzi dad updated the photos on the link... so check them out.