More than "Ga..Ga"...

Only 2 1/2 months and although Elodie hasn't actually said the words "ga..ga", she has been going from "ah-go" and "gee" to "goo-gee" and "la..la..la..la..la", and "oooohhhh!!, aaahhhh!".

Seems like she likes to hear the sound of her own voice and is testing the waters with sounds and such. I'm hoping this is thanks to me for talking with her on a constant basis since she was born. No matter what I am doing or how menial, I've been sharing it with her. "Look Elodie, now Mom is brushing her hair", "now I'm picking up the clothes", etc.

Sounds funny at first to do that, but in the end it sort of makes me feel like I have a little friend with me to keep me company, and I know it helps her to become more verbal.

Keep it up sunshine! xoxo Mom

A new Mom's search and recommendations on baby stuff

This might be a little lengthy (ok--REALLY lengthy), but I think might prove pretty helpful to those new Mom's out there.

First I want to say that something I really enjoy and find interesting is research. Online research is the best, but investigative research is great also. The reason why I am mentioning this is that when I was pregnant with Elodie I did a lot of research on the reviews of certain baby items. I did this through several websites, but found that Babies R Us and Amazon had the most reviews. I made sure to look at both the good and bad reviews of each item. If I couldn't find a review, I'd look on an online chatroom or board and get the info from there, sometimes having to post as an anonymous person to ask a question and get an answer.

We were given lots of advice from friends and family, and tips on this baby item or many gifts from our baby showers. Since this was our first child, we live in a small cottage for her first 4 months, we didn't want to go overboard on needless baby stuff, and we didn't require any frou frou or luxury items. we decide to just get the essential items that a newborn will need (i.e. bassinet, changing table, blankets, diapers, etc.), and then at a later time we can look at other stuff as we go along and learn.

So, I really paid attention to coupons and shopped around to get the best prices. True, I had to do quite a few trips back and forth with returns and exchanges, but in the end we ended up spending only a fraction of what we expected ($500 instead of $1500) for the essential items, as well as saved about $500 off these essential items by shopping around for the best deal (this meaning it would have normally cost us $1000, but with shopping around, we got the same items for $500-and I have the spreadsheet and receipts to prove it--lol).

On a side note, but just as important, I want to share with you the baby items that we have found to be so valuable and truly essential, those items that didn't come up to par, and the reasons why. I have put this in a Word Document, as so not to take up too much posting room. Click on the chickadee picture above and it will take you to this htm webpage.


Happy Baby time!
Jeyn

3 weeks today!!..

Happy 3rd week birthday Elodie!!

You are definitely getting bigger (and wiser!). You are also starting to make great efforts to hold your head up when lying on your Dad's chest.

On Saturday was your Mom's birthday, and your Dad was so thoughtful and surprised her with Happy Birthday signs on the porch with lights and balloons, and a fat chocolate cake with lots of candles and fun birthday gifts. We also received some gifts for you from your Auntie Sandy (Auntie Jen's Mom) in Rosarita Beach. A darling bunny blanket (see pic), a soft plushie girl doll, a rabbit blankie, and a cute mermaid handmade clay dish for me.

We have finally come close to depleting your diaper stock so I am ordering more diapers for you today, hoping you'll still fit into the size I order, since I'll probably get a good sized amount of them. And soon your Dad can help feed you with bottles of yummy breastmilk--mmmm..yum!!

What??? 17 days already??

OK, I'm officially in love with our little girl. Her face is not the little smooched up, wrinkly face at birth, but is now smoother, rounder, and changing every day.

She has her little moments where she huffs and puffs (literally), but that just means she is hungry and excited to use her breastfeeding VIP pass (which, by the way, is already worn out--but not expired--yet!). I participate in this excitement with her by talking about a milk party and wiggling like I had a tail, and this seems to get her even more excited.. I swear I see some smiles. She is definitely starting to recognize that "shirt" means "boobs", and boobs mean "milk", as she points now and tugs a bit at my shirt.

Sometimes I have to check to see if she is breathing because she is so calm and quiet that she looks lethargic and drugged (again milk is probably the culprit). But I would probably say that my favorite is usually after a feeding, or at night, with her small, but big eyes, she just sits there and stares at things around her. She looks like she is at peace and happy and curious, which in turn makes me happy.


So far in these past 17 days, I've been pooped on, pee'd on, spit up on, projectile vomit on (see Exorcist minus the swearing), drooled on, and my favorite, her passing gas when checking her diaper close up or when rubbing her back. How many people would you allow this to happen to you?

Speaking of people, I was driving on the busy 101 and 85 freeways yesterday and decided to go into the carpool lane because I "do" have 2 or more persons in the car. Then I thought, what if they consider a person an adult? I thought, that's ridiculous, if a cop stops me, I'll just ask him/her, "what? a baby is not a person? a human being"? Ding! ..yet another benefit of being a parent...yeah!

bienvenue a elodie olive

chere elodie,
un petit bonjour de tonton jc et tata vero, de France...on ne te voit qu'en photo, mais on t'aime deja.."you're really so cute"!!
ca fait du bien de voir de nouveau un petit enfant dans la famille, et nous pensons deja à toutes les fetes que nous partargerons avec toi, de pres, ou de loin (noel, anniversaires, paques...)..
et tu sais , quand tu seras plus grande...je sais tres bien coudre les habits de poupée Barbie!!!
en attendant de voir pour de vrai ta jolie frimousse (en mai), nous t'embrassons bien fort..
tata vero et tonton jc
ps : ta mamie de France, mamie colette, pense bien fort a toi aussi, et t'embrasse bien fort

Breastfeeding VIP pass

Dear Elodie,

We just received today your "Breastfeeding VIP membership card". All these hours of feeding finally pay off!

Congratulations!

Dear Jennifer and Patrick,
Congratulations!

Elodie, welcome! You are so cute! I can see a lot of your daddy in you, I bet you're going to have your mom's great sense of humor!
I can't wait to meet you, but understand I just have to wait until the time is right :)

6 days and counting...being parents

Amazing that it has already been 6 days since Elodie was born. It actually seems longer, but that is probably because the days are stretched with cuddling, feeding, changing diapers, making faces, or making up silly songs where we forget the lyrics (but hey--it calms her down when crying).

Some things we have already understood or are finding out as we go along:

1. For labor, I was against an epidural, but opted for it and I'm so glad I did!
2. In the hospital, no one tells you this, but expect to be interupted during the night and day, at least every 45 minutes (no kidding), from Nurses, Doctors, Pediatricians, Orderlies, and everyone else. This will drive you to absolutely no sleep when you expect to have some peace before you go home and really lose your sleep. Make sure to ask your nurse to put a sign on the door to ask the front reception before entering.
   
3. This being said..Yes, we lost a lot of sleep due to the hospital stay, then after we returned home, but we are slowly getting it back with taking turns on help and taking naps here and there.
   
4. Take naps with Elodie when she sleeps. We can each usually can get at least an hour in and that makes a world of difference later.
   
5. I made the mistake of starting to wash Elodie, but didn't have all of my wash equipment to properly do so, so I learned to make sure I have all of my baby equipment in front of me before I start anything. Even items being located across the room can be troublesome when giving a bath or changing a diaper. I basically needed to pick her up and take her with me to get that item.
   
6. Carrying a diaper bag with us in each car or remember to take it with us, like I would my own purse. In this diaper bag are the essentials: diapers (go figure), diaper wipes, changing pad, Purell, change of clothes, socks, and/or mittens, and always have some sort of receiving blanket and/or soft blanket ready. Bottles will come later since I am breastfeeding.
7. If we have to take Elodie out in public or to the doctor's, we made sure to cover her car seat carrier with a blanket, as so to keep germs and weather away from her and muffle any disturbing sounds.
   
8. While I was watching Elodie sleeping, she ended up kicking her thicker blanket that was at her feet, all the way up to near her face (within seconds), so needless to say, I really keep an eye on her and try not to look away too long.
   
9. Having good communication and an understanding with Patrick is great, especially when passing Elodie to each other (i.e. "I have her head and okay to let go").
10. Good support from each other is so essential. Help one another out for even the little things.
    
11. Elodie (and seems like babies in general) usually will cry for the following things (which makes it easier to deduce what she needs): 1) Hungry (breastfeeding time) 2) Gas Pain 3) Diaper change needed 4) Sick or not feeling well 5) or my favorite--Just wants to be held.
12. I found out that I love breastfeeding. Partially because it is just the most wonderful thing I can do for me and her. It is very rewarding and gives her not only the most natural and best food to help build her immune system and fight off colds and germs, but it helps my health as well, and gives me a great opportunity to spend some one and one time with Elodie.
    
13. It is okay (and best) to wait a while until you have guests coming over and holding her. People are usually good at understanding this.
    

It's a Girl!

Hey Everyone,

She finally is born! Elodie Olive Vilain, 9 lbs 9 ounces, and 21" long, was born today at 12:40pm, at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Stanford, Ca.

Since she was so big, she had a little trouble coming out, and it was even a close call at one point, but our little girl is so strong and she luckily made it into this world!

She is beautiful and looks JUST like her Dad when he was a baby, we could see that right away. Her eyes, nose, lips, and even feet are really identical to Patrick (see Dad's baby pics in the center and compare it to her), but I'm still holding out for her to have my dimples and I think her hands look like mine, but that might be because mine are still swollen and poofy like hers. ;o)

We are so happy to have her finally be here with us, and look forward to all the days we will spend with her by our side. This is really wonderful! xoxo Jenn, Patrick, and Elodie!

Une nuit avant le debut de ta vie ("officielle")

Eh oui, ouh la la, c'est deja le matin du grand soir. Ou plutot le soir du grand jour, enfin je ne sais plus trop car il est 23h58 et ta Maman navigue entre le sommeil (preparateur) et les visites de l'infirmiere (qui lui a copieusement servit une pilule pour la faire dormir...)
Des sondes sont placees sur son ventre et on peut entendre ton coeur battre-battre-battre.

Quand arrives-tu?
Bientot fini le temps d'amerrir et bientot celui d'atterrir (oh le poete).

L'infirmiere revient dans 2h30 pour un nouveau medicament.
La nuit est calme a Stanford ce soir. Il y a des gens tout autour, mais on est vraiment la que tous les deux, ton Papa et ta Maman, a t'attendre.
Quand arrives-tu?