Finally, my Christmas 2010 update

What a wonderful week we’ve had in G.E. so far! Charlotte got to meet her Uncle Joe for the first time, as well as many of her great aunts and uncles, cousins, and great-grandma! Christmas day was one she’ll always remember – she was awake for a grand total of about one hour. She was passed from person to person all day/night and hardly even flinched. She even showed us her first smile when Uncle JR presented her with a new pacifier:

I vant to suck this sucker. Mwah ha ha ha.

A few other special Christmas 2010 memories:

• Wearing a flower on her head:
  

  This thing is cuter than it is comfortable...

• Getting her diaper changed in front of 25 people:
  

  Oh, hello!

• Snapping this shot of four generations of Campbell/Bremer/Doran ladies:
  

  Mommy, Mimi, Grammy, and Charlotte

Christmas 2010 was my favorite Christmas thus far. Charlotte, you’ve brought us all such joy!

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and we’re ringing in 2011 (wait, really? 2011???) with Aunt Amanda and Uncle Steve, some champagne, and probably some logrolling. Can’t wait!

Want to see more Christmas photos? There are more on our Picasa site (the link is to the right).

 

We brought the kitchen sink, but we forgot the camera charger…

Something I never would have expected about parenting is how much longer it takes to pack up and leave your house with a baby. Basically, you have to bring everything you own and use to care for a baby with you, even if you are only going to be gone a few days. Plus, you have to be prepared with at least two outfits per day because poop explosions can be messy….Anyway, we finally made it to Glen Ellyn in our packed-full car last night at 10:30 and enjoyed only a two hour fuss-fest with Charlotte between 1 and 3 am. Not too shabby considering she slept soundly the entire car ride.

And today, her first Christmas Eve, Charlotte got some great practice between passed around and fawned over by aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, and cousins. However, she probably only saw two or three people since she only had her eyes open for about 30 minutes the entire night. But boy does she look cute sleeping!

Unfortunately, I have no pictures to share because our camera is dead and we didn’t bring anything to charge it. Surprising considering we brought just about everything else in our house. I’m consoled by the fact that there were so many other cameras flashing all night to capture her first Christmas. Family, I’m sure you’re willing to share the pics, right?  :o)

All I keep thinking is how Christmas is so much sweeter with a baby.  She is the most perfect gift.

Wait, it’s supposed to be bed time?

Our day started today at 2:15 pm when I forced myself out of bed so I could get ready for a 3:00 appointment. Yes, we had our second-in-a-row sleepless night thanks to You Know Who. At around 2:30 am she decided she wanted to cry on and off for the next three hours. Eventually, after carrying her upright, bouncing her, rocking her, feeding her, changing her, ignoring her, patting her back, sticking the pacifier in her mouth, pedaling her legs, etc., she decided it was alright to fall asleep for good. Boy did we have a nice, deep morning/afternoon sleep! So here it is, 10:30 pm and it feels more like 3 in the afternoon. I mean, so much so that I’ll probably have another meal in a couple of hours. I’ll also probably do some reading on the new Kindle (Thanks, Grandpa Ben!), straighten up the house (or maybe not), and pack for GE.

Despite the late start to the day, we did manage to fit in some productivity. We picked up a couple of last minute Christmas gifts and ate dinner out for the first time with a baby. I’m sure Charlotte loved going out to dinner – it must have been really fun sleeping in the infant carrier in the booth. Plus, the sounds from the T.V.s, people talking, and kitchen door slamming open and shut must have been really soothing.

Here she is sporting her new psychedelic poncho from Phillis. You can tell that she loves it by the little smile on her precious face.

This is what we get for videotaping a sleeping baby….

Two weeks old (and first post)!

Today is Charlotte’s two week birthday! Chris took her to the doctor this morning for her second check-up (I got to sleep in after a looong night up with the little fuss. Yes, I know I have the best husband.), and she weighed in at 9.1 pounds! She’s gained 1.4 pounds since we left the hospital on the tenth. It’s no surprise considering how this girl eats. She gulps so quickly she practically drowns herself at every meal.

Here are Charlotte’s birthday plans:

1. Sleep in the following locations: nestled in the Boppy on the couch, in the bouncy seat, on Mama’s shoulder (preferably after a good burp), and maybe, if I’m feeling extra kind, in my bassinet tonight.

2. Make explosions in my pants (Hopefully, right after my diaper is changed because it’s more fun that way.).

3. Try to gain at least an ounce in weight. I will do this by gobbling down a full meal every two to four hours.

4. Look adorable.

And here she is practicing number 1 on the bday list: