Kid Sister

Who needs a baby doll when you have a little sister that still fits in the doll stroller?

It has been a while since the older kiddos have used Julianne as their baby doll (remember this and this?)  For some reason, they decided to put her in the doll stroller today.  There were plenty of giggles from everyone!

Until next time...

Wordless Wednesday

 

Until next time...

Fun Friday Fotos - Playing Baby Dolls

Dallas and Reba were cleaning and organizing their bedroom when they decided to bring out the doll crib and play with Julianne...

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Wordless Wednesday - Reading

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Julianne - 4 months

Well, I started this post back on Julianne's actual 4 month "birthday." I got as far as uploading the photos before I was interrupted by something of the up-most importance (I'm sure).  Better late than never to finish it.

Julianne goes for her 4-month check up and vaccines on the 22nd, so we will have to wait until that time to see how much she has grown.  For now, you will have to settle on pictures, and this Momma bragging on what Julianne has accomplished.

We are starting to see signs of spring along with some warmer temperatures, so Julianne made her first trip to the barn to see the animals.

She has also started to join us outside while the older kiddos swing and slide, ride their toys, play in the sandbox, etc.  We have even gone on a few walks in the subdivision across the road.

Just after Julianne turned 3 months old, she figured out how to roll from her back to her side, but she has since figured out how to go all the way over to her belly.  She now remembers how to get back to her backside from her belly; therefore, making her way off the blanket she is suppose to be laying on!  I swear she is even starting to "think" about crawling, as she will kick and move her legs while on her belly!  So far, she has only been successful at moving backwards.

We still have not heard those big belly laughs from our baby girl.  She is ticklish under her arms and down the sides of her torso.  She will just smile and squirm when you try to tickle her.

Julianne is taking after her big brother in the teeth department!  She is working very hard at getting her bottom two front teeth to poke through.  She has mastered bringing toys to her mouth, chewing on her fingers, as well as any blanket she can get her hands on.  And, all of this, only increases the amount of drool that is produced from the sweet little angel.

Julianne will also mimic facial expressions.  She loves to return smiles, stick her tongue back out at you, and will occasionally return the raspberries.

She is much more stable in the bumbo seat, and she enjoys sitting in it and watching her brother and sister play.  She also likes it when we put the aquarium toy mat in front of her so she can bat at the fishes.

Julianne is still wearing 3-6 month clothing, but it won't be long before she moves up a size.  I do hope I am wrong, or I am going to have to buy new summer clothes for her.

Julianne is also finishing up her last pack of size 2 diapers, and she will begin wearing size 3 in the next day or two!

As I mentioned before, Julianne loves to return smiles, but in the last month she won't let me capture them with the camera.  This is the typical face I get once the camera is within sight!

Julianne is still adored by her big brother and big sister.  Reba loves to call Julianne "Shuggie Bear", and Doug and I have found Reba in Julianne's bed on more than one occasion.

Julianne is still swaddled during naps and at bedtime.  There were a few night where she was able to get her arms out of the blanket I had her swaddled in, but she still slept through the night.  That made me think it might be time to stop swaddling her.  Then, she got strong enough where she got completely unwrapped - and woke up in the middle of the night multiple nights in a row.  She wasn't hungry, she didn't want to play, she just couldn't stop moving to get back to sleep!  I bought a SwaddleMe blanket, and Julianne has returned to sleeping through the night.

Since we are on the topic of sleeping.  Julianne is now going to bed around 8:30 (Dallas and Reba are typically in bed around 8 p.m.; I will then nurse Julianne one final time and then put her in bed).  She sleeps until 6 am, when I wake her up to nurse before Dallas and Reba get up at 6:15)  When Dallas and Reba were gone for Spring Break, Julianne slept 12+ hours!

Her napping schedule has changed in the last week to week and a half.  She is now falling asleep on our ride home from dropping the older kiddos off at school (7:30ish), and sleeping til 9:30 or 10:00.  (That nap typically happens in the carseat)  She will then lay in her bed around noon, and I wake her a little after 2 p.m. to go pick up Dallas from school.  Sometimes, she will catch a quick cat nap (20 min) while I'm making dinner.

With the warmer days, Julianne got her first ride on the lawn mower.  Luckily, there were a couple guys willing to be her chauffeur!

Julianne is great at recognizing our voices - especially when she hears Momma speak from a different room or when Reba is singing!

Every once in a while, I still get to rock my baby to sleep...

One afternoon last week, Julianne was experimenting with new facial expressions.  This was her favorite...

Until next time...

Day 2 with Julianne

Our second day at the hospital brought some more visitors...Aunt Josie, Gram and Pa

Later in the day, Ma-maw returned with the bigger kiddos, and of course, Reba couldn't wait to get her hands on Julianne!

Notice the Santa hat?  Someone else had made and donated the hats for babies born in December; unfortunately, Julianne didn't like the feel of it.

Ma-maw also took Dallas and Reba shopping before coming to the hospital.  They each picked out some clothes, socks, and a blanket for Julianne.  Dallas even made a card for her...

Yes, it is a picture of Julianne wearing her Santa sock hat!

Do you think she looks anything like her big sister?

This hair explains all the heartburn/indigestion I have had for the last 9 months!  I kid you not...I slept last night with absolutely no problems of heartburn.

Until next time...we are scheduled to go home tomorrow!

Welcome Julianne Faith!

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, the doctor offered for us to come in this morning, break my water, and have a baby!  We jumped at the chance, even with the snow storm in the forecast.  Ma-maw came down last night so she could stay with Dallas and Reba while Daddy and Momma went to the hospital.

Just as the weatherman predicted it rained first and then turned to snow after midnight.  Schools were canceled, so we were going to let kiddos sleep in, but they had other plans!  They woke up just a few minutes before we were going to leave, so I got one more picture with them and Baby in my belly.

As Doug and I were driving to the hospital, we were glad we made the choice to induce labor and not have to make an emergency trip with the poor road conditions should I have gone into spontaneous labor.  We also talked about how it was the perfect day to sit in a hospital room and watch the snow fall!

Around 7:30 a.m. the doctor broke my water and labor started.  After an hour or so, the contractions really had not picked up, so my doctor decided to start Pitocin.  That did the trick!  A little before 1 o'clock, I had dilated to 6 cm, and the contractions were very strong, so I decided to get an epidural.  It was roughly 1:30 p.m. when the anesthesiologist finished, and unlike the epidural I received when Reba was born, it helped ease the pain right away!  Between 1:45 and 1:50 p.m., my nurse was explaining that she was going to call my doctor with an update, and she was going to suggest Dr. Alvey come up in an hour or so to check on me.  Just then, Dr. Alvey walked in (her office to see patients is on the second floor of the women's hospital and labor and delivery is on the third floor).  She mentioned to the nurse that she would like to check my progress, and low and behold, I was fully dilated and ready to push!

At 2:14 p.m., we welcomed our new baby girl in the world!

Meet Julianne Faith Bergman

She weighed in at 7 lb 12 oz and was 21 inches long.  She was the quietest newborn ever!  We couldn't hardly get a single cry out of her; she had her eyes wide open, taking everything in around her.

Excuse my red eyes, but there might have been a few tears of joy!

Daddy watching over the nurse getting Julianne's measurements

Proud Daddy and his newest little girl

Gotta have a bow on little girls! (her eyes are wet looking for an ointment the nurse applied)

When we called to let Ma-maw know we had a surprise, the kiddos were just getting up from naps.  Dallas told us that he did not want us to tell if he got a brother or sister, he wanted to wait until he got to the hospital.  Ma-maw then braved the weather (and the worsening road conditions) and brought Dallas and Reba to the hospital.

Our family of five! (side note: I was so excited that the kiddos were able to come to the hospital and meet their new sister; you might remember, Dallas was not allowed at the hospital when Reba was born)

Even though Dallas was convinced he was getting a brother, he quickly fell in love with his new sister.

My little mother hen couldn't get her hands on Julianne fast enough

Because today was St. Nick's Day, someone had donated Christmas stockings filled with goodies for all the babies born today.  Dallas and Reba were more than willing to check out the goodies.

They were then more interested in the stocking while Little Julianne got a few more vital checks from the nurse

Daddy and Ma-maw then took the kiddos to get some supper, while Momma got the chance to get cleaned up and Julianne got her first bath.  She then got to hang out under the warming lights until her body temp got back up to normal.

Shortly after, the group returned and we were all moved the postpartum room.  The kiddos each held Julianne again, and then Ma-maw decided they better start the trek back to the house, and Momma needed to get some sleep!

Until next time...

Fun Friday Foto

While playing outside yesterday, Dallas asked Reba if she wanted to go for a ride.  She agreed, and climbed on the back of the combine.  It makes me smile when they play together so well...even if it only last for one lap around the garage.

Until next time...

Wordless Wednesday - Take Our Picture

Until next time...

Weekend Recap

On Friday, Doug and I loaded the truck with suitcases and kiddos and headed to Louisville, KY, for the state fair.  Pa-paw and Ma-maw had taken their sheep and were showing on Saturday.  We spent most of the day Friday in the sheep barn helping Aunt Lisa trim the sheep.  Doug did venture out with the kiddos a couple times - I think Reba's feet got tired...

Dallas enjoyed helping.  I was very proud of the way he acted in the ring. 

Reba chose to stay outside the ring with Ma-maw until it came to the last group class and we needed the extra set of hands.  You can't really see it in this picture, but Ma-maw is holding Reba and a lamb!

After the show, it was nap time!

One last picture before calling it a night.

Thanks to GG for the majority of the pictures; I once again failed at getting the camera out.

Until next time...