11 Weeks Old

Eva had a visit with the doctor today and she's just over 10 pounds!  She's still 30th percentile for weight, but she's right on track and 23 inches long and 50th percentile for height.  Head circumference is also right at 50th percentile. 

She's changing every day it seems.  She smiles at us and is beginning to laugh.  She holds her head up pretty well and she loves to watch her Winnie the Pooh mobile spin around and around.  She's giving us some baby talk (my favorite!) and she's giving me one 5-6 hour stretch a night on most nights (my other favorite!) 

Its hard to believe that this time last year she didn't quite exist yet!  We are all so glad that she is here and growing and thriving.  She and Oliver have a budding relationship and it is so fun to watch them interact with each other.


Here is a picture of Eva Jane with her Great Grandmother, Eva Weintraut :)

6 Weeks

We took Eva in for her 1 month visit on Friday and she is up to 8 pounds 8.5 ounces!  She's in the 25 percentile for weight and still tiny, but she's gaining well and the doctor was impressed :)  She's 21.5 inches long now and 50 percentile there.  She's long and lean!  Just like Oliver was when he was her age, she gets very gassy and uncomfortable when I eat certain things.  The difference is that this time I've been able to nail down what seems to be bothering her for the most part.  I have had to cut out ALL dairy in my diet, which has not been easy.  I can't even use Lactaid, apparently.  I am now using Almond Milk and have sworn off all types of cheese, ice cream and any other foods with dairy as a main ingredient.  I've been told that her digestive tract should mature in a few months and I'll be able to add these items back into my diet.  I guess if nothing else, maybe it'll help me shed these extra 15 pounds that I'm still carrying around!

Below is a link to the photo shoot we had done when Eva was just 10 days old.  The password to view them is "blue".  Enjoy!

http://kfearlessphotography.zenfolio.com/p45401173

Almost 3 Weeks

I thought I'd post a quick update while everyone is asleep this rainy morning.  You might ask why I'm not sleeping.  Aside from the fact that as soon as my head hits the pillow, this baby girl will wake up hungry (happens everytime!) Brian was a saint yesterday and took over kid duties so that I could sleep in late and then hung out with Eva every time she woke last night (aside from feedings).  So, I actually feel pretty rested!  Since he works tonight, it actually works out for him to stay up late the night before and then sleep most of the day before his shift.  He works 12-hour shifts overnight, so during his "work weeks"  we don't see much of him.  Luckily, he is only scheduled to work two or three days in a row at a time.  I guess what I'm getting at here is that we are adjusting fairly well to his new job and our new family of four! 

I've been getting out to run errands with both kids, we've been seeing friends and going on walks and trips to the pool.  Yesterday we were super ambitious and went on a long walk at the park while Oliver rode his big wheel, took him swimming at the pool AND drove down to Denver to have dinner at a friend's house.  I was really feeling the need to get out of the house and out of town for just a few hours :)  It felt great and I feel like I'm joining the human race again.  Pregnancy seriously just puts me in this depressive hibernation mode and I am super glad its over!

Things are going so well that sometimes it freaks me out a little bit!  Like, how can I deserve this awesome little family?  Also, Brian's new job is a dream come true and things finally seem to be falling into place for us.  I'm working on not thinking about it all too much and just trying to enjoy these moments because if there is one thing I know about life it is that it is forever changing.  For now, I will just take it all in :)

She is Here!!!

Eva Jane Cobabe arrived May 18th, 2012 at 6:30am!!  She was 17 days early, 6 pounds 12 ounces and 19.5 inches long. 

I started having semi regular contractions at about 4:30pm on the 17th and since I knew that the dilation process was already well on its way, we decided to head to the hospital with packed bags.  We brought Oliver along at first just until we were sure that we would be admitted.  Our good friends, Adam and Amy picked him up for us and took him home to stay the night.  I was very relieved to know that he was in good hands and having a fantastic sleepover with their 3-year old son and Oliver's BFF, Owen :)

I'll try to be as non-graphic as possible while giving details here, so if you are not sure maybe skip this paragraph!  I was dilated to about a 4 or 5 at check in and about 70% effaced.  My contractions never really became painful and I was told that it could be because my water still hadn't broken.  We spent the next 4 hours or so dilated to about a 5 or 6, 90% effaced and no water breakage!  I tried walking and bouncing on the birthing ball, but still no change.  We decided that the doctor would break my water for me to get things moving and I asked to be hooked up to the epidural before he did that since I know that's when things started to become painful during my labor with Oliver.  Getting hooked up to a spinal tap while I'm still feeling virtually zero pain was a MUCH different experience!  That part did kind of hurt!  The doctor came in a little while later and broke my water.  We played a waiting game for a few more hours and then suddenly I DID start to feel some painful contractions.  I called for the nurse and she informed me that we were ready to go!  The delivery crew came in the room and I began pushing.  A whole 16 minutes later, Eva was born!!  She went a whole lot easier on me than her brother did and I'm already feeling really great.  No pain medication needed during this recovery! 

She's feeding very well and last night she let me get some great sleep in.  She woke for several feedings, but went right back to sleep in her bassinet :)  I'm hoping this means that she'll be an easy baby like her older brother, but only time will tell!  All the nurses commented on how mellow she is and I have yet to think differently!  Oliver seems to be adjusting to little sister just fine and asks to hold her and gives her toys.  My mother and step father are in town and are keeping him busy for us and wearing him out nicely :)  Thursday will be my first day "on the job" if you will because Brian goes back to work and my parents fly back home to Arizona.  I'll let you know how I manage!  I'm feeling pretty good about this two-child situation though so far and I feel like the luckiest woman on the planet right now.  We really couldn't be happier!  We just adore our new little girl :)

37.3 Week Appt

Uh, holy crap we have more progress!!  3cm dilated and 70% effaced!!!!  I still have yet to start contracting for real, but I have a feeling it may not be much longer people!!  And now I'm freaking out.

I've developed this real fear of not making it to the hospital in time!  Everything I've read online about women dilating like this before contractions start says that once they did kick in, their labors were very short and the baby flew out in like 40 minutes.  I seriously don't want to give birth in the car.  I wouldn't even know how to clean that up.

36.3 Week Appt

Up one more pound, Eva's heartbeat at 150BPM and I'm dilated 1 - 1.5cm and about 40% effaced!  She's still up a little high and measuring right on track.  I was told to walk and show the hubby some love.  Lucky him because I'd rather not!  haha.  Super ready to get things moving along though and it sounds like she'll be here sooner rather than later, hopefully!  I'll keep you posted!

36 Week Belly Pic

Ok... I'm ready to get this baby out now!  After seeing the difference from 4 weeks ago, I no longer feel bad about being crabby :)  She's growing at warp speed and in my opinion, she's done!  Come out!!  I want to feel human again.

35.2 Week Appointment

Holy cow, I've gained 40 pounds!  She's still in there and she's still moving.  I went in for my Group B test and an iron check on my blood.  I feel like she may have dropped or something because the heartburn is less constant and now I'm peeing on the hour, every hour.  What can I say?  Pregnancy is so awesome that I'm never doing this again!  haha.  I had a dream last night that she came out a boy and that I kept forgetting to feed him.  Nice.  My mind is gone, my body is worse and I'm just ready to get this show on the road people!!  My appointments are now weekly, so we're just about there!  Belly pic this weekend at 36 weeks, so stay tuned for my large and in charge-ness :)

In other news, Oliver is now a big boy sleeping in his big boy bed through the night!  We had been holding off because he hadn't figured out that he could climb out of his crib yet and we weren't in a hurry to have him in a bed where he could get in and out of it as he pleased, but lately he's been getting tall enough to lean over the side and we were worried that he'd topple out and hurt himself.  Apparently he was more than ready for the change because now he refuses to go in his crib and has yet to walk out on a naptime or bedtime - don't worry, we know that won't last long!  Everyone is growing and changing so fast and it is strange to talk to Brian about, "The Kids".  My how time flies and life moves on!  Brian is about to celebrate his 30th birthday in about 3 days and we are both left wondering where the last almost 7 years went.  We are feeling incredibly fortunate and happy with the way our lives are going!  Now we just need to meet the newest member of our little clan :)

And I leave you with some cute pics of my first born enjoying the spring weather :)

33.2 Week Appt

My appointment was on April 17th and I'm up two more pounds and Baby Eva's heartbeat again at 150 BPM.  I'm still battling the heartburn, but I'm hoping that she'll drop soon and that will alleviate!  Lately, I switch in and out of days of nesting and days of sheer exhaustion. 

This past week has actually been quite nice!  Brian put in his two week notice at his job and they ended up asking him to just resign about 3 days into that two weeks.  At first we were pretty upset about the lost pay, but it gave us the last week and a half to just hang out as a family.  We've frequented some local parks, visited some friends and got some projects done around the house.  Its been really nice to get out and enjoy each others company before Eva arrives and we're stuck in "baby jail" for a couple months!  I find myself fantasizing more and more about who this little girl will be and what she'll look like.  Can't wait to meet this 4th member of our family!

Belly Pic and New Job

 Here we are at 32 weeks, or better!  She is growing fast and will be here soon!  I can't believe it, myself.  I'm very excited to meet this little diva that we've been waiting for :)

In other super exciting news, Brian is realizing a dream of his and will be starting a new career with New Belgium Brewery on April 23rd!!  His new title is Packaging Equipment Technician.  He'll be working in the warehouse and making sure that your beers are bottled properly.  This is SOOO exciting for us because New Belgium is one of, if not the best, companies to work for in Fort Collins, Colorado.  The company is employee owned, run completely by renewable energy resources and is very involved in the local community.  Their fabulous benefits package is all-inclusive and starts day one of employment!  After one year, Brian will become a stockholder and will be awarded a famous Fat Tire Bike!  People can and do make a career out of working for this company that has just announced that they are in the planning stages of opening a new plant in North Carolina.  New Belgium is known for throwing the best company parties around town and they treat their employees like family.  This could not have come at a better time for our us!  I am so proud of my husband and I can see in his face how good he feels to be able to do something this great for his family.

In even MORE news (yes, things are moving right along!) we have secured a second, family-friendly vehicle!  Several months ago, we made the tough decision to trade our beloved yet, money-pit of a Jeep Wagoneer for a motorcycle for Brian to use as a commuter to and from work.  Just a couple days ago, we traded the bike for a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria that has a huge back seat and a huge trunk for mama to get around town with two kiddos!  It has an in-dash navigation system and plays movies!  It is a strict kid-mobile and Oliver already calls it his car.  We are feeling quite ready for this little girl and after another month of cooking, she can just come out as far as I'm concerned! 

I leave you with some fun Easter pics of Oliver and cannot wait to post some pics of his sister very soon :)