Six Week Breakthroughs!

Baby Rachel is now 7 weeks old. We had a few breakthroughs during week 6. She is now sleeping through the night, smiling, and having conversations with herself (cooing)! We also got her little corner-of-the-room set up with her crib, cute bedding, dresser and some photos. A big "thanks" to the Reichman family for passing down Nathan's crib and dresser to Rachel. And a shout-out to fab photographer, Colleen Hayes, for beautiful "parts of Rachel" gift that brought me to tears.

The little one is now the chunky one....fat folds everywhere...arms, legs, neck; milk gut. I'm guessing she weighs about 12 pounds now. She is the spit-up queen, but something must be staying down as she has grown so much.

Rachel slept through another swim meet. Madi took 1st place in back- & breaststroke and Julia won the breaststroke this weekend at Las Sendas Club. I'm posting a few photos and a video from a few weeks ago. Madison also attended Valley Christian HS's basketball camp last week. They worked them hard for 4 hours each day; Madi earned Outstanding Camper-runner up and best 3 on 3 player honors.

AH! The Spa

Grandma Diane and I gave the girls a mini spa day this week to ease the effects of constant exposure to chlorine. They enjoyed manicures, pedicures, salt scrubs, avacado masks, and hair conditioning. And don't forget the virgin mimosas!

First Swim Meet of '09

Madison & Julia have been attending swim team practice for about a week and half now. So far, no one has complained about having to get up early during summer break. Today was their first swim meet at the Lakes. Each competed in all 4 strokes. Julia earned 3 first place ribbons & 1 third. Madi fought the bigger kids for 2 seconds, 1 third, and a fourth place ribbon. We are so proud of the girls' hard work in the pool!

Baby Rachel: new pics

Rachel seems to be hungry all the time. She weighed 10 lbs at her 1-month check up & is getting quite chunky. In the last few days she's started "making conversation" and has become more alert, focused on objects with her eyes, and even cracked a slight smile. She's just short of perfect as I'm still waiting for her to skip that 3a.m. feeding. Enjoy some new photos.

Last day of school Backyard Bash

Despite having a new baby in the house, we hosted the 4th Annual Backyard Bash on the last day of school.

We had about 32 kids in the pool & on the trampoline. Six hours later, the sleepover commenced. Yes, we are nuts!

Rachel is 2 weeks old

Eat, poop, sleep, cry...
Eat, poop, sleep, cry...
Eat, poop, sleep, cry...
Eat, poop, sleep, cry...
Eat, poop, sleep, cry...

She's here a bit early--Rachel Taylor Reddie arrives 4/30/2009 @ 4:32p.m.

I was hoping she'd come on the weekend. I still had one more of day of work & organization to get done. But I awoke early on Thursday to get some laundry & email done only to have my water break while getting dressed. We were at the hospital by 7:30a.m. Once we got out of triage and into a labor-and-delivery room the Pitocin drip was started to get the labor contractions going. Things progressed slowly until Dr. Alperin ordered the Pitocin up'd. Contractions got stronger & within 2 minutes of each other. Picture this, I'm on my side gripping the bed rail to work through the pain of each contraction while Mark is in the lazy boy chair reading a magazine. Time for the epidural prince to come in; had a great anaesthesiologist & relief was on the way. Before we knew it, I checked out at 9.5cm dilated--it's time. Dr. Alperin had Mark glove, gown & bootie up to help with the delivery. We were lucky to have a student nurse in the room whom I enlisted as the official photographer. At 4:32p.m. she arrived with a good cry, a near-perfect APGAR score, lots of dark hair, and long arms & fingers. Rachel Taylor Reddie, 7lbs 11oz, 21 inches long. She began nursing within the hour of her birth & is now an efficient eating and pooping machine.

Her big sisters love to hold her and are learning how to bathe and diaper her. They are so proud of her and marvel at the whole miracle of it all. Graycie, the dog, has sniffed her a few times, but seems generally uninterested.

Rachel woke up happy this morning, just flailing her long arms and making noises in her bassinet. We are so lucky to have a healthy baby girl!