Lucy lately

Here is an overload of Lucy pictures and information. We really don't have much of a life these days besides figuring out this parenting thing. We've had to try and figure out some problems Lucy has always had and thanks to switching from a complete idiot of a pediatrician to an awesome one, I think we're right on our way to helping her... FINALLY! We discovered that she has GERD (gastro esophogal reflux disease... basically really bad acid reflux). At the same time this got really bad, I got mastitis and had to go to the ER. The antibiotics they put me on totally upset Lucy and made her scream inconsolably for three days straight. I quit the meds early, so hopefully it doesn't come back. She was struggling to eat, breathe, and sleep- which just so happens to be a lot of what babies do at this age, so things have been a little tough for her (and me and Ryan). We got some medication to help with her reflux, and it has already made a HUGE difference. She can breathe and eat again! She is still having some of her tummy troubles, which is making it a little hard for her to sleep through sometimes, but we're working on figuring out what's causing that. Right now I am on an elimination diet- no dairy, wheat, soy, nuts, eggs, etc. for a few weeks and then I will add them back in one at a time to see if maybe it's something I'm eating that's causing her to have these tummy problems, and possibly even the reflux. I just hate that it takes weeks to figure out, especially when I see her in pain! But I am confident that we are going to figure this out sooner than later. Anyway, I love love love getting BIG smiles from Lucy everyday. She's really growing on us these days. :)

Over Christmas break we met up with Alyssa (my sister-in-law, Amy's, sister who lives here in Columbus as well). She made Lucy this gorgeous yellow dress and even taught herself how to crochet just to make the flowers on it! We were really impressed with the details and how well it was made! Lucy loves wearing it.

One of my favorite things about Lucy right now are her feet. She LOVES to get her feet and legs massaged. She can be super fussy at times and as soon as we start to massage her feet she gets super calm and gazes off in the distance while we rub her. :)

Lucy with her Great Grandpa Walz

Lucy with her Great Aunt Wanda

My mom came to Columbus over the long weekend and it was SUCH a relief! It was nice to have someone else's help soothing her in the middle of the night so that I could catch up on some sleep. Also, thanks to her, Ryan and I were able to go run some errands alone and even go out a date to the movies! It was fantastic. I was not ready to have her leave today. Oh well.

Lucy's two-month appointment is coming up in a week or so (even though she's already 2 months now) and I am anxious to see how much she has actually grown because she is SO LONG now! I really can't believe how long she has gotten and so fast.

Lucy's reflux really flared up bad for a few days before we got the meds and she had a really hard few days. I think all of her crying and problems wore her out and she completely zonked out on both my mom and Ryan. Usually the girl can't fall asleep and stay asleep unless her arms are swaddled tight next to her. Poor thing. Hopefully she can catch up on some sleep since she's starting to get a little better!

Happy 2012!

This year's New Year's Eve was definitely low-key. We kicked off the evening with some homemade cheese fondu. There was a great recipe we found online and we had steak, chicken, sausage, apples, bread, and cherry tomatoes with it. It was fun and delicious. We then went to a (family-friendly) party with some friends for a little while. It was fun to get out and do something, and then we left once Lucy got fussy and hungry. When we came home, we all got ready for bed and Ryan stayed up watching tv and rocking Lucy to sleep while I zonked out well before midnight. I'm lame. Ryan woke me up just in time for the last 10 seconds of the countdown, a quick New Year's kiss, and then right back to sleep. Fireworks were going off all over the place right around us though. Ryan tried to get me up to see them out of our window, but I was too tired to even walk three feet to the window to see them. :) That's what you get with a newborn sometimes, I guess. We still had a good time. Since then, we have been able to talk out some of our goals and ambitions for this next year, which is always a refreshing thing and gives me motivation to keep going and improving myself. So, bring on 2012! Happy New Year!!

Yep, that's Lucy with us over there on the couch sleeping in that blue blanket. :)

Christmas break with the Martin's

Ryan's parents and his brother, Craig, were able to come out here for ten days at Christmas. Whenever I told people out here that my in-laws were here for that long I always got a negative reaction with comments like "oh... sorry!" and "uh... I hope you survive that long." But I never feel that way with them and was so happy to have them here. Not to mention that I had three extra people around to help with Lucy (only now I'm back to wondering what to do with her sometimes)! Anyway, we had such a fun time doing lot's of shopping, movie watching, puzzles, baking and cooking, hanging out and relaxing, etc. Ten days went by way too fast!!

Here we are making Danish pastries- a very tasty yearly tradition.

You should see Craig when he's actually trying to flex...ha!

The first 1,000 piece puzzle was done quicker than expected, so Janae bought another 500 piece one as well. Puzzles are also a Martin holiday tradition of sorts.

Here's Lucy rockin' her first triple chin:

These plates look just like Janae's Christmas plates that she uses every Christmas, so when we found the paper version at BB&B, Ryan insisted we surprise his fam with them.

We ventured from a traditional Christmas dinner and went with steak, baked potatoes, salad, and lion house rolls. It was delish.

And for dessert we had apple pie made by Ryan and Craig, and red velvet bundt cake with cream cheese frosting made by Janae.

On Christmas Eve, we had a little family home evening and read the story of the birth of Christ, followed by a bunch of mormon channel Christmas videos.

She was NOT a happy camper for this picture. But she should have been since she had a cute new "baby's first Christmas" ornament behind her on the tree. :)

My mom found this gem of an ornament for Ryan. Fits him perfectly. He loves a good hot dog!

Mark and Janae found this ornament and I LOVE it!

Best stocking stuffer ever:

On Christmas morning we went to church and had a beautiful Christmas program. Then we came home, took a family picture, and then changed and opened gifts.

The contents of one of Craig's boxes. I have some even better ones that I might just hang on to as blackmail in case we ever need it someday. :) My favorite line of this visit came from Craig. We were sitting around in the living room eating ice cream and Craig, who was laying on the floor eating out of the small container sat up, looked around and said, "umm... did anyone see a chunk of ice cream fly somewhere?.... Like, a really big chunk?" haha.

And the best Christmas present of ALL..... SMILES! Real, intentional, non-gas-related ones!!!!

One Month

A couple weeks ago Lucy had her one month appointment. She sure has grown in just 4 weeks! Here are the stats:

21 inches long

8.5 pounds

14.5 head circumference

At one month, Lucy was a content baby when she was not having tummy troubles. She still didn't sleep for more than about and hour or two at a time during the night. She was very alert and awake all the time with her eyes wide open exploring around her. Her newborn clothes finally started to fit and not be too big. She loves lights, especially the Christmas lights on our tree. She could lay and look at them for a long time. It's cute.

Lucy's baby blessing

Today was Lucy's baby blessing in church. Ryan did an excellent job giving her a blessing. It was sweet and thoughtful and promised beautiful blessings. I am so thankful for my little family! My dad was also able to be present in the circle, along with the bishopric. Lucy only let out a small cry once, but was calm and content the rest of the time. Since she is so small though, her little outfit was kind of swimming on her and I wish I would have realized that her headband was on funky in these pictures, but oh well. It's crazy to me that even newborn clothes are big on her sometimes, but she's still growing!

I love this picture with my parents because it shows Lucy's cute dimple that she has.

Grandma & Grandpa Smith's visit

My mom and dad were here this last week and it was heaven. It was SOOO nice to be able to relax and have someone always willing and wanting to hold, soothe, rock, and change Lucy. I love doing all that, but it was amazing to have so much time to get some stuff done, get myself ready, and to just relax. We watched some Christmas movies, made sugar cookies, went out to eat, did some shopping, etc. My life felt a little more normal again! And I'm sure Lucy loved the constant care and attention from her grandparents. Thanks for all of the help, mom & dad! Please come again very, very soon!!