Hanging out in Blackfoot in July

So while we were home in July we spent some time with Chad's family.  It was so nice to see everyone again...and if was fun to be able to show everyone Kherrington!  Some of our favorite things to watch was Carlos' girls fighting over who got to hold her.  I'm sure she felt loved.
So here is a slide show of pictures of everyone holding Little Miss Kherrington!

Here's a video of Lillian and Kherrington.


Here's a video clip of her trying out the swing.  It's kind of long, so beware.

Kherrington's 2 month Check-Up- Sept 3

So today has been a very busy day.  It's started off with Kherrington and I going with Chad to school so we could watch him give his Senior Paper Presentation.  He did such a great job!! He did his paper on CEM or Contagious Equine Metritis.  It's a venereal disease of horses, that was thought to be eradicated at one point, but has a current outbreak in the US.  I've come to learn a lot through this study about the subject, but was totally amazed and how well he presented the subject and made it move so smoothly!!  Way to go Chad.  One major thing down and now it's bring on the boards!!
Then shortly after that, Kherrington and I got to go for a check-up with Dr. Adkins.  Kherrington passed with flying colors.  The doctor is so pleased with her growth and she dramatically is climbing on the percentile charts and catching up with the majority of other infants her age, even though the doctor's haven't really ever been worried about her!!

So here's her stats:

Ht: 23 inches (68%)

Wt: 10 lbs 12 oz (47%)

Head Circumference: 42 inches (42%)

Dr. Adkins was nice enough to find out the exact percentile for me this time, so I didn't have to eyeball it off the graphs they give us each visit. Now the sad thing is that I knew going in today that she would be getting her vaccinations.  So I was a little apprehensive, cause I just didn't know how'd she'd react. And of course she cried, which made me tear up.  (I'm still blaming it on my hormones!!) I just have to keep remembering that it's important that she has them to prevent future suffering, or to relate to Chad's presentation today, to keep those diseases eradicated from the US.  But as soon as I picked her up she quieted right down and the nurse was so surprised!  "Oh wow, is that it?" she asked.  So apparently she did amazingly well, which I'm not surprised, cause she really has been such a good baby! I know that was a great reaction too, cause I heard a baby next door for a while before the Dr. came in and the nurse explained they had lots of vaccinations to do today. We're so blessed to have her!

Just this last week Kherrington has started sleeping through the night.  She sleeps between 8-10 hrs each night now!!  Which has been wonderful!!  I've finally stopped pumping in the middle of the night since I have a freezer full of milk!! So now I'm feeling great with the less interrupted sleep!!

Also when I go to get her out of her crib in the morning she is usually any which way, but the direction I placed her in the crib.  (Sorry for the horrible picture.  It was taken on my iphone in the dark.)
So I know now that I can't leave her alone anywhere without being totally braced in, and I know that won't last long either.  Wow! She's just grown so fast and I can't believe how the time has flown.
So tomorrow marks my first day back to work.  I only have an 8 hr day, cause we have to get ready to fly to Idaho Falls on Saturday for Chad's nephew, Marcus' wedding!!. Yeah, but BOO HOO for going back to work.  That is the other reason I'm going to use to explain the tears at the Dr's office today!!

Kherrington's 1 month check-up- Aug 4th

So on Kherrington's 1 month check-up she was doing great. Dr. Adkins had no concerns and informed that most of what Kherrington had on her face was the baby acne, but that the redness to her ears and on her eyebrows was probably cradle cap, and that it's go away when her skin starts producing the right amounts of oils. Nothing I can do to help that. So shes doing really good.Dr. Adkins asked if she was sleeping through the night, but with all the traveling she's done I felt really good about the 5 hour and then a 4 hour stretch that she'd been sleeping pretty consistently from the 2nd night home. There have been a few nights were she ate every 3 hrs, but still has done wonderful. She's getting stronger through her neck and still like to try holding her head up whenever she's laying on your shoulder. She's also making cooing sounds, which are fun to hear!!

Here's her Stats:

Ht:20 1/2 inches (25%)

Wt: 8 lbs 1.8 oz (about 20%)

Head Circumference: 14 1/2 inches (almost 50%)

Getting to know me, getting to know all about me

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Being with my new little family relaxing or playing. 

What is your greatest fear?

Losing someone i love.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

That i overbook myself, and then neglect myself and my family.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Inconsideration...I wish all people could at least try to see how they effect others and their lives.

Which living person do you most admire?

I have several family members that I look up to a lot!!  But I can't pick which one I admire the most!

 What is your greatest extravagance?

Crafting and stamping.  OH BOY!! Why remind me.
What is your current state of mind?

Feeling absolutely great!!  How can I not be when I get to be home with my little girl. Not to mention she is so good and sweet and I love her smile.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? 

Success in worldly terms.  There are much more admirable things in this world that are never even mentioned in the news and media.
On what occasion do you lie?

It is a rare occasion that i lie, but usually it's to spare someone's feelings when something isn't important that they know.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?

My darn stomach. Amen Ashley  That's was pregnancy is all about huh!!
Which living person do you most despise?

I don't despise anyone.  That seems like such a strong emotion.  I guess I do feel strongly about people who abuse people, children and family.

 What is the quality you most like in a man?

Spiritual strength.  Something that I didn't know how much I loved, until I met Chad. 

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

I'm leaving Ashley's answer below, cause I totally agree.  The most amazing thing ever!! 

Women who are genuine. Women who also have a quiet confidence. When i say "quiet confidence", it means that they are confident in who they are(which is obvious to the people around them),

that they don't have to brag about who they are or what they have, don't have to put others down to make themselves feel better about who they are, they aren't ignorant and don't have a big head. They treat everyone with love and kindness. Don't judge others based on looks or hearsay. Sweet.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse? 

Oh my heavens! and Awesome!

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My husband
When and where were you happiest?

Right now in my life! I get to be a mom to the sweetest little girl and a wife to amazing man and support him as he completes his dream of becoming a Veterinarian!!  May 2010 Here we come!!
Which talent would you most like to have?

I love the ones that I've been given, but I wish I could sing better, and write better. Which comes very apparent as I tried to help Chad with his Senior paper this month. Oh boy!!
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I wish I could budget better and never give into splurges that I do..
What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Being a wife, a mom, and a nurse.
Where would you most like to live? 

I would love to move back to SE Idaho, where I grew up.  More specifically if I could live in Coltman area, which is my home stake area.  I would be in HEAVEN!!
What is your most treasured possession?

My family.

 What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Having to bury a child...losing someone really close to you.
What is your favorite occupation?

Being a mom and a nurse.
What is your most marked characteristic?

I have no idea, but maybe being friendly?
What do you most value in your friends?

The way they make me laugh and feel!  Man so many people that I miss.
Who are your favorite writers?

I have too many, but I really like Anita Stansfield and Jennie Hansen,
Who are your heroes in real life?

My husband. My Parents.
What are your favorite names?

Obvious I like the name Kherrington, and the others that we have picked out for future children, so stay tuned to find out what they are
What is it that you most dislike?

stressful/agressive people.  They don't realize how they effect others.

 What is your greatest regret?

I can't say i regret anything right now. It all happened for a reason, OR it is b/c of my experiences that has turned me into who i am today. I agree here too.
 How would you like to die?

in my sleep please

What is your motto?

Bloom where your planted.

I want to tag Jen B., Camille S., Mariam K.

Thanks Ashley for the opportunity to really think about some of these!!

Wrigley Reunion July 16-19

So this year the Wrigley reunion was held at Reunion Flats in the Grand Tetons(Just past Driggs WY). Kherrington and I went with my parent's and brother Ryan and met at Derek's to finish loading some some bikes in the trailer. We got up there on Thursday July 16th late afternoon/evening and we were assigned dinner that night. So we got to getting dinner ready right away. Spaghetti and garlic french bread. Yum!!

So afterward we set up our camp sites. Kherrington and I were camping in my parent's utility trailer. I had brought our double decker twin air mattress and then my parent's pack and play. Mom even set up a lawn chair in the corner so I could use it to breast feed at night. We used a propane lantern to help heat up the place and light up the trailer while I was breastfeeding. It worked pretty great. Kherrington did pretty good, besides wanting to eat every 3-4 hours, she did awesome! She kept warm with the pajama sleeper we had her in and an afghan that I received from a co-worker. She has this nasty habit of struggling until her hands are free from her swaddling, so she had some cold little hands at times when we got up to feed. Kherrington didn't have too hard of a time warming them up by placing them on the bare portions of skin. BURRR it was cold when you're not wrapped up. Grandpa Joos had a great idea of putting warm water in a plastic bottle and we wrapped it and placed it in the bassinet with her. It was AWESOME, it was like having a heater in the bed with her. Thanks Dad!!

Kherrington had lots of offers to hold her. Some of the most persistent ones were, Halle, Kaia, Cassidy, Breanna, and Aunt Mel. Here's a picture of Halle taking her turn.

When someone wasn't holding her and between feedings we'd let her rest in her car seat that was padded with a blanket. It got pretty warm during the day, but as long as we stayed under the shade of the huge pine trees we stayed pretty comfortable. At least I was comfortable, but this is how Kherrington would work her way into laying almost every time she was down.
I have no idea how that is anyway comfortable, but it may explain how she was in my belly...head down in my pelvis with those feet up kicking my ribs on the right side and that little bum on left side of my tummy!! That really was how she was most of the pregnancy.

Aunt Edith had many fun activities planned, most of which Kherrington and I didn't participate in, cause of the proximity of the birth. On Friday, the majority of the camp hiked to Table Rock. One thing is that I'm not hiker, let alone still taking Tylenol and ibuprofen around the clock for pain control, which pretty much did the job. But Dad, Ryan, Derek, and Brittney went from our family. Way to go! Something I'll probably never do, but I admire those that can and do enjoy it.

That afternoon Edith had the beaded watch bands craft that are so popular right now. I didn't have a need of another watch and so I didn't make one, but I wish I had watched more carefully so I could make one later, maybe for gifts. She had very beautiful beads and such an assortment!! That evening we had a program and games about the Independence of the USA. We had a trivia game and Uncle Mark talked about the importance of our freedom and the appreciation we should all have for those who have and do serve our country to keep us free. It was a neat evening and I learned a lot of facts I didn't know about past presidents and our country.

On Saturday it was Luau day. In the afternoon we did our first annual duck race and Kherrington's duck won a prize. So here's a picture of her at my parent's home in her froggie jammies in her froggie chair "that she'll grow into." Isn't she cute! I just love it.

After the duck race, we got into teams and we had to decide who from our team would do a hula hoop contest, limbo contest. These both needed 2 people. Also 3 people to do the balloon toss, 1 to toss balloons and 2 to catch with a towel. They also had one that was for a man to do, but was left a mystery what they would have to do. On my team was Uncle Tom, Uncle Larry, Cousin Natalie and Lacey, Lacey's little girl Amy, and Jack (Tiffany's 3rd child). So I got to do the Limbo and was supposed to be one of the 3 for the balloon toss.

I thought at first that I'd only be doing the balloon toss. Well I got 2nd place in the Limbo, came in right after Aspen. Who knew that a newly post pregnant lady could do so well at Limbo, with a rear ender that is tender, a chest bigger than it's ever been (therefore much more top heavy than I'm used to). It was crazy! But I was glad to contribute a few points for our team. Then Kherrington got a crying shortly there afterwards and needed to be fed, so Natalie stepped in and did the balloon toss for me. They did really great. Here's a picture of the kids sitting in the grass just awaiting the next event.

We concluded with the finale' of the men's competition. So the men had to dress up in a grass skirt and coconut shells and strut their stuff on the picnic tables you see in the picture above. It was the cat walk. It was voted by the cheering by the crowd. It was so funny. All my mom and I could think was, "I'm so glad that Chad wasn't here, wouldn't he just die if he was chosen to do this!!!" Even though I missed Chad terribly, at least I got to talk to him on the phone, cause we had cell phone coverage!! Oh YEAH!! But it also gave me a chance to care for Kherrington almost all by myself. My parent's were busy helping watch the rest of the grand kids, so on occasion they'd come take her, or someone else would hold her, but I did most of it. It was nice way to start transitioning into the days that I knew would be coming later.
After that evenings meal we went home to get ready for the Sabbath and ther responsiblities that they had at church. Some of the rest stayed the night and left the following morning. We just never seem to get enough time. I could have stayed for days more, despite the freezing cold mid night feedings.

Kherrington 2 week check-up- July 13th

Dr. Adkins was out of the office for vacation right before we were scheduled to leave for Idaho, so we went and saw Olivia Ullrich NP. She was way nice and Kherrington "seems to be great".

Olivia told me about an experience that she had a new mother that I found so funny. But she was freaking out because she went to breast pump and her milk came out green tinged. (I probably would do the same thing). Turns out the peas she ate the day before, the pigment is transfered through breastmilk thus the greenish tint!! FUNNY HUH. I would never had thought. She was just explaining that if we had any questions to feel free to call the office.

Here's her stats:

Ht: 19 1/2 inches (50%)

Wt:6 lbs 8.4 oz (about 20%)

Head Circumference: 14 inches (about 60 %)

Kherrington's 5 day Follow-up July 6th

So Dr. Adkins is Kherrington's Doctor. We have been so happy with him. He's been great from the get go. Kherrington had a small heart murmur that was heard the morning of the 2nd. It was kind of neat to hear, and I knew that it's not that abnormal to hear right after birth. Later on that day Dr. Adkins stopped in again and the murmur was still there, but "seems higher pitched". So he explained that it probably meant that it was closing up. That was nice to hear. And the greatest news, was that it was gone by the morning of the 3rd. Yeah.

So Dr. Adkins fit us in for Kherrington's first appointment during his lunch break on Monday the 6th. Here were her stats:

Ht: 19 1/2 inches (50th Percentile)

Wt:6 lbs 5.4 oz (10th Percentile)

Head Circumference: 14 inches (about 60th Percentile)

He was just happy with her progress and that she didn't loose much weight since her birth. WAY TO GO KHERRINTON!!!

Something I also found funny was that with the printed information that Dr. Adkins gave me, there was some information that said, "Camping and crowds should probably be avoided during your baby's first month of life. Also, during your baby's first year of life try to avoide close contact with people who have infectious illnesses."

OOPS she went camping 2 times by one month of age and was around all the family. Does that count as a crowd???

My first weeks at home.

So here's a few pictures from my first weeks at home!!

ROAD TRIP

So my mom was so nice and came to stay with us on the 4th of July. Her help was great. She really made it so Chad and I could enjoy the time with Kherrington and me to recover. Thanks MOM!!

My parents were also nice enough to help me get to go to the Wrigley Reunion(Mom's family). The Wrigley Reunion has always been the highlight of my summer ever since I can remember. So naturally I was really bummed out when I found out Chad's rotation was going through the weekend that it was scheduled. The thought of sitting at home, while Chad was at school, while the reunion was going on just killed me. So my mom came on the 4th of July to stay with us and then we (Mom, Kherrington, and I) drove to Idaho for the reunion. The sad part is that Chad was left here all alone.

I always think it'll be a great plan to go back home, but when it comes down to it, I hate leaving Chad. I was a wreck the entire day before we left. I just cried that night as we sat on the couch together!! I blame it on the hormones that hadn't straightened out yet; In reality though, it's just me. So on July 14th, Our 3rd Anniversary, we said good-bye to Chad and hit the road to Idaho. How mean of me!!

Kherrington did really well with the car ride though. She would sleep once we got going about 35 mph or higher and then would wake up as we stopped to get gas and eat, then I would feed her while my mom ate. Then my mom would drive while I ate and took a nap and then we'd switch and start over. So the normal 9 hour drive took us about 11 hours total, but I can't complain because she slept the entire way.

Kherrington in her car seat. This picture is actually from her first time in the car seat

coming home from the hospital.

The only problem with that is then she wanted to wake up every 3 hours during the night to eat that night. I know, I know, most moms out there are saying 3 hour increments at night is wonderful for a newborn. But Kherrington was sleeping 4-5 hours at night from the 2nd night at home. So the majority of the nights, I'd feed late around 11 and only have had to get up once during the night and get up around 6-7 am for another feeding. (The really nice thing is that my mom would wake up around that time and then took Kherrington after I fed her and then I got to sleep for a few more hours too.)

Kherrington then was kind of cranky the entire next day after our drive, not the easy going, happy, pleasant baby we'd know for the weeks before. Just in time for Janet (Chad's mom) and some of his niece's to see her be fussy.

With this fussiness came plenty of opportunity to hold her, and my youngest brother Ryan took full advantage. She got so she was very comfortable with him and I'd come in the living room and find something similar to the picture below!!

Or I'd find her in Mom and Dad's room with Ryan while he watched TV and was playing around on his computer. It was very nice to have others that she felt comfortable with and gave me a break on occasion when I need to get something done

Joys of Breastfeeding

So there are many things I didn't expect about becoming a new mom. I always heard about the sleepless nights, changing the millions of diapers, and I also heard about the joys of breast feeding, but not quite everything. (By now, you must realize that some people might not want to continue reading this!)

I got in on some of those really fun things I had heard about. Cracking, bleeding, and pain that "makes your toes curl" as my old boss Lesli stated. But the thing I was most surprised about was what let down felt like. I kept having what I thought was an abnormal sensation as I'd walk around the house. I couldn't figure out what it was, and I kept grabbing my chest. When this happened once and my Mom was right there to watch me do this, I finally told my mom, "I keep feeling like someone is hooking my chest up to jumper cables." Now all be it, that it's a slight exaggeration, I literally felt like someone was sending electrical current through me. Man what a great sensation! Thank heavens for Moms, she pointed out that it was probably my milk letting down.

NOT AT ALL what I had IMAGINED. So you soon to be new mothers out there, be aware or beware, how ever you see it, that it could happen to you and it doesn't necessarily coincide with a crying baby (all though it does usually happen then too)!!