My Little M&M's

I decided to make Maddox and Maclain's costumes this year, but I was only interested in doing something super easy!  My friend Rebecca suggested last year that they go as m&m's since both their names begin with the letter "m".  I really liked her idea and decided to go with it.  I think they turned out pretty cute and I have to say, each costume only took about 45 minutes to make.  Maddox may have more of an opinion next year about what he wants to be, but this year he still didn't care.  He was up for anything I suggested. I think they are the cutest m&m's around!

Weight Check

I took Miller back in to the doctor last Friday to get weighed again since she had not gained much weight in the first 2 weeks.  At her last appointment she was 7 pounds, 8 ounces (she had only gained 3 ounces in 2 weeks) and at this appointment, only a week later, she was up to 8 pounds, 6 ounces.  Needless to say, she is eating well now and is gaining weight.  I was so happy to hear that news!

3 weeks old
Ready for her first Sunday at church :)

Sweet Friends

I seriously have some of the best friends on the planet!  April, Amy, Lydia and Jamie came in town Saturday to meet Miller and to hang out with us.  They got here around lunchtime and stayed through lunch on Sunday.  They totally spoiled us while they were here!  They brought presents for Maddox, Maclain and Miller, and they also brought me my favorite: 2 Chick-fil-A gift cards! They know me so well!  They cooked dinner for us Saturday night, had cinnamon rolls for us for breakfast on Sunday, and even cooked lunch before heading out Sunday.  And did I mention they bathed Maddox and Maclain Saturday night and also cleaned out our fridge??  Yes, they are awesome and I hated to see them go!! Thank you, girls, for always being there and for making the drive to come see us!  Y'all seriously are the best! :)

2 Week Checkup

I took Miller in this morning for her 2 week checkup.  She checked out great and we only left with one minor issue.  She has not gained quite as much weight as the doctor would like at this point, so he gave us a few suggestions of things to try and we will go back for a weight check in about a week and a half.  Right now she weighs 7 pounds, 8 ounces and is 20 inches long.  Overall, we had a great appointment and are so thankful she is healthy!  We are loving this sweet angel!

Getting Out

We have been trying to get out here and there so that Maddox and Maclain are not trapped at home all day.  We have been to the park several times and it has worked out pretty well since Miller can stay in her carseat and not be exposed to too many germs.  Thankfully we have several parks to choose from so we never get too bored!

Maclain lives for her snacks :)

Miller sleeps through most park trips!

And... another snack break :)

It is much harder for me to get a picture of Maddox these days, but I will try and do better!  So thankful for pretty weather lately to get out and enjoy these kids! :)

Big Brother and Big Sister

I haven't talked much about how Maddox and Maclain are adjusting to Miller being here.  I have to say, I am super surprised at how seamless the transition has been.  They are very interested in her, but are not jealous at all.  I expected Maclain to be somewhat jealous, but she is mainly just wanting to be a mommy to Miller. I do have to keep a close eye on her to be sure she is not too rough, but she really does love her little sister. Maddox is super sweet and wants to help however he can, and he also loves to sing Miller songs when she is crying.  It is amazing how much better he has handled the birth of Miller as opposed to the birth of Maclain.  Him being older has made all the difference!

They are very proud of her!

 

The First 10 Days

It is so hard to believe that 10 days have passed since Miller entered the world.  I know she will change so much in the first few months, so I wanted to go ahead and document how things are going  because I know that if I don't I will definitely forget. :)  Right now, Miller seems to have fallen into a pretty good schedule.  The first 2 nights at home were the hardest, and the only way we could get her to sleep was with someone holding her.  I spent the majority of those nights in the recliner.  Each night since then has gotten much easier.

Lynn was here the first week and was super helpful!  The 3rd night at home we decided we would try having Miller sleep in her car seat and Lynn offered to take the first shift with her that night.  She was going to text me when it was my turn with her, and I remember waking up at 3:30 in a panic because I had not heard from her.  Miller ended up only waking up once to eat that night, then went straight back to sleep in her car seat.  Starting that 3rd night, she has only been eating once during the night (between 2:00 and 3:00).  We are putting her in bed between 9:00 and 10:00 and she is up for the day anywhere between 6:30 and 7:00.  I am trying hard to establish a set time for her first feeding of the day to help her develop a good schedule and so far it is working well.  Her first feeding is at 7:30.  She is taking 3 ounce bottles right now about every 3 1/2 hours.  From nights 3-6 she pretty much slept in her car seat at night in our room.  After Lynn left last Friday, we moved Miller to her room and have started having her nap and sleep at night in her crib.  Transitioning her to her crib was much easier this time around...

Sometimes she goes right to sleep and other times we have to go back in 2-3 times to put her paci back in, but overall she is doing awesome!  She is no longer sleeping in her car seat at night and I am so glad she has adjusted well to her crib. 

So far she is our most laid-back baby and is pretty go-with-the-flow!  She is very happy during her awake times and really only fusses when she is sleepy or hungry.  We are so happy that she is here and is healthy!  We go back to the doctor on Friday for her 2 week checkup.  I am curious to see how much she has grown!  We are loving our sweet girl!!

Some Visitors

While we were in the hospital we had some visitors come see us and meet Miller for the first time.  I wish I had gotten a picture of everyone, but I guess my mind was somewhere else. :)

Rebecca and Katie came to see us... I missed out on a picture of Katie and Miller!

My brother Wil and Miller :)

Thomas and Tucker were so sweet with her :)
 

Renee and Isaac... I know Miller will love Mrs. Renee just like Maddox and Maclain do!

Aunt Erica and Miller

Tracy was one of our very first visitors :)

Again I have to say, we are blessed by so many awesome friends here in Tallahassee!  They make us feel like family and we are forever grateful for them!  It is so true that it takes a village to raise a child and I feel blessed by the village that takes part in helping to raise ours. :)

Miller Lee Mundie

Our baby GIRL, Miller Lee Mundie arrived at 8:25 Friday morning.  I had decided to go ahead and be induced that morning if she had not come on her own, but apparently Miller had already decided October 4th would be her birthday.  I had a routine appointment the day before, October 3rd, and told my doctor I was still holding out hope for going into labor on my own.  I was dilated to about 5 cm already.  He said he could strip my membranes which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't and I decided to give it a shot.  I went by the grocery store afterwards and got stuff to make dinner that night.  At around 6:00 as Daniel was getting home I started having contractions.  They were pretty consistent (5-7 minutes apart) for about 3 hours, but were not all that painful.  After some time they became a little less consistent so we decided to go on to bed and play it by ear.  My induction time window was 4am Friday so I knew it would be an early morning regardless.  We went on to bed and I would wake up here and there with contractions and by this time they were more painful.  Finally at about 2:45 I decided to go ahead and get in the shower and get ready to go.  We left for the hospital at about 3:50 and by this time I was sure it was real labor.  On the way, the hospital actually called to see if I could go ahead and come in for the induction, to which I told them I was already on the way and was in labor.  We got back to a room at about 4:25 and when the nurse checked me she told me I was 7cm.  She asked about an epidural, but I told her I was not totally sure yet, that I thought I wanted to try it without one.  She was very supportive and told me I could walk around some until the doctor would come in to break my water.  We walked for a little while, and the contractions were getting closer together.  At 5:45 the doctor came and broke my water and everything got so much more intense from there.  I ended up trying out basically everything the hospital had to offer in the way of natural childbirth: the birthing ball, the bathtub, a peanut ball, etc.  The worst possible position for me to be in was laying on my back in the bed, so I was up for anything other than that.  They would hook me up periodically so they could monitor the baby, but really gave me the freedom to move around as I wanted/could tolerate.  I stayed stuck at 8 1/2 cm for a lot longer than I wanted to, and was beginning to think I could not do it naturally for another second.  Not long after that Miller decided to cooperate and come on out, but she wanted to do it her way. :)  She was born face first (not sunny side up) which apparently only happens in about 1 out of every 1,000 births.  It is not dangerous, but usually requires a C-section because it is so much harder for the baby to make their way down and out.  Thankfully I was able to feel everything to push her out on my own, which most likely prevented me from having a C-section.  It was by far the hardest, most intense thing I have ever done, but I am so glad it all happened the way that it did. The moment Daniel got to tell me, "It's a Girl!" is one that I will never forget.  The nurses kept telling me that she looked like Angelia Jolie with her full lips... poor Miller was SO bruised and swollen from coming out face first.  She totally did not look like one of our babies in the beginning, but quickly started looking more like herself.  The nurses marked her bassinet with a "facial bruising" sign so that other nurses walking by would not think she had quit breathing.  I felt so bad for her...

Miller Lee Mundie
7 pounds, 5 ounces
19 inches long

Her swelling went down quickly, though, and she started looking more like one of our babies...



Family of 5! :)

Maddox and Maclain are very proud of their little sister and are adjusting well.  I was able to go home from the hospital Saturday evening and our days at home are going very well.  The last 3 nights have been wonderful and Miller is doing great sleeping on her own in her bed.  The first couple of nights she preferred to be held. :)  We are so thankful for this sweet blessing!  I am still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that the girls will out number the boys in this house. :)