Letters to Sylvie: 7 Months

Dear Sylvie,

This last month has been pretty eventful for you. There's been so many new things for you to experience and you've embraced them whole-heartedly. I continue to be amazed at how easy-going and happy you are no matter what the situation.

We were stuck inside for more days than usual this month because it's been so cold and snowy. It's tough to take you out when it's 15 degrees during the day and there's so much ice and snow on the ground. But, we found a way around it, namely we've made use of the chest pack carrier. I put you in a little snowsuit one day and loaded you into the carrier. When I looked in the mirror to see how you were doing, you were all smiles and looked more than ready to head outside. Then I decided to try out your new sunglasses. I slipped them over your head and into place and then died from the cuteness. You seemed to think you looked pretty cool and had a huge smile on your face. After I got done looking at your adorable face, we went out for a walk around the neighborhood. You were completely content the whole time and didn't so much as whimper, even when the breeze was a little chilly. You love to get outside and do new things. You're always up for adventure.

Lately you've become a little rolling machine. You're getting very good at maneuvering yourself over to a toy you want. We'll set you on the floor on a blanket and you'll roll all over the place. Usually you'll end up getting stuck against a piece of furniture and get upset so we'll have to "reset" you back in the middle of the blanket. You're like a little Roomba without the dirt removal capabilities. You've also found out that hitting two objects together makes a fun noise. You like to bang two toys together, especially when one of them is your rattle.

These days you are completely obsessed with your feet. You always have to be grabbing at least one of them and bonus if you can put one in your mouth. I'm pretty sure all your socks and pajamas are going to end up with huge clown feet from you pulling on them all the time.

Eating is also one of your new favorite pastimes. So far you've tried carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, apples, and peas. You've loved everything but peas, but will still eat them. I love to feed you because you look so darn cute doing it. You'll open and close your mouth on the spoon several times and make "mmm" noises. Sometimes I get a happy squeal or two. Then you'll laugh as I dab your messy face with a cloth. I just laugh and laugh. (forgive the crappy video quality)

I think you're also starting to become more accustomed to other people. Over the last couple months when anyone would try to talk to you or hold you you'd start crying. But, over the last month we've had several visitors to our house and you now seem to enjoy being around lots of people and interacting with new faces. It makes me happy to see you with your grandparents and other relatives. Everyone loves to be around you.

I mentioned before about how happy you are. The laughs seem to come easier and easier by the day and I never tire of hearing that sweet sound. I got the hiccups the other day just as I began to change your diaper and you thought it was the most hilarious thing ever:

 (This is just a sound clip...this is the only way I could figure out how to play it)

Sylvie I love being your mommy. You bring so much light and joy into my life. I love you huggy buggy.

Love, Mama

Letters to Sylvie: 6 Months

Dear Sylvie,

I can't believe my once tiny baby is 6 months old. 6 months! You're not so tiny anymore! The little snugly baby that once curled up in a tight ball on my chest now almost fills up the rocking chair and can't hold still for a second!

When I feed you you kick and kick your feet and turn your head at even a hint of sound. I'm surprised you manage to eat enough to continue increasing the size of your adorable chubby cheeks. Nursing you during the day is becoming more and more of a challenge just because you are so curious and have to be moving all the time. I have to constantly remind your dad that his singing, while angelic and entertaining, impedes your much needed concentration.

Speaking of eating, this month you had your first taste of fruit & vegetables. After trying the rice cereal a couple times, we figured it just wasn't your thing. So far you've tried carrots, sweet potatoes, and bananas. Carrots are definitely your favorite. You weren't sure about them the first couple times you tried them out, but once you got used to them, you couldn't stop eating! You got mad at me when I didn't feed you fast enough or paused momentarily to wipe off your orange goo covered face. You haven't quite got the swallowing thing down which makes the process quite messy, but you're getting better! I can already tell solid foods are going to significantly increase the amount of laundry and bath time around here.

You had your 6 month check-up today and the doctor said you're doing great. You're up to 15 pounds 11 ounces and 27" inches long. I'm not surprised you're going through a growth spurt with all that milk you've been drinking. The doctor says you're "long and lean." I'll say. Can't believe you've grown 8 inches since you were born!

Lately your new favorite thing is grabbing both your feet and sucking on your left foot. You also put everything in your mouth that you can get your hands on. You still haven't figured out how to roll over all the way, but from the looks of it, you might skip rolling and go straight to crawling.You have, however, mastered rotating yourself around in a circle. Just this morning I went to get you out of your crib and your head was at the wrong end of the bed. How you manage to move around so much wearing your sleep sack is beyond me. Just talented I guess! You also LOVE to jump around in your Jumparoo. You bounce and bounce away and think it's great when mommy plays the piano next to you.

You will also see Sylvie successfully execute the famous Hanson "triple sneeze"

Sylvie, every day I love you more and more. You're the sweetest, funniest, most adorable little baby. You make me so happy. Every day I thank god I decided to become a mother. I never dreamed I'd be lucky enough to get a daughter like you. I love you Buggaboo.

Love, Mama

Letters to Sylvie: 5 Months

Dear Sylvie,

This month has been full of seemingly small changes, but with each one I realize how fast you are growing up. I don't think I'll always do a monthly update but I feel like you are changing so much at this young age that it warrants frequent assessment.

While you're still not quite ready to sit up or roll over on a regular basis, you've definitely progressed in your physical abilities. You easily grasp toys when they are handed to you and you can switch them between hands. You've also started to pick toys up off the floor all by yourself. And I was shocked one day when I handed you your chupa (binky) and you very quickly put it into your mouth the right way. I tried it a few more times just to make sure you didn't get lucky. Sure enough, it went right back into your mouth each time.

Your dad and I caved and bought you a little Bumbo seat that allows you to sit up by yourself. You always look so pleased with yourself. I think it also helped you to discover your feet.

A few days after we got the seat your dad said you grabbed your toes as he was changing your diaper. You now constantly grab your left foot and tip over on a regular basis. Using this technique you can slowly spin yourself around.

I've been a little short on the milk supply a couple days this month so we thought we should start you on rice cereal. The first time we tried to feed you a thin mixture of the cereal, you took a moment to taste it then made a mad face. One more spoonful and you were through. You were not happy. When I mixed the cereal with some formula a few days later, you gagged and shuddered before the spoon even touched your lips. Looks like we'll have to keep trying. I'm sure you'll learn to love it in no time.

You've also officially transferred to your very own room at night. You still wake up a couple times during the night but hopefully we'll get that whittled down once you get used to being in your own bed. I've had to let you cry a few times to help teach you how to go back to sleep on your own and it always makes me feel horrible. It's so hard to let my baby cry. It makes me feel like a jerk, even though I know it's all part of the learning process and for your own good. But you are definitely learning and we're all getting more sleep overall.

One of my favorite things is your babbling. You suddenly became very vocal and talk up a storm all the time. You tell me all about your day hanging out with Dad and the toys you play with. Or at least that's what I imagine you are talking about. I can't wait to hear what you really have to say. You're so funny already.

Sylvie I want to tell you how much I love being your mom. I'm so proud of you and can't help but tell everyone about my adorable baby. Being a mom is so much better than I ever thought it could be. You bring so much joy into my life.

I love you sweet Buggie.

Love, Momma

Letters to Sylvie: 4 months

Dear Sylvie,

I can't believe how much you have grown in the last month. My little tiny baby is growing into the cutest, smiliest chunk I've ever seen.

You have the most adorable round chubby face and I'm constantly kissing your cute cheeks. Your legs have developed very healthy rolls and I love to dress you in your leg warmers to show them off. Your tiny hands have the cutest little dimples and your belly looks so Buddha, especially after you eat.

Your hair is definitely thinner than it was when you were born and a light peach fuzz layer of hair is growing in its place. It looks like you might be a blondie, but I guess it's still a bit early to tell. Your dad and I both expected you to keep your dark hair, but I guess you never know! So far your pretty blue eyes have stuck around and I think they're here to stay. I wouldn't be too disappointed if you kept your daddy's eyes. They sure are beautiful.

You also had your 4 month check-up at the doctor recently. Since your dad is home with you during the day I had him take you by himself. He did a great job taking care of you and made sure to give you some medicine afterwards to help you feel better. You were a bit cranky for the next few days, but we all survived. You've moved up from the 25th percentile in your length and weight to the 50th percentile. Delightfully average, I say. You're 13.6 pounds and 24" long!

You've gotten much more coordinated within the last month. You LOVE to suck on your hands. And if you're not sucking on your hands you're drooling. Your grip has gotten much better as well. You love to hold your rattle and shake it around and get upset when it falls. You also hold onto the leg of the elephant on your bouncy chair and grasp the toys on your jungle gym. Mommy's hair frequently gets tugged on too.

For the last few months you've been sleeping in me and daddy's bed, but the doctor said it was time to start teaching you how to sleep on your own. I was expecting the worst as you normally wouldn't even sleep in the co-sleeper connected to our bed, but after only a night or two of waking up every couple hours, you seem to be enjoying your new big bed in your very own room. I think the transition has been much harder on me than it was for you. I sure miss cuddling with you every night as you sleep next to me.

The week before Halloween you rolled onto your back for the first time. You still haven't figured out how to do it again, but I'm sure it'll happen again soon. You still love to take baths, though not as much as you did a couple months ago. Your favorite part is seeing the little naked baby in the bathroom mirror and you smile and smile at her. You also like to go for walks so I try to take you out everyday after I get home from work. We go to the park with the pond so you can listen to the ducks and walk by the big field full of cows. But, you don't require much to be happy. When your dad is around you're perfectly content to sit in the crook of his arm and watch tv. It's the cutest thing ever.

Every day that goes by I love you more and more. You're such a sweet little girl and everyone who sees you loves you. You've got such a calm, sunny disposition it's hard to be away from you for long. I'm so glad you're my little buggie.

Love, Mama

Letters to Sylvie: 3 Months

Dear Sylvie,

I debated whether to write you these letters because I know it's been done before and surely much better than I will do it. But you're so young and even though I tell you these things everyday, you can't quite understand me yet. And I want you to hear these things, even if you don't hear them for several more years.

Today you're 3 months old. I can hardly believe it. You're already double the size you were when you were born and have grown too big for many of your newborn clothes. I continue to clothe you in my favorite outfits, such as your navy blue cupcake onesy with the white polka dots, because I can't quite bear to put them away forever and accept that my baby is growing so fast.

You have so much personality already. You're so easy going and happy and very rarely cry. I went back to work almost 2 weeks ago and I miss my mornings with you when your smiles and laughs and giggles and coos are given so freely. There is nothing I love more than to see you smile. I don't think there's anything better.

You're finally starting to gain more control over your previously flailing arms and legs. You love to try and eat your fists and fingers. You also gained enough awareness to look at your reflection in the mirror. You'll kick and play and look at yourself in your little playmat mirror for quite a long time. Usually while you're doing this you'll lift both feet off the ground and haul off and kick the toys dangling above you. You seem to be much more aware of your feet than your hands.

Your very favorite thing these days is bathtime. I give you a bath almost everyday just because you enjoy it so much. If you're having a tough night all I have to do is stick you in your little bathtub and you immediately feel better and a smile spreads across your face. In fact, if I don't let you kick around in the tub long enough and take you out before you're done wiggling around, you'll cry and cry until I put you back in.

Much more important than telling you about your development, I want to tell you how much I love you. I hope one day you'll be able to have kids of your own so you will feel this incredible love I have for you. My heart almost hurts I love you so much. I'd do anything for you. You're my little snugglebug and I'm so happy you're here.

Love, Mommy

Somebody Make Her Stop

My little baby Sylvie is 7 weeks old today. How did that happen? I'm telling you she's growing too fast. She's this close to being too big for her newborn clothes and diapers. She might as well just rip my heart out. Ok it's not THAT bad... but would it hurt to just let me have my tiny baby for just a little while longer? She doesn't need to STOP growing just do it SLOWER.

 
Everyday Sylvie changes and gets bigger. Her chubby cheeks get chubbier and her eyes get bluer and her smiles more frequent. It seems ridiculous to me now that I was afraid of the baby stage. "What do I do with a baby? Babies are kind of boring." Now I know. What do you do with babies? You cuddle the bejeezus out of them while they'll still let you. You wrap them in a snuggly blanket and put them on your chest and stare at them for hours. There's nothing like her smell (I never liked baby smell before now) and when she pulls her legs up under her and nuzzles into you, your body becomes a pile of melted goo, making it impossible to allow anyone else to hold her.

Sylvie loves her toy zebra and I love watching her look at it!

Then there's the other side her. The side of her where I think, "This adorable baby must be a troll in disguise." The bodily functions and their corresponding noises are impressive. The farting. And pooping. I can't believe the volume (both audible and physical). Then there are the noises... it's not all cooing my friends. There are growls and grunts and other noises that more closely resemble a ferocious velociraptor than a sweet little baby. And I have to say, all these troll-like traits are very adorable.

For those of you out there debating whether or not to have kids I have to tell you one thing. They weren't lying. It IS different when it's your own kid. Like a million bajillion times different. As in... you can't even compare how you feel about other people's kids to how you'll feel about your own. There really isn't anything like it.

First Bath

The other night I was glad to see Sylvie's umbilical cord stub had finally fallen off. I celebrated by giving her her first full bath the next day! Thanks to Dad for helping to capture the process (and my sweet hair).

I've been amazed at how comfortable I've gotten handling a little baby. Giving her a bath was no big deal! And as you can see, I've also gotten good at multi-tasking (thus the curlers).

 Awe! Isn't she the cutest? Also, this flower petal tub is the best. It's nice and warm for baby and cushions her from the hard sink. (You can get one here.)

  Baby butt!

Nice and clean and all wrapped up in a towel.

Oh and in case you're wondering, my hair turned out fabulous.

I have to say I was a little nervous carrying her around without a diaper on. The other day as I was changing her diaper, a rocket of liquidy green poop suddenly shot out of her butt, covering my hand, the dresser, and wall. I literally screamed in surprise. Not what I expected. I think I have a little PTSD now as I get flashbacks and cold sweats every time I have to wipe her little bum. Seth says he's going to install a plexiglass shield around the changing station, but I haven't seen it yet.

Introducing....

Sylvia Kay Hanson!

Weight: 6 lbs. 14 oz.

Length:19"

Date: July 10, 2012

Time: 8:55 pm

She's finally here and we couldn't be happier. I can't tell you how amazing it is for me to look down at this baby and realize Holy Crap. This is MY baby. She grew in my stomach and now she's here and she's so beautiful and she's really MINE. It's still so surreal to me. It's one of those things that for a long time I wasn't sure would ever happen. But it did and I'm so glad. I never thought I'd want to hold a baby for hours on end without putting her down or kiss her a million times a day or find joy in changing poopy diapers. I'm a mom and so far I think I'm pretty good at it. I think that's what surprises me the most.

I guess maybe some of you haven't heard the birth story yet so I'll give you the run down. For my entire pregnancy this baby was breech and was intent on not turning like she was supposed to. So on the morning of July 10th, we went into the Davis Hospital to try and do an external version to turn her.

The first thing they did when we got there was start an IV in my hand and get an epidural started. At this point in my pregnancy any sort of pushing on my belly hurt like hell so an epidural was a no-brainer. I'm sure many of you will hate me when I say the insertion of the IV and epidural were by far the most pain I felt all day. After that epidural kicked in, I couldn't feel anything from the waist down.

About an hour after my epidural was started, Dr. Hughes (a.k.a. Dr. Baby Flipper) came in with a load of other personnel. He put his hands on my belly and pushed and maneuvered and about 30 seconds later, Sylvie was head down. Yeah! I was very relieved that the version was successful and sat back in bed as a Pitocin drip was started in my IV to start contractions.

Every so often a nurse, or my doctor, Dr. Joseph would come in and check on me. I was progressing kind of slowly and at one point Dr. Joseph mentioned the possibility of sending me home if things didn't get moving. My heart sunk. I had no idea there was a possibility of going home without a baby. And what made it more frustrating was I couldn't move or do anything to help the process along. But, we tried to stay positive (by watching "What About Bob?") and hoped for the best.

Finally at about 6:00pm Dr. Joseph came in to check on me one more time. This was the moment of truth. After hemming and hawing for a moment or two, he decided I was dilated enough to break my waters. Wahoo! Now there was no going back! My baby was going to come!

For several hours Sylvie's heartbeat was nice and healthy. It would increase after every contraction and then level out. It had a lot of variation which is what they always look for. However, later in the evening her heartbeat started to dip after each contraction. Dr. Joseph decided that the best option at that point would be to take her c-section before her health took a dive. I was a bit disappointed, but wanted to do what was in her best interest.

Thankfully Seth was able to go into the operating room with me. He got all dressed up in a jumpsuit, booties, hair net, and face cover while they wheeled me into the operating room to get prepped. I felt so helpless and nervous going in there. I couldn't move, I was all drugged up and foggy, couldn't do anything to improve the situation, and I was about to get cut open. I felt much better after Seth came in and was able to stand next to me and hold my hand.

After waiting for about 20 minutes for a second doctor to arrive, they got started. Just a few minutes later I heard my baby cry. Everyone was telling Seth to take pictures of her coming out. The doctors cut the cord and finally showed me my new little daughter, all covered in white goo and blood. I felt such a huge relief to finally see her. Then the nurses whisked Seth out the door with Sylvie while I stayed back in the operating room to get put back together.

About a half hour later, we all met back in our hospital room... me all stitched up, Seth with our new baby all washed, weighed, and bundled up with a bow in her hair. All the drama was over. She was here and she was safe. This long-awaited new chapter in our lives was finally here.