These are some of my favorite pics from our photo session last weekend at Super Target. You can find all the pics at:

Thesmilestation.com
Name: Erin Walsh
Access code: LTTT0789102050TAR
For Album #: 2008-10-25 13:47

The session was a hilarious mess. Cadie was screaming through most of the session. We would give her the pacifier, the photographer would count to 3, and then we would get in position and rip the paci out of her mouth. The photographer would have time to get only 1-2 shots before Cadie started screaming again. The photographer was so patient and I was very pleased with the number of cute shots she was able to get. Plus during the naked pics Cadie pooped on Grant, peed on Grant and the white backdrop, and spit up on the backdrop. It was quite an adventure, but I think she looks adorable.

FenuGreek

Since my milk was very slow to come in, the lactation specialist that I was working with recommended that I start taking an herbal supplement called Fenugreek. One very strange side effect is that it makes me smell like maple syrup. No joke! My sweat, pee, pretty much everything has a maple syrup tinge. I can only handle the smell of syrup for so long before I have to take a shower. Cadie was feeling fussy this morning and I was feeling much too maple syruppy so we had a problem. My wise mom friends have shared that the only way they could manage a shower in the early days was to put the baby in the papasan chair and put the chair near the shower. I decided it was worth a try, and it worked like a charm. I think Cadie enjoyed the steam, sound of the shower, and warm air and she was a complete princess while I took a shower. I was so thankful to be clean and also thankful to learn a new thing that Cadie enjoyed.

Sleeping at Last

I think we are close to getting Cadie to sleep at regular intervals. She has slept well for the past few nights! Her preferred sleep method is in someone's arms at demonstrated very well by Dee Dee. I think Dee Dee (Grant's mom) could hold Cadie all day long, and in fact she has held her all night long for quite a few nights.

Grant and I are not able to function on no sleep as well as Dee Dee, so we needed a better solution. I am not sure if it is better or not, but Cadie now loves to sleep in her swing. She even loves to be in her swing when she is awake. She has slept for up to 6 hours at a time in her swing, usually with it on. Grant and I have done some online research to see if we are really messing Cadie up by letting her sleep a lot in her swing, and most of the sites say it is ok and that kids will grow out of it. Who know, but for right now we are just thankful for the rest.

Even with a better sleep routine, I am still taking life day by day. I have managed to shower every day which I am proud of, but I am still pretty emotional. On Monday, I had to call Dad to the rescue. Cadie screamed for about 2 hours on Monday afternoon and by 5:15 I was crying too. I called Grant and he came home to find 2 crying ladies, a poopy diaper on the floor, and the house looking like an explosion of laundry, dishes, and baby stuff. He quickly took over and I headed to the bedroom to collect myself. Tuesday and today have been better so far, but I never know when the wheels might fall off. I am so thankful for Grant and all the friends and family willing to help at the drop of a hat.

Cadie gets cuter every day and I love getting to know her little personality. She has making different faces and is now starting to push up with her legs. She is going to be mobile in no time!

I Love Cowboys Games!

Mom and Cadie both love Cowboys games! Cadie loves them because she gets to sleep on Dad's chest all afternoon, and mom loves them because she gets time to herself while Dad and Cadie watch the game.

This has been a really wonderful weekend! Grant and I have had two good nights of sleep which feels amazing. Cadie spent the night at Big John and Dee Dee's house on Friday night. I was nervous about leaving her overnight at only three weeks old, but she had lots of milk, love, and cuddling and I think she had a great time. I cried two times during the evening but I think that is to be expected. The rest was especially nice because we had newborn and family pictures on Saturday and they turned out so great. Grant and I didn't even have horrible bags under our eyes :)

Then last night Cadie slept really weel at home. She slept in her swing all night long. I don't feel great about her getting used to sleeping in the swing, but I am not willing to fight it at 4am. She ate about every 4 hours during the night and went right back to sleep in her swing every time. We were so proud of her and thankful for the second night of sleep.

This is a funny pic of my version of nesting. Two days before Cadie was born I went on a 24 hour scrapbooking binge and took over our dining room with scrapbooking. I had a great time and finished scrapbooking pretty much all of my pregnancy. Now I just have to find the time to work on the past few weeks. This was my first venture into scrapbooking so we'll see if I keep it up or if it was just a nesting thing.

Like Father Like Daughter

This is Grant at about 2 weeks and Cadie as a newborn. I think they look SO much alike. Their little noses, eyes, and lips. She has my dipple and possibly my hair, but that is about it as far as I can tell. She is also tall and skinny which is certainly not me either! She is in the 90% percentile for height and 50% for weight.

We are starting to get to a bit more of a sane place. Cadie took a very good nap today and seems to be feeling a bit better. She is taking mylanta 4 times a day because her pediatrician thinks she might have heartburn and acid reflux. She will probably have to go on something like baby zantax. Poor little girl.

My mother-in-law, Dawna, is staying the night with us tonight so that we can have a bit of a break and some sleep. Grant and I just got back from dinner at Cheddars, and we had a great time catching up. There was a lot to talk about since our lives have just been focused on the baby the past few weeks. Thanks Dawna - you are the best!

I had to say good-bye to my mom yesterday. She has been here about 10 days and has been the biggest help and blessing. She and Cadie really get along great and she was so encouraging as I learn to be a mother.

Hopefully I can be better at blogging now that Cadie appears to be ready to cooperate with sleeping :)

Cadie has arrived!

We welcomed Cadence Nicole Walsh to the world on Oct. 5, 2008 - right on her due date! She weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz. and was 21 inches long. She is amazing and she has turned our world upside down.

I have been in lock-down mode for the past 2 weeks. Cadie has had some trouble with the basics - eating, pooping, and sleeping. We are getting much better at the eating and pooping, but now we need to master the sleeping. I have been so thankful to have my mother-in-law, mom, and sister help me with Cadie so I can get a few hours of sleep every day. Grant has also been wonderful. He takes the "evening shift" every night after work so I can rest or just have a few moments to myself.

Caring for a newborn has been an emotional journey. There have been highs such as laughing at Cadie's crazy faces, experiencing firsts such as bathtime and taking walks, and getting to fall in love with this beautiful gift. There have also been lows such as some physical challenges for me during birth, sleep deprivation, and making sure Cadie has enough to eat.

Every day gets a little bit easier and I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.

Psalm 139:13-14, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”