3 Weeks!!

Well actually she made 3 weeks yesterday, but we were having a bt of a fussy day!! Here's some updated pix of the munchkin!

Milestones

Oh the little girl is growing fast! Her hair is starting to get longer, and it's changing color - more brown now than black. Her belly button is almost all the way healed, and she had her first bath yesterday! She didn't like it much...

Peter went back to work yesterday and I had my first full day with her. She was such a good girl - although she really didn't sleep much in the past few days so I was extremely tired. Fortunately for me, mom came to my rescue today and was with Ryenne for 3 hours while I got some much needed sleep. Boy did it feel good!

Ryenne is getting really good at moving around. She can roll onto her side, and she scoots in bed. She's such a big baby - it feels almost like I didn't get a newborn - just went straight to a three month old baby! haha

I'm having so much fun bonding with her. I love it when she makes googoo eyes at me and we just stare at each other. She is so incredibly beautiful. I still can't believe that I made her. Seriously... the most miraculous thing ever!

2 Weeks Old!

My little monkeybuns is 2 weeks old today! She is such a sweet girl - she's so alert and is already scooting in bed. She's quite an eater - she will nurse for an hour at a time - a bit draining on me - but what she wants, she gets!

We had a wonderful Father's Day yesterday. Some of our friends threw a nice BBQ party and got to meet Ryenne. It was a lot of fun because we hadn't seen many of them for so long.

All is well!

Been a busy few days! Meant to come on by and post earlier, but I was so tired I used my free time to sleep. =)

Ryenne had her first big outing yesterday (wish I got a picture of her in her stroller!). We had my first doctor appointment, an appointment for her, a visit to Nana and Pupu's house, a visit to Peter's old co-workers at Maui Medical Group, and then a short stop at Sears to buy her some footie pajama's for night-time. She did so well! She loves riding in her carseat (puts her right to sleep) and she barely fussed the entire day - well, except when she was hungry.

The breastfeeding is going so much better. I am still using the nipple shield even though the lactation consultant told me not to. It's made my life so much easier, feedings so much easier, and while my nips are raw, raw, raw, it's helping with that too. I know that I'll wien her off the shield when I'm ready. For now, I have to do what feels right for me and her.

My cesarian cut is a little infected - so I have to take antibiotics. I'm kinda bummed about that. The doctor said that it won't have any impact on Ryenne, but really... I think anything that I take impacts her.

She is an amazing baby. She is lifting her head already, and at night she scoots her little body so close to mine that when I wake up, she's all snuggled next to me with the most content look on her face. I could just stare at her all night, but then soon realize that I'm a walking zombie and I go back to bed. LOL.

She's waking up now! Time for a diaper change, a sponge bath, and a fresh onesie.

I had a moment to be artistic

A couple pictures of my beautiful little girl... I had a moment to be artistic. I think I'm going to have to get these two images framed. =)

Birth announcements are being ordered and will be mailed out soon! Please let me know if you want any prints with your announcement! My email is mariah@mariahmilan.com

She's 5 Days Old!

Wow I can't believe it's been 5 days already. I've been feeling great and moving around really well. The only time I feel a little sore is when I have to get out of bed.

Being a mom is great. I still can't get over how in love I am with my daughter. I could stare at her all day long! I've been singing to her - the first song that came to mind was "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker and Peter and I sing it to her everyday.

The breastfeeding drama is coming to an end I think. Today we made progress! She (hesitantly) latched on and nursed twice today. Mom helped a lot, and also a little silicone thing made by Medela also helped her latch on. Talk about a big sigh of relief! I didn't want her to be a bottle baby (no offense to anyone who bottle feeds!).

It's now midnight... officially Sunday June 11th. Mine and Peter's special day - our 9th anniversary!

Ryenne just fell asleep... off to bed for me!

NEW PICTURES ARE BELOW IN SEPARATE POSTS.... KEEP LOOKING DOWN!

Mommy & Ryenne

Daddy & Ryenne Snuggling

Emptying the Diaper Genie!

Look at all those diapers!!

Sleeping During a Diaper Change!

Ryenne & Uncle Nick

Pictures!

The picture function went down yesterday... here's some pics for all of you who are curious!!

Ryenne is Here!

Ryenne Alicia Grace Waiwaipuhia Dagupion made her grand entrance into the world on June 5, 2006 at 6:21pm!

I was having a lot of pelvic pressure over the weekend and decided to go to Kaiser on Monday to be checked out. After being monitored, we discovered I WAS having regular contractions, but wasn't feeling them, and was dialated almost to 4 centimeters.

Knowing the approximate size of the baby, Peter and I, as well as the doctors, felt that a C-Section was our safest option. We didn't want to risk her getting stuck in the birth canal, as shoulder distotia is a large possibility with a baby of her size.

We had a choice of going right in, or waiting until Friday. Not wanting to wait until Friday with all the discomfort, we opted to go right in! I called Peter at work and let him know to meet me at the hospital (boy did he make it there quick!).

I went into prep and it took 7 spinal attempts before they finally got me numb. Going numb was one of the strangest sensations I have ever felt! Peter got to come in and witness her coming out, although no cameras were allowed. Once the doctors got her out, the room was alive with uproar as they all started taking bets on her weight. It was hilarious! Peter was all smiles, and once I heard her cry, it was such an amazing feeling I got all teary.

They whisked her away after a quick glance and I was sewn up and sent to recovery. Once I got out, I got to see her and hold her. Now I understand the instant love between parent and child. It's an emotion that I couldn't even begin to comprehend before.

She is 21.5 inches long and a whopping 9lbs, 10oz! She has a beautiful head of hair... she is our little monkey!



C-Section patients are supposed to stay in the hospital for 3 nights. I was NOT a happy camper in the hospital. It was very difficult for me to be without Peter in the night. I started walking the halls the morning after the C-Section. I spoke with the doctor, and got to come home at 12noon today - only a day and a half in the hospital! WooHoo!! It feels so great to be home!

We are having some difficulties with breast feeding. Because of her size, she is a HUNGRY baby. My milk hasn't yet come in, but we are having success with her latching on and getting the colostrum - but she's still hungry afterward. So hopefully the milk will come in soon!

Nothing to report yet...

It's Sunday and nothin's really going on just yet. I was hoping that something would happen. But just wanted to keep everyone posted!

Ryenne, you're being evicted!

We had our 39+1day appointment today. I can sum up the appointment in two words: I'm SHOCKED.

I knew that I was measuring big, but thought maybe I had a lot of amniotic fluid or something. But today Dr. Rodgers decided to do an ultrasound to see just how big little Ms. Ryenne is getting. She is measuring on the ultrasound... *hold your breath*... 9 pounds, 7 ounces! Good Gracious Batman... that's just insane!

She did say that the ultrasound is plus or minus about 10%. So Ryenne could be in the high 8's or even closer to 10 pounds. There's no way to know until delivery.

I am dialated to 3 centimeters but Ryenne is still carrying really high. If I go into labor SOON, I still have a chance of giving birth vaginally, but if she continues to stay put, we will need to intervene with a C-Section. I really don't want a C-Section, but I'll do whatever I need to make sure that she stays safe as well as myself.

So that's the update for today. Please all who read this, send vibes to get her out already! LOL

Carrot Cake

I had a strange dream that I had tons of pregnant friends and they all gave birth and got to eat carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and I was the only one who hadn't yet given birth and I wasn't aloud to eat the cake! So it makes me REALLY want some darn carrot cake with cream cheese frosting!!! Oh the strange hormones I tell you! :P