Ok. For those of you who have seen Ada, you wouldn't think that we've had trouble getting her to eat... but we have. No.. she hasn't lost weight, or become dehydrated... we just have to work and work to get her to eat so she won't have those problems. I just assumed that she was a lazy eater and that we would just have to continue working with her until she got better at it. Well... one night last week, my SIL Aimee was feeding her and realized that Ada might be tongue-tied... her second was and it made it hard for him to nurse. The way she was describing her son sounded just like Ada when I tried to nurse her... so, the next morning at 8AM, Ada and I were at Dr. Caballero's office to get her tongue snipped. I was so thrilled and relieved to finally have an answer. You guys have no idea how stressful it could get... I felt like I was feeding her all the time... just to get an adequate amount of formula down her so she wouldn't lose weight. We'd tried different bottles, nipples, stretching out her feedings.. nothing seemed to work. So... you can imagine how excited I was to find a solution.
Well... unfortunately, Ada was NOT tongue-tied... I was shocked. I think I asked Dr. C at least 10 times... are you sure? He assured me that he was sure and then gave me some suggestions on how to make feedings easier for Ada and for me. I was already giving her a cereal bottle at night (which she LOVES), but he told me to start introducing cereal with a spoon a couple of times a day. I was floored... I thought.. there is NO WAY my 2 1/2 month old can eat out of a spoon... she's just now getting to the point she can hold her head up on her on! But... I tried it. She had her first spoon feeding while were gone to Tennessee for New Years. I was glad, because I had my mom there and her friend Debbie who could help me..
Ada had gotten a Bumbo chair for Christmas, so we took that with us. I fixed the cereal and a bottle (for her to wash the cereal down with), and we dove right in. She did AMAZING... and she just keeps getting better and better at it. We are now able to finally get on a schedule. I am planning on working 2-3 days a week, and I really wanted Ada on a set schedule for when I leave her with people. So, here it is:
Between 7:00 and 8:00AM, Ada takes a 5-6 ounce bottle. She usually wakes up sometime around those times... but she doesn't eat before 7:00 and she doesn't eat after 8:00 :) She will take a short nap around 9:30 and then at 11:00AM she eats her first spoon-fed meal. I mix 2oz of formula with 4oz of oatmeal cereal. Then, I fix a 4oz bottle of formula, and let her take as much of that as she wants... but usually she takes the whole thing! Then, around 2:00PM she takes another 5-6 oz bottle. She will lay back down around 3:00 or 3:30 and sleep until 5 when she eats her 2nd spoon-fed meal of the day. She eats the same portions... Finally, around 9:30 or 10PM she takes another bottle with a couple ounces of cereal in it... just to help coat her tummy for bedtime!
I can't tell you how thankful I am for a feeding system that works with Ada! I was going crazy demand feeding... in my opinion, it's just not what I felt was best for her or for me... but I had to do it for her to get the amount of formula she needed.
Well... I just wanted to share! I've been so excited! Here's some pics of her first spoon-feeding! Enjoy!
Wow... today is the first day I feel like I've really been able to sit and write something down. We have had an eventful past few weeks. We've done a lot of last-minute shopping, traveling, packing, unpacking... it's been a whirlwind.
We had two full weeks with Jordan home with us, and we LOVED it. It was so nice to have an extra set of hands here around the house during the day. Even though we did a lot of traveling and spent time with family and friends, we also had some great time together just the three of us. Jordan started back to school today, and we won't really have that kind of time with him again until Spring Break. We miss him, but I am so thankful for a husband who sacrifices and works so hard to provide for Ada and me.
Ok.. I'll start with Christmas. This was obviously Ada's first Christmas, and I was so excited that it was a white one! We started celebrating Christmas Eve, at my Gran's house. It was our family, my parents, siblings, and my mom's parents (Venson and Marie).
This is tradition. My Gran hosts Christmas Eve every year at her house. We ate Coop DeVille wings (yes I know it looks like a hole in the wall, but the Honey BBQ and Lemon Pepper wings are out of this world!), chicken fingers, and other finger foods, and I have to say it was one of my favorite Christmas meals yet! We ate dinner, opened presents, and then had some dessert and coffee and enjoyed making sweet memories with my grandparents. After that, we drove out to my parents. We started a tradition several years ago of drawing names among the seven of us, and then we Jordan and I got married... he joined in too! So, every year, we purchase a gift for the person who's name we drew... we swap them Christmas Eve night, and my Dad reads the story of Christ's birth every year.
Next year, traditions will change a little bit. Traveling to both my grandparents and parents in one night with a baby is a little difficult. I think next year, we may do more here at our house on Christmas morning so that everyone can see what Ada got for Christmas! Christmas morning, we woke up and started cooking breakfast casseroles to take to two shut-in's here in Jacksonville. After Ada woke up and saw what she got for Christmas, we loaded up as a family... in the SNOW! and delivered breakfast.
Sweet girl on Christmas morning. She was in the best mood!
Ada and her gifts from Santa... two rattles/teethers, a snail that plays music, and an activity mat.
Our first white Christmas
This is something we plan on doing every year. No matter how busy, or how many kids we may have.... plans will be set aside for us to serve in some way on Christmas. We don't want to be extreme, we just want our children to not be focused on the selfish part of this holiday only, but to be selfless... because Christ humbled Himself.... the One who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf!! After we delivered breakfast, we loaded up and headed out to my parents once again, to see what my sisters and brother got for Christmas. Then we went down the road to my Memaw's (Dad's mom) and had Christmas with that side of the family. We had the traditional meal... turkey, dressing, etc... and some YUMMO desserts my Memaw baked! After lunch, we headed out for Columbus, MS to have Christmas with Jordan's family. We enjoyed our time in Mississippi. We had dinner at Jordan's grandmother's house (Mawmaw Betty) on Sunday. We left Monday morning and got home just before the last of the snow had melted.
Ada and Mawmaw Betty
Ada and Jordan's Aunt Karen
For New Year's, some sweet friends of ours invited us to go with them to Tennessee. We had a blast! It was so relaxing and so sweet to fellowship with everyone. Ada loved it, and slept better than she has really EVER slept! Ada also tried eating her cereal with a spoon. She loved it, and I think everyone else loved watching her try! More about that later...
In honor of the new year, I thought I'd sit back and reflect over 2010 and write down some of the big things that happened!
January: I took my first round of Clomid, and Jordan and I prayed that we would get pregnant... Jordan started his first official teaching job at Tenth Street Elementary!
February: It was 6 days early, but I had a hunch that there was a little baby in my belly, so I took a test and lo and behold... I WAS PREGNANT! Jordan didn't believe me at first... I finally had to take a digital test!
March: We had our first sonogram and heard Ada's heartbeat. We felt comfortable enough, so we finally shared with everybody our news! We also brought our first baby home... Sawyer :)
April: I spent most of my days in the bed or on the couch with morning sickness... every now and then, I got myself up to go walk with my SIL Aimee, who was also pregnant. Jordan was still teaching and then taking care of me when he got home... Dr. Daniel (my OB) also let us sneak another peak at our sweet baby... we were thrilled!
May: I lived at my parent's pool... I was determined to get a tan before my sweet friend Jessica's wedding. I was going to be the only pregnant one... I definitely didn't want to be the palest! Jordan looked forward to school ending... he'd had a tough semester. We also found out our sweet Peanut was a girl! Ada Laine Weathers...
We got a sneak-peek at Ada in 4D!
June: Jordan started working for a friend of ours just to earn some extra money, and started on a job hunt. I again... lived at the pool. I also taught my niece and nephew how to swim... I was so proud of them!
July: Jordan kept working... I kept swimming... and my SIL had her baby... Eden Hope Weathers (Ada's BFF) was born and we were all in awe at the sweet sovereignty of our Lord! We spent sometime with my family and the Acker family in Tennessee to celebrate my brother and sisters' 20th birthday! It was so much fun!
August: It was HOT... very HOT! Jordan found a job, and I pretty much stayed at home. I was very swollen and very miserable anywhere but my air conditioner.
September: Football season started, and the countdown to D-Day began... I began counting by Alabama's football games vs. the actual days it was until Ada was born. I had my first baby shower that my friend Katy threw for me... it was the beginning of the "shower" season... and oh how blessed we were for all the sweet gifts we received!
October: Ada Laine Weathers made her debut on October 13th.... forever our lives were changed and we couldn't be any happier!!!
November: I celebrated my 23rd birthday, and Ada spent her first night away from home with her Bella and Papa.
December: Jordan and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary, Christmas, and New Year!! Here is a video of Ada's first Christmas... please excuse Jordan and me... we understand we sound like idiots, but we'll do anything to make that little girl smile!
God has been so gracious to us this year. May He continue to be glorified in EVERY aspect of our lives in EVERY season....
Happy New Year!! 2010 was just a great year... we were blessed with our sweet little Ada. We are looking forward to what lies ahead in 2011!
After much prayer, thought, and consideration... Jordan and I have decided to make our blog private from this point on. It's not to be rude, unfriendly, etc... it's just something we feel is best for our family. So... if you would like to continue following our blog, send me your name and email address to a.j.weathers@gmail.com so I can add you to the "reader's list".
I will leave the blog open for a few more days to give everyone a chance to email me!
Thanks so much for understanding! Christmas post and pictures coming really soon!!
Oh my goodness.... I can't believe my sweet girl is 2 months old. She turned 2 months old on the 13th, which was also mine and Jordan's anniversary.
This month has been a huge and exciting month for Ada. This month she REALLY started cooing and smiling at us. She's beginning to imitate the sounds that we make and she's trying to shape her mouth like ours. It's so cute to see her try. She's slowly gaining more and more control of her motor skills. She's has found my hair... and anyone else's who's holding her :) Ada is also staying awake a lot more. On a normal day at home (of course things change if we go shopping... to Mom's... etc.) but when we're here at home, she's taking a good morning nap around 9AM, and then a good afternoon nap around 1:00PM. She's only waking up around 3AM and wants just enough formula to satisfy her... then she goes right back to sleep until about 7 or 7:30.. Of course our routine changes some and that's totally fine. I'm not the type of mother that has to have her baby on a strict schedule... but we are on a routine. Eat... Activity (tummy time... bouncy seat... playtime with mommy... etc).. Nap. We've tried to keep Ada on a routine since she was about two weeks old. Some may disagree, but we love it, and Ada loves it. Her little body has learned that when she lays in the crib... it's nap time. I can lay her down wide awake, and she will put herself to sleep. She's eating about every three to four hours and taking a cereal bottle at night... P.S.. SHE LOVES IT!
Ada has also had some big events happen this month... she spent her first night away from home! She stayed with my mom and dad (Bella and Papa) and they loved it. My brother and sisters were home from school, so of course they loved it too. She had her two-month check up and got some shots :( She slept through the night.... one night :) She went to the hospital with me, Sarah, and Elizabeth while Sarah had some outpatient surgery... She survived Christmas shopping all day with Mommy... in the sleet and freezing rain. She finally got to meet all my extended family on my Mom's side of the family... she was such a hit! She met Santa Claus and had her picture made with him....
Wow... I think that's it... I'm sure I've missed some, but unfortunately you can't remember them all!
Well.. it's late, I'm tired... for some reason Blogger won't let me upload pictures, so I'll leave you with a video. Make sure you mute the music player at the bottom of the page :) I probably won't blog again until after Christmas, so.. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Tonight I could hear something coming from my bedroom... I walked in there and saw Ada and Jordan laying on the bed and Ada was just talking to her Daddy. I ran and got my cell phone and video-taped it. It isn't great quality, but you can still tell she's cooing at him. Enjoy... I did :) Don't forget to mute the music player at the bottom of the blog!
I feel like for the past few posts, I've had to apologize for my laziness in posting. Life with Ada is just... fun, honestly... and I just can't bring myself to take time away from her to post. I know that's horrible, and I promise to do a better job. I want to keep documenting all these memories so that I have something to look back on.
Ada was 7 weeks yesterday. She'll be two months December 13th... which is a special day, because it's mine and Jordan's two year anniversary. Speaking of Jordan.. I have to brag on what a great daddy he is. I'm so blessed... he jumped right in the day she was born and has been such a huge help ever since. I have to tell a funny story on him. This happened a few weeks ago, but it's still so funny. Here goes...
Jordan bought me a one hour massage for my birthday this year, so Jordan was out of school for Veteran's Day and I decided that would be a good day to go so he could watch Ada. Well... the day before, my car started messing up, so Jordan had to carry me to my massage at Monet Day Spa. While I was in my massage, Jordan ran some errands. He got back a little early, so he decided to just wait in the car. Being the good daddy that he is, he knew Ada probably needed a diaper change. So he got her out and ready to change her diaper. Little did he know that I had accidentally left the changing mat and the wipes at my grandparents house. He realized it after he opened that diaper and realized it was a poopie :) So, he decided he would just wait and we would change her as soon as we got home. He thought he would go inside Monet and just wait on me there. It was in there, that he realized she needed to be changed then... she was stinking... BAD! So, he asked where the restroom was, and the lady kindly informed him that there was no changing table. However, there was a small table next to where they do nails that he could change her... So, Jordan goes in the bathroom and gets some wet/dry paper towels and toilet paper. He put Ada on the tiny table and changed that nasty poopie diaper. To add to his stress, Ada used to hate to get her diaper changed to she was screaming the ENTIRE time... and all the ladies getting their nails done sat there staring at this frantic daddy changing a poopie diaper on a tiny table in the middle of a salon... :) In the middle of this stressful diaper change... I call him, because I'm now out of my massage and I can't find him anywhere. Needless to say... I got hung up on :) In the end.. Ada had a clean diaper, but Daddy's nerves were shot!
Ada has really started to "wake up"... she's been smiling a lot for the past couple of weeks, and for the past week she has started "talking" to us. She is cooing and making all kinds of funny noises. Jordan and I love it. We just sit and talk to her for hours. She's starting to sleep a little better. We've started giving her some oatmeal cereal at bedtime and she LOVES it. She sucks it down so fast. Since we've started the cereal at night, she's started sleeping from about 9 to 4AM.
Ada also has caught her first cold. She hasn't run any fevers, and her lungs are clear.... but her little nose is stuffy and she has a little cough. I feel terrible, because there's nothing we can do for her until she's two months old. I know it's this nasty weather that's made her sick... but right now, we're just suctioning out her nose, she's sleeping elevated, and we've gotten a humidifier. We're also just loving on her a little more. Well... I think that's enough for now. I don't have time to upload any pics yet, but I promise I will soon!
So... this Saturday, Ada was one month old. I can't believe my baby is that old! It seems like just yesterday she was born! I know every parent says that, but seriously... it seems like yesterday! We have loved EVERY minute of our time with Ada. Sometimes, Jordan and just sit and stare at her. We can't help but marvel at our little miracle. When I stare at her tiny little features, I am amazed and in awe of our Creator. What an amazing and BIG God we serve!
Ada has already changed so much just in the past couple of weeks. She's beginning to stay awake more and more, and when she is awake... she's alert. Everyday we learn more about our sweet girl... one example is that Ada hates to be alone in a room... spoiled? I think she might be :) She is perfectly content in her bouncy seat or the swing, she just wants you to be in the room with her. She still loves music... we're already listening to Christmas music here at the Weathers' house... :) She also loves to be read to. I've started reading through the Psalms as I rock her at night. We have also learned that Ada isn't too fond of bath time... however, she only cries when we stop pouring water on her. Jordan and I decided before she was born that we were not going to try and keep water out of Ada's face when we were bathing her. We wanted her to be used to water in her face... little did we know that water being poured on top of her head would be her favorite part of bath time and the only thing that calms her down :) She also hates having lotion put on her. It doesn't matter if it's warm or cold... she hates it... period.
This Saturday, Ada and I went to Auburn with my parents to surprise my brother and sisters. They've talked about Ada to all their friends from the moment they found out I was pregnant, so they were thrilled for all their friends to finally meet her. Thank goodness I'm not a paranoid first-time mom, because she was just passed around all day! It was amazing to see these college kids marvel over my daughter as if she was their own niece... it was too sweet! They already knew so much about her and were so thrilled to meet her. Let's just say that Ada has A LOT of honorary aunts and uncles :) We had a good time, and Ada and I were even good sports and dressed in our orange and blue... but don't worry... we still say ROLL TIDE!
There is so much more I could share... I just don't have the time... however, I can leave you with some pictures. Everybody loves pictures :)
I am first and foremost a sinner saved by the unmerited grace of my Heavenly Father. I am the wife of a selfless leader, mother to a sweet and spicy one year old, and graphic designer by trade. This is supposed to be my place to journal, blog, and keep precious memories recorded so they are not forgotten. We'll see how well I do...
