Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Today is my Grandma's birthday. I'm so lucky to have such wonderful grandparents that I am so close to. My Grandma is a very important part of my life and I'm so excited to share her with Matilda!

Happy birthday, Grandma, I hope you're having a wonderful day!

Two Weeks Old!

Today my little tater-tot is 2 weeks old! We've visited the pediatrician twice and he says she's doing great! Her color is perfect, her cord fell off this week and I'll post a picture of her belly button as soon as it finishes healing.
She's finally begun to gain back some weight, and is gaining 1/2 an ounce a day, just like she is supposed to. She lets me go 3-5 hours between feedings at night so I can get some sleep, she doesn't cry too much, and every day she seems to be a bit more alert. She still smiles in her sleep and snores like daddy does, but now she makes cute faces while she's awake too.
Of course, she's not awake THAT often, so she's sleeping for her 2-week picture.

Meeting Grandpa Mike

This week my dad was able to stop by on his way back from Canada to meet Matilda. They seemed to get on well. (And yes, I did enjoy that beer!)

Checking herself out

Matilda has been a little clingy today, so she's doing everything with me. I saw her spring to attention when I opened her blog, so I snapped a quick picture on the computer--here she is, checking herself out!

Last Day

Today is Ed's last day of paternity leave. It really feels like the time has just flown by. I know I'm a little nervous about tomorrow, but I'm sure we'll settle into a routine before we know it.
Anyway, I figured this was a good time for some pictures of Matilda with Daddy.

Matilda's Fan Club

Last night was the last night Kim and Eric were in town. Everyone came over to hold the baby and have some pink champagne, chocolate cake, and chocolate cigars to celebrate her arrival.
She was really very good the whole time company was here. She got a bit fussy for her feeding and bedtime after everyone left, but not too bad. It was a nice night.

Being comforted by Daddy

Paparazzi

No, please! I'm feeling shy!

Well, if you must...

Just look at that smile!

First Shampoo

The night Matilda was born she got her first sponge bath and her first shampoo. She hated the bath and screamed throughout, but enjoyed the shampoo. Seems to be the same way now that we're home.
We got this picture of her first shampoo and I just love the face she is making!

More pictures of Matilda

You can see all of Matilda's pictures and order your own prints or photo calendars ect. from Kodak by following this link or by clicking on Matilda's picture in the sidebar at the top left of the page.

Don't forget to check back every so often--I add new pictures to the gallery every few days.

Enjoy!

So tiny!

These pictures were taken at the hospital and I just love them. It's amazing how small Matilda is.

Good morning!

We're just lounging around in bed this morning and Matilda is in her basket, cooing and looking around. She's still cute!

What is Matilda doing now?

Matilda is a week old today. What is she doing right now? Sleeping. And looking like a little angel.

Bath time

Every couple days Matilda gets a little sponge bath and lotion. And boy does she HATE it! Today we did her bath, and got a picture before she started screaming. We also washed her hair under the faucet today, and strangely, she loved that!
We're really looking forward to her first real bath once her belly button heals--I hope she likes that!

Coming home

On Sunday, Matilda came home, and wore clothes for the first time! Here's Matilda in her coming home outfit.

Proud Parents

We should be going home today and settling in with our newest family member. But I couldn't resist sharing a few more pictures this morning. We're so proud and so in love with our little girl!
She's still sleeping a lot, but she will cry just because she's lonely sometimes at night now. She loves to snuggle and she and I are both doing well. Daddy is pretty tired (he's had to sleep on a vinyl couch for three days!).

Matilda Riley Gustafson

Matilda Riley Gustafson arrived at 5:58pm Fridy July 4, 2008. She was 8 pounds, 8.4 ounces, and 21 inches long--a big girl!
Matilda and I are both doing well and should be home soon.
She has light brown hair and light blue eyes. She has a full head of hair, but at the crown she has a top-knot like I did when I was a baby. I think she looks like Ed--at leat she has his nose! She has a very pleasant temprament and only cries if she's dirty or cold--so far. Enjoy the baby goodness-there will be many, many, many pictures in the next few days!

It's Time!!

Ed and I went to a movie Thursday night and by 7, contractions had started. By 1:30am Ed was still trying to convince me I was in labor--I just didn't believe it!
I let Ed get some sleep and waited til morning to see if the contractions persisted.
At 7:30am Friday we went to the hopsital and we were admitted at 8 in labor!
Since only about 5% of babies come on their actual due date, we were pretty surprised to learn that our baby would be right on time.
Here's a picture from the beginning--when I was still smiling!

Not Today

Well, today is not the day. We went in for our follow up tests and the fluid levels are up and everything is looking good. I might just be pregnant forever.

I think we'll have a baby soon!

We saw the doctor again yesterday and it turned into a really really really long day.

Typically, it's a 10-20 minute appointment--get weighed, check the blood pressure, measure, do a quick exam and "see you next week."

But, the baby has been moving a little less recently, so they decided to do a "non-stress test." For this test they strapped two monitors to my belly--one for her heart rate and one to monitor contractions, just like they use in labor--and had me push a button every time I felt her move.
During the test she moved really well, and I was having "practice contractions" (tightening, but not labor) every 4 minutes. It was pretty neat to be able to see all of it printing out on that machine. The doctor said that the baby got an "A+" on her non-stress test.

However, her heart rate had dipped lower than they like during a few of my little contractions, so they sent us downstairs to the high-risk office for an ultrasound to check the fluid levels. They measure the fluid levels in centimeters of fluid surrounding the baby. Typically, 9-20 is "normal" but it's not a major concern unless you drop to 5 or less. We got a 6.9--which is still acceptable, but on the low side. So, her fluid is getting pretty low.

This is a normal part of pregnancy--as she gets bigger she runs out of room for fluid, and the placenta starts to degrade as we get closer and closer to delivery. The only real concern right now is that if the fluid levels keep dropping, real labor contractions could be too stressful for her.

The doctor stressed that we do not need to worry about this yet. We will be going in for ultra sounds twice a week now until I deliver to monitor the fluid levels. Since this was not a concern before, we don't know if the 6.9 is normal for our baby, or if it's reflecting a big drop, which is why we're going to be checking it so often. If it has dropped more when we go in on
Thursday, we'll probably be discussing an induction if labor hasn't started on it's own.

Regardless, it won't be long now, and I'm really excited to meet my little girl!