More Hannah

I (Nathan) wanted to share a couple more pictures about Hannah with you all. She has been growing like crazy and I can't believe how quickly she is changing. It makes me want to soak up all I can of every moment with her (though a little less so when she is screaming during diaper changes--her least favorite part of the day).

So here are a few things:
This video was taken the day after Hannah was born (Dec. 8th) in the hospital. It isn't spectacular, but it's kind of cute.

Also, when she was just finishing lunch today, her fingers were interlocked together in the cutest way that made her look so solemn. However, by the time I got the camera, she had pulled them apart. So we still took a couple shots. With as fast as they change at this stage, you want to take all the pictures you can:

It's as though she's saying: "You want me to put my fingers back like they were?! That was a complete accident. C'mon Dad--I'm 5 days old!"

I like this one of Rachel holding Hannah, followed by a close up on Hannah's face:

This last one is just before her first car ride ever in her car seat from the hospital to home.

She's so small in that seat! It didn't really feel like she was in there, but I'm sure that will change.

Also, doesn't Rachel look great in this picture?

Kronk and the Intruder

Nathan here: I've had a request or two to know about Kronk's reaction to Hannah coming home. When we first came through the door, he was happy to see the new stuff we brought in because that meant he got to do some exploring. Then he looked inside the car seat. Something was different. Someone was in there--someone little! someone who smelled different. This was not acceptable, but since he knows he isn't in charge, he couldn't do much about it. Kronk has never taken very quickly to newcomers and he never has known how to act around children, but he can usually wait it out. The problem is that this stranger isn't leaving. For a while, Kronk was at DEFCON 3--wary and defensive. His solution? Maintain a safe distance. He rarely gets into his cubby hole except on the coldest nights (even then he usually chooses his hammock) and yet that is where he has spent most of his resting time these last three days. Don't get me wrong, he's acting cool about it (what cat wouldn't), but it is clear that he doesn't know what to do.

He has slowly and cautiously approached Hannah from time to time while she was sleeping and caught a sniff or two. He has calmed down some, but is definitely still on alert--probably still at DEFCON 4. When he gets surprised, he takes off like a shot instead of protesting and eventually getting out of your way--not your typical Kronk behavior.

He has discovered certain benefits to having this stranger here, however. Even though he has much less personal space and he retreats further into it, there are new hiding and resting places to explore and utilize. As you can see, underneath the changing table is an early favorite:

Another is underneath the crib, because it's obscured by the dust ruffle that Rachel's sister kindly gave to Hannah. It reaches to the floor and if you brush close to it every once in a while, you'll feel his paw reaching out to catch you. It's one of his favorite ways to play.

As time has passed, he appears to be adjusting to his demotion rather well. We love him and still give him attention (he is still needy), but he is still unsure of how he is to act. I'm sure that curiosity, and eventually familiarity will win out and he'll become accustomed to having Hannah as a full time roommate soon.

2010 goals -- ACCOMPLISHED!

Rachel here...back and blogging. Thank you Nathan for taking the time and blogging about sweet little Hannah.

At the beginning of the year I had set 2 personal goals:

Goal #1--Read the entire Old Testament cover to cover.
I have studied the Old Testament before, but I have never actually read the entire book. Back in 2006 I had read about two-thirds of the Old Testament, but I never finished and I have always regretted it. This year though I was determined!

Goal #2--Read each monthly issue of the Church's magazine, the Ensign, cover to cover.
My dear friend Cylynn was the inspiration for me on this goal. I have always had a copy of the Ensign in my home and have thumbed through them occasionally, but I have never read each month's issue thoroughly.

I would like to officially announce I have finished my goals! I finished reading the Old Testament on November 3rd, and I just finished reading the December 2010 Ensign this morning!

I must say that completing these goals has made me grow in ways that I could have never imagined. I have noticed more peace and happiness in my life, my home, and those that I have interacted with. Now I just need to come up with my goals for 2011. One of them will probably be to read the New Testament cover to cover, as I have never done that before.

Old Testament picture courtesy of Google images

A Burrito in a Donut

So Hannah has been a pretty good girl today--keeping with her long-standing tradition of crying only when cold, not swaddled, or hungry. We thought we'd take a couple more pictures and share them, though.

She likes to be wrapped up tight in her blankets (what newborn doesn't right?) and so we wanted to be sure that we know how to swaddle them. The nurses showed us and I (Nathan) have been practicing the 'burrito roll' on her. That's one service I can provide--there are some jobs I just don't have the proper tools for.

She also likes to sleep in Rachel's Boppy while swaddled so we have a couple pictures of our little burrito in her donut. I'm including a couple close-ups of her face because I like how cozy she looks when she's wrapped up like that.

On a completely unrelated note, I'm trying to figure something out. We all know and understand that it is not uncommon for expecting mothers to have cravings for food that are not traditionally in their diet, but what about new fathers? I'm wondering if there is some transfer for odd dietary choices from expecting mothers to new fathers. Yesterday for breakfast I wanted Chinese--and got it for dinner. Though that one was rather fortuitous. This evening for dinner I wanted sushi and cheesecake. I don't like sushi. Has this happened to anyone else?

Hannah's Story--by Dad

When Rachel woke up yesterday, she started feeling contractions and began tracking them. By about 7 pm they had progressed and intensified enough that we called the hospital and let them know what was going on. By 9 pm, contractions were intense and every 2-3 minutes. We hurried in.

Here we are just before we left for the hospital.

When we got there, Rachel needed to wait a little longer, so they had us do so. Rachel wasn't the most comfortable, but she bore it well. What she really wanted was an epidural. A few hours and another room later, she was ready for it.

Here she was when she got the news.

At about this same time, Rachel was dilating quickly and the new room we were in transformed like an Autobot confronting a Decepticon. Some of the gadgets that came to the fore were pretty cool.

Here are some of the cooler gadgets and funnier items of notice:

Left to Right: Welcome board, the contraction/baby pulse/mommy pulse tracker, and the (small) fry warmer.

Upon entering the world, Hannah immediately began to express her discontent with her arrival in such an unwelcoming place.

She expressed outrage,

boredom,

and contempt,

(Yes that is poop--her first poop as a matter of fact, but what else can you really do to express contempt when you're less than two hours old?)

While the service in this newer establishment was not up to her discerning tastes, she was persuaded to stay once she had the opportunity to eat and warm up in peace. Once this occurred, she calmed right down and rested. She has been a good child so far and has had quite a day. So far, she has:

• Charmed her parents without even trying
• Had several meals (She wasted no time on this one. It was like a barnacle to a whale--she knew what she wanted and how to get it.)
• Pooped a lot (dad being the primary target)
• Had her first diaper changes
• Had her first bath
• Slept a lot
• Learned that she likes to be swaddled and warm
• Been a real sweetheart and a very good baby
• Told us when she was hungry or cold
• Sucked her pacifier, thumb, finger, side of her hand, and the nurses finger
• Entertained multiple guests

Here are some more shots we took today for your perusal and for the sake of embarrassing her when she brings home that first date in approximately 16 years.

Rachel, Hannah and Hannah's first nurse, Laura (who

was wonderful, by the way) holding her first footprint.

Hannah with her first pediatrician:

Hannah resting in Mom's arms while the two of them

enjoy a little quiet time together (Rachel was a real trooper, by the way):

Hannah and Dad exploring the new, although temporary digs.

Rachel reading while Hannah had one of her meals, or as we like to call it: The Feed n' Read

Dinner.

The happy family.

The happy family 70's style.

Funny story. Because the hospital will provide food for mothers, but not fathers, I called a good friend of mine who knew my favorite Chinese restaurant in the area and he was kind enough to bring me something so that I could have dinner as well (thanks Dan!). He also happened to bring a couple fortune cookies for us. When I opened and ate my fortune cookie (I kid you not), this is what it said:

All in all, it has been an exhausting, but wonderful day. In the quiet moments, I have reflected on the wonder and surreality of it all and felt a great love in my heart. I could not ask for a better fortune than the one given me at random from a Chinese restaurant. I look forward to the journey. Welcome to the world, Hannah. I love you.

Labor & Delivery

Not much else to say but the title... It's 10:45 PM CST and it doesn't look like this pregnancy is going to have any false starts. We'll keep you posted with news and pix as they come.

P.S. Regarding contractions: Rachel is "not a fan"

Last day of work

Yesterday was my last day of work!

It was a very strange experience. I've been doing dental assisting for 14 years and now it's on to a new job that will last a lifetime -- motherhood!

I did some number crunching the other day at the office for my time I spent working here in Iowa. Here is what I came up with (within the last 4 years):

I have worked over 7,300 hours
I have taken over 1,200 impressions

I have done over 1,100 study models

And I've probably done over 13,000 procedures in the last 4 years (over 1,000 of those procedures were working on new patients within the last 2 years)

I wish there was a way that I could calculate how many hours, impressions, models, and patients I've worked on during my entire 14 years of dental assisting. I wonder how big those numbers would be.