We're here!

CJ with cousins Ethan and Noah

CJ with cousin McKynzie

Window cleaning

Hello all! We're finally in WI and are getting settled. We closed on 8/20 and promptly moved in. Our stuff was delivered the following Monday, so we basically camped out in our new house for the weekend. My parents were here to help unpack, and they cleaned the house for us, too!

Since then, we have been visiting with family and friends and trying to unpack. We still have a lot of boxes to unpack, but we're not in a hurry. Thanks to all who helped us with this big endeavor!

Cliff has been doing some school work prep and orientation work. We have a picnic for the new faculty on Tuesday and then Cliff starts classes on Wednesday. He says he's not nervous. . .

CJ is doing fine. He's taking some time to adjust to the new house and has been meeting lots of new people and visiting with lots of family. He's getting up a lot at night lately, which has been hard on momma. We're doing some nap training and he often goes down without fussing now. Of course, some days he cries and cries. He still hasn't rolled all the way over, but he can put his weight on his legs to "stand" if we hold him and is almost sitting up by himself.

I have been offered a casual position in Labor and Delivery at Aurora, my old stomping ground. I don't know the details yet, but should know more within the next few weeks. Other than that, I have just been having fun being a momma and visiting with everyone for the last few weeks.

Ruby is adjusting well. She likes the big house and the glass patio door that she can see out of. She sits by it almost all day and watches the animals. She isn't afraid of going up and down the stairs anymore, but sometimes she barks at us to come remind her how to get back down!

That's all the news for now. Hope all is well with everyone. I miss all my Tallahassee peeps!

Love, Dana

4 months

Hello all!

Sorry it's been a while...

CJ is 4 months old now. I almost can't believe it. He's 17 pounds (75th percentile) and 27 inches long (97th percentile). He rolls over to his side, but hasn't mastered the full roll over yet. He still talks and shrieks up a storm. Now he also blows bubbles. He gives momma big kisses and smiles a lot, too. We got the okay to start rice cereal, so we'll be doing that soon. The doctor said since he's such a big boy, cereal might help him sleep through the night. He was doing very well, but as soon as I started back to work, he started getting up at night again.

The countdown to the big move is almost through! My last day at work is the 12th, and we move out on the 17th. I can't believe it's almost time! We're so excited to move home and get into our new house!

Hope everyone is doing well! Can't wait to see y'all!

Dana

3 months

Hey everyone!

Everything is going well here in Tallahassee. It's 1 month until the big move, so we're getting very excited. Cliff is still working hard on his dissertation, but now he's also Mr Mom when I'm at work. He's doing a good job so far.

CJ is "talking" up a storm. He coos and squeels and yells. He seems to like to hear his own voice! He rolls to his side, but has not rolled all the way over again since the one time at about 6 weeks. He's a fun little guy.

I've been back to work for 2 weeks now. My first few days were pretty exciting. I had to deliver a baby myself in the bathroom on my 2nd day back!

We leave Tallahassee on August 17. Chad is coming down to drive one of our cars home for us. We close on our house on August 20th. Can't wait!

Hope all is well with everyone! Can't wait to see you all soon!

Dana

8 weeks

Just some new pics of the little guy. . .

At his 8 week appointment, CJ weighed 11lb15oz and was almost 24 inches tall. He's in the 50th percentile for weight and height. He's got an umbilical hernia, but the doctor said most times they fix themselves and so we shouldn't worry. If he still has is at 2 years old, they start thinking surgery.

We're doing well. CJ is sleeping through the night on most nights. He doesn't sleep well during the day, but at least we get some sleep at night! He laughs and smiles a lot now, so it's a lot of fun to watch him and interact with him.

Our financing went through on the house, so now all we're waiting for is the home appraisal. We can't wait for the big move!

That's all for now. Miss you all!

Finding a home and a growing baby

Hello all! I know it's been a while, but I finally have a few moments to update the blog while the munchkin is sleeping.

Well, we spent a few weeks in WI with the dual purposes of spending time with family and trying to find a new house. We succeeded in both areas. We had a great time with both sides of the family. We also bought a house! It's in Oshkosh, about 5 minutes from campus. It has a wooded back yard, even though the house is in the city. The lot is naturally fenced with woods in the back and large cedar trees in the front and on each side. It's very private and green. The 3BR, 2 1/2 BA home is only 4 years old, and is covered in light hardwood and cherry colored accents. It's two story and has a 3 car heated garage. We're very excited!

CJ is growing like a weed and is finally getting chubby. He's doing well, sleeping 4-6 hours a stretch at night. He coos and smiles now, which is so much fun! He rolled over once already, but has yet to repeat the performance. We have his 2 month check up next week, and I am sure he's going to weigh close to 11 pounds. Dana is still off on maternity leave and enjoying her time with him.

Hope all is well with everyone! Gotta go, it's time to feed the baby!

3 weeks

Hello all! Just an update and some new pictures. . .

All is well. Baby Cliff is doing well and growing well. He's still tall and skinny, but is visibly gaining weight. He has his fussy times, but is increasingly awake and alert without crying. He's a good boy.

My parents were here with my sister and neice for a week to help me with cooking and cleaning and visit the new baby. We had a great time and it was very nice to have the help after coming home from the hospital. McKynzie is a very cute little girl and Cliff had fun running around with her.

Jan and Lori (Cliff's parents) are here now to help also. We spent a few days with them in Orlando at the time share (just relaxing and eating) and then Cliff and I came home and they stayed in Orlando for the remainder of the week. Now they're here at our home for a few days helping out.

We're still waiting for our home loan to be approved so we can plan our trip home for house hunting.

Well, that's it for now. Hope all is well with everyone. Miss you all!

It's a Boy, continued. . .

Well, we've spent one night at home and so far so good. CJ kept momma up a lot, but that's to be expected. We are having some feeding issues, so nights are a little long right now. Hopefully they will be resolved soon and we can go back to breastfeeding. Right at this moment, Cliff, CJ & Ruby are all sacked out on the recliner napping. I actually had time for a shower!

I think some people wanted labor and delivery info, so skip this paragrah if you don't want details. . .I went into active labor wednesday around 4pm, after having irregular contractions since the evening before. I actually started "early labor" at work but didn't tell anyone. Walking and being active is good for you at that time anyway. I stayed home until about 10pm when we went to the hospital becuase I couldn't take the intense pain of my back labor any longer. I was 4cm at that time so they admitted me. I didn't want an epidural at first, so I did the tub thing and tried to hang in there. I ended up asking for my epidural around 2 or 3 am when I was 7cm, but couldn't get it for another hour because they had just called an emergency c-section on someone else and anesthesia was not available for me. I got a little crazy, but had lots of support. Cliff did really well with me and didn't take it personally when I yelled at him to stop touching me a lot. I was very impressed with him. After I finally had my epidural I was happy and slept off and on until it was time. I only pushed about 40 minutes, for which I am very thankful. I think that was actually the hardest part for me.

CJ and I are both doing well. I am feeling a little more like myself, though still a little sore. CJ is a good baby, but has had a temper like his dad from the very start. When he wants something his wants it NOW, so he goes from sleeping soundly to screaming and impatient to be fed. There's no "quiet alert" phase for my little man! That's part of our feeding problem because he won't calm down enough to concentrate on breastfeeding. I am working with some lactation nurses so we hopefully won't have to bottle feed for long.

Well, I better get going. Maybe I can catch a nap before the boys wake up!

Love you all and wish all is well with each and every one of you! Enjoy the pics! Hope naked baby pictures don't offend anyone!