Guess who's tired?!

Okay, that's a trick question because we all are tired - but today Chloe was up for a long time and slept hard when she fell asleep.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

We were able to dust vacuum and put out our Christmas stuff downstairs today. It was an all day project - but it was good to get done and it looks so pretty!!!

Thanksgiving was very nice. It was Chloe's first trip up to Grandma and Grandpa's house and she had a great time and loved getting so much attention from her grandparents. When we were about to leave I realized that I hadn't taken any pictures... next trip up there I'll have to make up for that!

Happy Thanksgiving

Things are going well. We haven't been back in for a weight check, but Chloe's eating like crazy and doing great. We are getting used to our new "schedule" (really it's not a schedule but more of a ready for anything status) and for the most part getting enough sleep and getting stuff done that needs to be done.

Tuesday we drove down to Slayton to join the rest of my family to say goodbye to my Grandma Mangledorf. Her funeral was very nice and it felt good to see all of the people who came to offer their support. All of her great grandchildren did well during the service and the trip down. We were relieved that she did so good in the trip down and back. She slept all of the way home and was only upset when we walked in the door. A diaper change and a bottle and she was content again.

We are headed up to my Mom and Dad's for Thanksgiving. I'm really looking forward to it.

Guess what we're thankful for...

(Didn't want the dogs to feel left out!)

Timing

Chloe had another weight check on Monday. She was up 3 ounces over the weekend. So, she's not quite back up to her birth weight, but headed in the right direction. She was 7 pounds 9 ounces. So, now I'm pumping to figure out how much milk I'm producing and still supplementing with formula, as needed. She seems to really like the bottle, but I guess it is to be expected as most babies do - it's easier to eat. I think even though I'm making enough milk, she isn't getting all if it when she breast feeds. We go back tomorrow for another check and to see if she still is packing on the lbs (okay, ounces). I guess it would be good and she would be back on track if she would gain about an ounce a day.

Rob and I wanted to get out of the house - and we were doing really well. We had Chloe fed and changed, I was able to shower and everything. We went out to eat made a Target run. Things were going fine, but I guess I miss judged when she would be hungry again, because she starting crying very hard at Target. Good thing I brought a bottle with us - I was able to feed her in her car seat on the way home and all was right with the world! I'm sure the diaper blow out also helped her feel better. Here is the cute outfit we put her in post-Target blowout.

And an adorable onsie that her dad really appreciates! (Doesn't she look long and skinny?!)

Chloe was holding Rob's finger and had a really good grip on it... well he had to go make us something to eat - so he called in a sub. She held this bottle for quite sometime. How cute!

I should have checked my email!

Bekah sent some of the pictures she took when she visited the other day. Oh my goodness - great pictures of a cute subject. Thanks Bekah!

Working our way into the 8 lb weight class

Chloe had her weigh in on Friday. While she did move from 7.6 to 7.64 pounds, it really wasn't the weight gain that we were looking for. We were sent home with premixed formula samples, so after I feed her I can "top her off" with some formula. So far she generally just has an ounce of formula, but a couple times, she has taken a full two ounces on top of whatever she's getting from me. It certainly puts her to sleep with a full belly. One thing I've learned is that formula spit up is not as harmless as the other variety. I hope that we don't have to continue too long with the formula, but if it's going to work - we'll roll with it. We are going in on Monday for another weight check - cross your fingers.

Yesterday I ventured out on my own with Chloe for a treck down to Shakopee for Chloe to meet a couple of older boys - Emily and Sarah's boys. The trip went well - she slept all of the way down and back. It was nice to see the girls - and it was a very nice lunch!

Between outfits

We had her two week check with her doctor today, everything is going well. She has not made it back up to her birth weight yet, so we are going back on Friday for a weight check. She was very sleeping during the whole visit and didn't wake up for the doctor at all. They did check her bilirubin again - we should have results in the morning. The doctor said that she is looking fine, but it could be one of the reasons why she isn't packing on the pounds, so he just wanted to confirm the numbers. So now she has another mark on her cute little feet.

One potential contributing factor to her weight could be that Chloe has decided to start spitting up. She isn't fussy or uncomfortable, and she still has wet and dirty diapers so the doctor said he wasn't too worried about it right now. Cross your fingers for her to put on some weight so I don't have to worry about everything!

Here are a couple of pictures of Chloe between outfits - she missed the cloth and got her outfit super wet... made for cute pictures at least! :-)

And all fancied up...

Pictures

The Chloe Show

Today we had a couple of visitors. My friends Bekah and Kat (with her son) made the cross country trip to come visit Chloe. It was nice to have them here - and of course I appreciate the breakfast/lunch snacks from Panera. When you eat bagels in the morning, but you haven't really gone to sleep at night, does it still count as breakfast?! :-)

I know that I lacked in the entertainment department, but Chloe's "hypercolor" display made up where I was lacking. She was asleep for the whole visit, but was "working on something" which made her face change all sorts of colors. She has a patch in the middle of her forehead that turns bright red and then purple when she is stretching out and grunting.

I took a couple of pictures, but Bekah put her photography skills to use and took a ton of pictures on her camera. I am really looking forward to seeing them- the previews were SO cute. :-)


And from later in the evening...

She might be a little upset in the this one!

Trick or treat

Things have been going pretty well. We are both little short on sleep, but we are starting to get in a little bit of a routine. Chloe is starting to train us. She has been sleeping, eating, pooping and peeing very well. Starting yesterday, she discovered a new volume of screaming - which creates a little bit of stress when you hear it. The big news for today is that her cord fell off - and now she has a very cute little belly button! :-)


We've been able to get out of the house a little bit. We've made a couple of trips to Target to pick up some necessities and we went over to my sister's for Halloween. It was a good time - as it always is. It was fun to see all of the little kids dressed up and the big one's scared out of their mind and not sure if they should even come to the door. Better yet, the 5th and 6th grade boys acting all tough and then screaming like little girls when my mom (dressed in all black) proved to be a "real person" standing among the headstones. Good times.


Here are Chloe's costumes




And her cousin with a pink blanket!!!