Carli's First Christmas

This was our favorite Christmas present this year. Yeah, she came a month early, but I guess we must have been extra good this year. It was fun to have her here for Christmas.

Of course, she could've cared less that it was a holiday, but she did start to smile consistently yesterday, so maybe she did know. . . Anyway, it was a relaxing day with Logan and Carli. We opened presents, ate a big breakfast (thanks to my wonderful husband), watched movies, took a ride in the country, talked with family, and ate dinner with friends. We had our traditional fondue on Christmas Eve and a ride through a light festival. All in all it was a great Christmas, although we missed our families very much. We hope you all had a happy holiday and that you are looking forward to the new year!

Merry Christmas??

This picture perfectly demonstrates trying to take a family picture with a newborn. Here's our little family for you - baby crying, Mom trying to figure out why, and Dad smling through it all. We're excited to spend our first Christmas as the Logan Cowan clan, but we certainly miss being with our families. Hopefully it goes better than this picture.

We finally got her hooked!

We debated whether or not to use a binki, especially since she seemed to have trouble catching on to it and then had a little confusion when she would eat afterward. Over the past week I have been pretty concerned about Carli because she was having bouts of projectile vomiting - it's pretty scary to see that much come out of your 3 week old with such force. I took her to the doctor last week, who recommended a few things, including a perscription for reflux. We were both a little concerned about Pyloric Stenosis which would mean surgery. Anyway, I'm pretty sure now that it is none of those things, just a mother who can't read her little one's signals. I kept thinking she was still hungry at night when she would continue to root, even after I fed her. So, night after night I kept overfeeding her and she would throw it all up. So, we are thrilled now that she likes the binki because it has solved the vomiting problem. We are just crossing our fingers that she doesn't become dependent on it. Isn't she a little angel? She still can't stand her hands being anywhere but by her face - just like in her ultrasounds.

A few more pictures (mostly for the grandmas)

I was so excited when Carli's cord finally fell off because we could finally bathe her! This is just after the bath. She seemed to like it - at least she didn't complain. She rarely does when the space heater is on. We got the space heater right when we got home from the hospital for baths and such. She used to hate getting her diaper changed or getting undressed, but now she acts like she's on a Caribbean Cruise. She stretches out in front of the heater as far as she can and looks around calmly like she owns the place. I guess she pretty much does.

Here she is with her daddy. She certainly loves to cuddle him. Not only that but he is the only one to have gotten a big gummy grin from her. I just love seeing this little dark head of hair next to this handsome face! How lucky am I?!

Welcome to Wisconsin

Some of you may remember the picture we posted when we were trying to decide whether to take the job here. (Statue of Liberty moved to Madison)

Well, we are seeing it come true. It has snowed well over 2 feet in the last week and a half, probably 6 days out of the last 10. This is what it looks like out our front window.

We finally got Nelly started, thank goodness. It was frozen condensation somewhere in the gas line. I think we'd all do better driving around in sleighs though. I admit, it is pretty, but there are at least 3 cars a day that get stuck on the street and need help getting dug out and pushed. It would be fun to go out and play in it, especially since whatever fort or snowman we made would last forever since the highest the temperature has been is just under freezing, warm enough for it to snow, then it drops back down to the teens. All this may sound like I'm complaining, but really I'm not. It's kind of fun for now, I have never experienced a winter like this. I only worry about Logan driving to and from work. Otherwise I have the most beautiful view inside. . .

Happy winter to all of you!

Update

This shirt ain't lyin' when it calls her "Sweetie". What a cute girl! We feel so blessed and a little lucky to have such a calm, sweet, happy girl in our house. And beautiful to boot! Things around here are great. I have spent the week getting used to being a mommy and have loved it. Carli is doing well and spoiling her parents with great sleep, surprisingly enough. I took her to the doctor on Tuesday and she had gained 12 ounces in 5 days - more than twice what the doctor hoped for with an ounce a day. He was thrilled and a little shocked. I wondered if he'd ever seen a baby grow that quickly from his reaction. What can I say, she likes to eat. Who doesn't? Anyway, I am starting to get a little antsy to show her off, but since it snowed 8 inches last Saturday, another several inches on Tuesday, and then several more on Thursday, and it's in the teens for a high, I'm a little worried about taking her out. Especially with all of the sickies at this time of year. I guess everyone out there will have to be deprived for a little longer. Other than that, Nelly the Neon is on strike against this cold weather - she won't even take a charge from jumping her. So, tomorrow Logan will become a mechanic for a day and change the battery. And this is only the beginning. You may not want to ask me about it come April. And seeing as we've moved to one of the "greenest" states ever, we don't get the privilege of salt on the roads since they're worried about salination of the lakes. Since when have the lakes mattered more than people's lives on the road? Oh well, maybe we can all cross-country ski to work. Anyway, life is good from inside our warm apartment. We'll keep you posted on our adventures with Carli.