Arabella is 6 weeks old!

Arabella was officially six weeks this past Saturday - wow she has grown so much already. She started smiling early last week but I have not been able to catch it on film yet - I will keep trying. I wanted to update you with some photos from her recent adventures. 

Here is a photo I took today - the official 6 week photo -
Stats - as of last Tuesday, Weight = 8.12 lbs and length = 21 inches

We have discovered that she really likes her swing, she will sit in it forever just looking around and then eventually falls fast asleep. Dakota likes to sit with  her as well. He does a better job of posing for the pictures at this point.  Dakota sure does love her...

Will has already taught her how to "ride" the puppy..    Dakota just sits there wondering what you are doing to him. We keep joking about how we are going to get her a little saddle for him. 

Dakota is very interested in her tummy time and wants to sit right with her for the first bit, then he gets bored and wanders off. He is doing great with her, you don't have to worry about him around her at all - that is very nice.

Look at how well she is already holding up her little head! She is constantly pushing off with her hands and feel when she is on our chests and she is always moving that little head all around. She is  strong little thing. I don't think it will be long before she will need a bumbo seat ...

My Dad and his wife, Jackie came out to visit for a week and we went to Range Pond State Park for the day. There is a lake, picnic tables, etc. Even Dakota got to go - it was a nice day. Arabella loves being outside and took a nap on the walk around the lake. 

She loves her pacifier and it comes in handy - she often wants to suck but gets mad when milk comes out, so the pacifier is a nice break for everyone.

My dad spent plenty of time holding Arabella over this last week..

Grandma's Visit!

Grandma came out for a week long visit to meet and visit with Arabella. Of course Dakota thought she came to visit him. Needless to say that over the past week she usually has Arabella and Dakota trying to  get her attention.

 Every night when my mom goes to bed - Dakota gets all upset that he can't sleep with her and he sleeps right outside her bedroom door - so sad that he can't be in there with her!

 We stopped in at Kohls to do some shopping the other day. Arabella decided that she would rather have her daddy hold her while shopping. She only likes the carseat if she is sleeping. She was making such funny faces.

 

 Here is a picture from right after her shower, a clean little girl! She enjoys the warm water.

 

All that hard work getting clean, wore her out. I think she took a 4 hour nap after that. Always looking cute doing one of her favorite things - sleeping.

 

 

 Mom took a few pictures of the animals while Arabella was taking one of her many naps. 

Georgia is up on the beam - safe from Dakota, and Cali lounging on the chair. 

 

 

 Mom has been doing lots of this since she arrived - holding Arabella - look at that funny face, she is so alert in this one.

 She also likes to sit in her bouncy seat. She will usually like it for 10-30 minutes a day. Dakota wanted to be right with her today, he likes to cuddle to her and  the seat. 

 

 

 Happy in her seat! 

Dakota sitting on the stairs - he always sits like this - it is so funny. 

 

 Well since Mom's been here she's had her hands full. Dakota thinks she should play with him while she is holding Arabella. They have both enjoyed having grandma here and will be sad to see her go. 

Sunny Days!

We have had gorgeous weather over the past week - it is almost like summer. I'm sure glad I don't have to be at school because when you have a nice spring it always sucks to be teaching.. no one wants to be in class. This past weekend we were able to get out into the yard and get some yard work done - Will mostly did the yard work and I sat on the deck with Arabella and we watched him. Although I did get some of my planters planted when she went down for a early evening nap.
Arabella tried out the moby wrap today as well - she loved it! Slept through the entire experience, so that must mean it was good. It was so nice to be able to have her but also have my hands free at the same time. I was able to get a lot more done around the yard and house while wearing her. 

Will was busy planting the Peach trees we got for Arabella. We got 2 of them and wanted to plant them when she was born. They look small now but they are supposed to produce fruit within 2-3 years and we have heard that the peaches are delicious. Not many peaches can grow this far north but this is one of the few varieties that does well here. 

Arabella enjoyed some time in her bouncy chair on the deck while we worked in the yard.

Today I found her sleeping in her crib and I just had to take a picture of her. So cute, she had her hands up behind her head - she looked so relaxed. She does this a lot. 

We finally had to go out and buy her some newborn clothes - everything we had in 0-3 months is so BIG on her. Even the newborn stuff is a little big on her, but she is putting some weight back on. I weighed her today and she was 6.0 lb, so she is almost back up to her birth weight. I'm sure by next week she will have surpassed it.

First Walk

The last few days have been gorgeous here - 70's, sunny and everything is green! Today we were finally able to get out and take advantage of the weather by taking a nice walk. Arabella tried out her new stroller and she slept through most of the ride. 

It was nice to get outside and get some walking in, although I'm tired now!

We had our second DR appt today and we got some good news - her weight has gone back up to 5.12 and her belly rueben (spelling?) levels are down! Yippee! So that means that she is eating well and her jaundice is subsiding. 

Here are a few more pictures of her pooped out and sleeping - after eating a big meal. 

She loves the bobby pillow and usually conks out on it after nursing. You have to watch her through if she is not propped on the pillow because she is always trying to roll onto her side - she would rather be on her side than her back ... 

For this next one I got too close and she heard the camera making noise and opened up and looked at me and seemed to say what are you doing?  Let me sleep momma!

More Pictures of Arabella!

Well I finally got a minute to post a few more pictures of Arabella, they range from Monday morning at the hospital through this afternoon. She is such a cutey and we love her to death!

These first ones are of her first bath before we left the hospital, she didn't like it too much. I think it had to do with the fact that she got woke up to have the bath and then stripped down... it was all rather shocking to her at the time. 

This was her coming home from the hospital outfit - although it was huge! We brought 3 different things and they were all big on her. You can see that the hat does not even form to her little head yet and the sleeves has so much room in them. She still looked cute though. We ended up putting the hat the hospital gave her back on since it fit better and we wanted to keep her head warm.

This is our first night at home - going to bed. You can barely see her curled up next to me in my arms... but Dakota couldn't be left out and after pacing around the bed for a bit he finally jumped up and curled up at my feet. He is so good with her. He is very protective but also keeps a distance so he isn't in her face or too close.

This next one is funny ... you can see how Dakota's head looks about the same size as Arabella is. He is always checking up on her. When we came home today from the DR, he first ran over to her car seat to say hello - totally bypassed Will and I until after he checked in on her. 

This is her curled up after a feeding, she just conked right out on the bobby pillow and me. Its so tiring being a baby!

We had our first DR appt today. She was wide awake and ready to go! The little hat and sweater are part of the set that the Mercy Hospital Knitters gave us. We also have matching booties. It was a rainy day today so perfect weather to wear them out and about. I'll have to take a picture of the little sweater on her (without the seat) so that you can get a better look at it.

This is waiting for her blood test/heal prick. Once again wide awake - even looks a little grumpy although she wasn't - its just the cute little face she makes.

We took this next one so you could see how tiny she is in the car seat. She has lots of room to grow, thats for sure. She lost some weight since birth and came in at 5.7 today. We go back on Friday for another weight check, we're hoping she gains some back over the next few days. She is doing really good at eating now and is becoming a little piggy so hopefully she will gain some weight by then. 

And finally some cuddling time with dad after the exciting day out and about.