When preparing for Lucy’s arrival we did TONS of research on baby gear. Whats the best carseat, stroller, crib, etc. For the most part we think we did a pretty darn good job. Well…almost. While we love our Chicco stroller the thing is HUGE! I takes up our entire trunk when we go anywhere and is very cumbersome at best. So, tomorrow is shop for a smaller stroller day!

Lets be honest I love shopping…for anything really, but our need for new gear since Lucy was born has been nuts! Because she was a preemie she needed different and more specialized things than a normal term baby needed. So, for example, she doesn’t just have a crib. She has a crib, a bassinet, and a rock n’ play. Anything to help her be somewhat comfortable with her horrible reflux.

I can’t say we are super stoked to get another stroller (yes I am really, but I feel like I should act somewhat remorseful for a bad stroller purchase to make Josh happy ) but at last we are coming up on spring and summer and after a whole winter and fall of being shut up in the house due to the cold, mommy needs to get out!! And in order to get out we need a stroller that can fit in the car along with…well…anything else really.

So, wish us luck! I’m hoping for either the Maclaren or the Uppababy but we shall see. I will post pics when we decide!

Today I made Lucy’s appointment for her 6 month pictures.  I can’t believe that next week my 4lb 1oz preemie will be 6 months old!

Two days before she was born I was already hospitalized with the doctors telling me that my body was attacking me and the baby and that it simply wasn’t safe to carry her to term.  With that I was told to finish my sandwich, pack my stuff and get ready because I was headed down to L&D in about 20 minutes to be induced.  Before the extreme fear could even set in I was told by another nurse that a neonatologist would be in to talk to me about what would happen when the baby was born.  I had so many questions… Would she go to the NICU?  Would she get to stay with me?  Would it be a natural birth or a C-section?  Will she be ok?  Will she look funny from not being able to form fully? Will she even be able cry when she is born?  Can she breathe?

I tried to calm myself down telling myself that I was being dramatic, but frankly I wasn’t.  All of these questions I had were actual concerns and sadly they weren’t questions I was going to get answers to.  And wouldn’t get an answer to until more than 48 hours later when she was born.

My amazing baby girl was born crying and breathing at 11:20pm on August 18th.  There is nothing better than that little cry.  A sort of proof of being ok.

She did have a fight though.  Her lungs weren’t fully developed and a breathing tube had to go in, followed by a c-pap, and 15 days of IV’s, blood draws, blown out veins, and several days of a new mommy not being able to hold her daughter.  However in a fashion true to who she is, she fought everything!  Pulled her tubes when she was done and gave the proverbial finger to everything they said should would have difficulty with.

So, here we are about one week shy of her six month birthday.  My 4lb 1 oz baby girl is now pushing around 15lbs (actual weight to come next week after her doc appointment).  She giggles, and smiles uncontrollably at the sight of her daddy, she stands holding onto only fingers, she loves her jungleroo and of course the puppies.  I am so so so proud of my little fighter!

Almost 6 months later!

Just a few hours old.

Tonight I was reading another moms blog and thinking “I should do that”.  Then I remembered that I do that already and that maybe I should get on that. So, here we are!