Holland - 2 months

At her 2 month appointment (9 weeks, 2 days old), she weighed 14 lbs and was 23 inches long.  Evie was the same length at 2 months, but weighed 12 lb, 6 oz at 2 months.  Holland had a pound on her big sister at birth though, so not too much difference as far as weight gain. She's wearing size 2 diapers and 3 month clothes.

Only smile I've caught!

She's holding her head up very well, although she hates tummy time and we don't do it very often.  She is regularly smiling and cooing and loves to "talk" to Mommy and Sullivan especially.  I can't catch either on video since she goes stone cold as soon as I pull out the phone.

Holland is still sleeping a good 7 hour stretch at night, eating, then sleeping about 3 to 4 hours.  I need to start trying to move her bedtime earlier in preparation of going back to work.  I'm going to miss lazy mornings at home!  Holland is still sleeping in the Rogers craddle in our room and is using her Zen swaddle blanket now.  She had started being able to unwrap and get tangled up in her muslin swaddle blankets, so we moved to one with velcro.  She can still frequently get out a "rodeo arm", as Daniel calls it.  She doesn't require anything too special at bedtime.  I feed her a lot before bed, so usually we just swaddle her, put her down, and within a few minutes she's out.  God bless an easy baby.

rodeo arm

She's not perfect though!  She HATES a bottle.  Initially she would take a bottle, from someone other than me, grudgingly, but lately she's refused from me or Daniel or the kids.   She won't latch or suck at all!  Just pushes the nipple out with her tongue and gets mad.  Giving her a bottle is currently the only thing that really makes her mad/cry.  A lactation nurse told me to stick with the same type of bottle so she realizes this is what's happening.  That didn't work, so now we are in the super fun and expensive phase of trying every bottle on the market.  I have 2 other really weird ones arriving from Amazon tomorrow to try.  Holland starts daycare in a week and  a half, so I'm really hoping we find one that she doesn't detest before then.  If not, then I hope the new environment/new people will help her take a bottle.  If all else fails, I guess I'll be going to the daycare at lunch to feed her.  I hope it doesn't come to that, but I have heard stories, even from my pediatrician about babies that won't take a bottle not eating all day and then nursing constantly when back with mom.  It would make me sad to lose my sleeping baby because she won't eat during the day from a bottle!  Prayers please that we get this figured out!  Other than losing the night sleeping, I can't stand the thought of her crying all day because she won't take a bottle.  :(

As for nursing, we are still struggling with a consistently good latch.  Some days it's great, some days she just refuses to do it really well.  She has no problem getting the milk, but not comfortable for me!
Sullivan and Evie are still good with her.  Sullivan loves to hold and talk to her.  Evie loves to pick out her clothes and tuck her in and wipe her mouth.  They are both so precious with her.  On the weekends, Sullivan will turn her nap nanny to face the tv, so they can watch cartoons together.









We've made a few short car trips as a family of 5! We made a day trip to see my Aunt Beth in Hernando, went to the zoo on Good Friday, and went to Cleveland for Easter.

Holland did really well at the zoo. She primarily slept, but it was super hot that day.  Evie wore new shoes (mom fail) and got blisters, so we ended up carrying Holland a good bit so Evie could ride in the stroller.  Unfortunately, later that evening I came down with food poisoning.  Pretty sure that zoo cheeseburger was the culprit, and I won't go in to additional details to explain why I believe that.  Suffice it to say, I will NEVER eat at the zoo again. 

When we went to Cleveland for Easter, the kids, Christina, and I went to the Grammy Museum to check out the new Taylor Swift exhibit.  Evie loved all the beautiful costumes, and she and Sullivan had a great time dancing and singing and recording their own versions of her songs.  Evie almost pulled a tv off the wall when she took off without taking the headphones off, so that was a scary moment for me!  Thankfully, Christina got everything hooked back up and all was well.  

Easter Sunday we all made it to church on time and dressed!  Holland and I missed most of the service, but it was nice to be with family!  Funny story about Easter morning. My mom had participated in one of those youth fundraisers where you pay to have them hide eggs in your yard.  Alas, the kids somehow got confused....and hid eggs at the house across the street!  So my sweet Mom went over and found all the eggs and then re-hid them at her house.  I hadn't put any eggs in baskets since there were going to be some hidden outside, so Sullivan was so disappointed and confused when there were no eggs.  After my Mom took care of business, she looked out the window and "noticed the eggs".  Kids were non the wiser and were so excited that the Easter bunny hadn't forgotten to bring eggs/candy!  

Holland - 1 month

#thirdchildproblems

Can I remember what things were like at 1 month?  Holland has been a great sleeper from the start.  The most she ever woke up in a night was twice, but even that didn't last long.  We've been on a schedule of bedtime between 9 and 10, sleep until around 4, eat, sleep until 7 or 8.  Since none of my children were ever good sleepers as infants, I'm going to just say you either get a sleeper or you don't.  It's very nice, and I look forward to dropping that 4 am feeding.  

Nursing is ok.  Holland latches quickly and is done in about 10 minutes, but it's not always the most comfortable latch.  We have discussed with two different lactation nurses, and things have gradually improved, so assume she just needs time to grow and learn.  She eats about every 2-3 hours during the day.  Before bed she wants to cluster feed and gets a little fussy.  I spend from 7-9 in a chair feeding her. Not my favorite time of day, but she's fueling up for a long sleep, so I am taking the bad with the good.  She usually gets the hiccups before eating, so hearing hiccups makes my milk drop. It's crazy.  

Holland is the chillest baby ever.  She really only fusses at night before bed.  Otherwise, she's pretty happy to hang out and watch what's going on.  She sleeps a lot, and usually just whines for a minute before falling asleep.  She loves to have her diaper changed!  If she is fussing, laying her on the changing table is a sure way to make her happy again.





















We've had lots of visitors, although I didn't get pics of everyone!  Daniel's mom came to visit and help out for a few days and the kids had such a good time with her.  She even made shrimp spaghetti at my request, and it was soooo good!  We've been so blessed with wonderful friends who have brought so much food! It was such a great help- more than with any other child! No surprise I suppose, but cooking dinner lately has been a challenge!

Unfortunately, the day she left I came down with mastitis and it was horrible.  I'd never had it before and it felt just like the flu except I had to take care of a baby at the same time.  My mom saved the day by driving up to help with Holland while I rested.  Antibiotics quickly cleared it up, thank goodness.

Sullivan and Evie are still smitten and still come in an wash their hands first thing so they can touch her.  They like to hold her and read books to her.  

In Sullivan news, he lost his second tooth (again at school) and was accepted in to the gifted program at his school beginning next year!  We are so proud of him!

Holland Grace Martin

Holland Grace Martin arrived Monday, February 27, 2017 at 5:12 pm.  She weighed 8lb 13 oz, was 20 1/2 inches long, and absolutely perfect!

I woke up at 4:45 am on the 27th to light contractions and some bloody show.  I was too anxious to go back to sleep, so that's how my day started.  Evie woke up at the same time, but she was able to fall back asleep at my feet.

Since I hate being the watched pot that never boils, Daniel went to work and my Mom went to town to go shopping and run errands.  I had contractions all morning, but nothing that really hurt or progressed.  Mom came home at lunch time, and I told Daniel to come home as well, just in case. I went to take a nap about 1 pm.  I woke up a little before 2 pm to a decidedly more painful contraction.  I started timing them and could tell there was a big difference. They were getting stronger and more regular.  Daniel was on a conference call, so as soon as he got done I told him it was just about that time.  I also told Corinne she better come on out. I went and woke my Mom up and told her we were going to go to hospital.  Things were progressing quickly enough that I almost left before Corinne arrived, but we did leave as soon as she got to the house.  It was the longest , but fastest, drive to Tupelo ever! We were both nervous about not making it to the hospital in time.  Modern technology- you can see all the contractions I was tracking from the time I got up to the time we arrived at the hospital at about 3:15pm.

 When we got to the hospital and in to triage, the very young doctor insisted on an ultrasound to make sure she was still head down since she had previously been breech. She was head down and I was about 5 cm dilated.  We waited for a delivery room to be prepared, and probably got in there at about 4pm.  My doctor was not on call, so I met Dr. Kellum who would be my doctor. My contractions were so strong and one on top of the other.  I felt like pushing or like my body was pushing pretty much as soon as I was settled in the delivery room.  When the nurse checked me I was at 7 cm, which disappointed me since I was ready to be DONE! Corinne encouraged me to get out of the bed to see if that helped things along.  HOLY COW I was in pain after that! Daniel helped provide some counter pressure on my lower back while I labored a bit standing up leaning over the bed.  After a few contractions, my water broke.  There was merconium in the water, so Corinne alerted the nurses. They decided to go ahead and have the Nicu on stand by just in case.  I heard all this going on, but truthfully, I was too out of it to really care or be worried- I had other things on my mind. A few more contractions standing up and I told Corinne my body felt like it was pushing.  I got back in bed and they called the nurse in to check me again.  She said it was go time, so they got the bed all set up, got my legs in the stirrups- had me push once.  They called the doctor....but he was next door delivering a baby! So, they had me take my legs out of the stirrups and not push...HA!  There was no not pushing at this point.  I remember Corinne telling the nurse basically that one of them better get a doctor or get ready to catch a baby.  Thankfully another doctor, Dr. Webb, arrived from the clinic.  He ran in and said, "it's me or the janitor".  I think 2 pushes later and baby girl was here. I didn't actually meet Dr. Webb or know who he was until after the baby was delivered.  Once again I was able to deliver without any tears, and baby girl was in great shape and had no need for NICU services.  I would like to say I will not be having a natural, vaginal delivery again.  I don't plan on any more babies, but if something crazy should happen, I want drugs next time.  I'm officially out of super woman delivery powers.

The day after delivery my regular doctor came by and said she looked at the chart that showed I came in at 3:15 pm and had a baby less than 2 hours later, and she wanted to know, "what had happened?!". Dr. Kellum had called her to apologize that he didn't get time to call her to tell her I was there in labor because things went too fast and then he was in another room delivering when I was ready.

I had a lot of tailbone pain after this delivery, and definitely didn't feel like I bounced back quite as quickly as before.  Age and way bigger baby I suppose.

Holland is doing great.  She had gone from 8lb 7 oz (leaving hospital weight) up to 10lbs at her 2 week appointment.  We are still working on getting a consistently good latch, but she's having no problems eating!  She eats every 2 to 3 hours during the day and usually wants to eat several times before bedtime.  Most nights she goes down about 9 pm and sleeps a 5 hour stretch, eats again and sleeps for another 3 hours.  This is the first sleeping baby I've had and it's wonderful!  There is a negative side effect of a sleeping baby though...engorgement.  I had my first ever bout of mastitis on Sunday and it was horrible.  Just like having the flu except you have to keep taking care of a baby!  I went to urgent care and got antibiotics and my mom drove back to help while I recovered.  Mastitis is no joke, but i'm not really sure how to avoid with a sleeping baby.  If i pump to relieve engorgement, I'm encouraging my body to make more milk.  Hopefully, we will get things regulated soon enough.

Evie, and Sullivan (especially) are totally smitten with their new sister.  Sullivan frequently wants to hold her and runs in to wash his hands as soon as he gets home from school, so he can go love on her.  They have been a big help and other than a little extra clinginess from Evie, the transition in that regard has been easy.  I have no idea how we will ever get all 5 of us out the door and on time anywhere, but I'll cross that bridge when I have to.  

Still waiting...

39 weeks 6 days

I don't know if it's my "advanced maternal age" or third baby or what, but I'm very impatient for labor to start.  I have so much pressure in my pelvis and bottom, and the baby keeps getting on a nerve in my legs that basically dead legs me from the inside- it's painful. I had some swelling in my legs and feet the week after super bowl, but that's all gone away.  I'm going to blame that on all the salty, but delicious, food I had at the Super Bowl party we attended. TMI warning...................................... I lost my mucus plug on Sunday, so i'm really hoping that means i'm close. Besides just being uncomfortable, I'm not too keen on baby getting super big.  Natural childbirth is great, but i can attest it's harder the bigger the baby!  I know I shouldn't be impatient since what awaits me won't exactly be easy either, but at least it will come with a snuggly baby! Next appointment is on Wednesday- my official due date.  I'm ok if I don't make it to that appointment...

We've been enjoying a crazy warm "winter" and this weekend was sunny and upper 70s!  I took the kids to the park Saturday morning and met my sister, niece, and grandmother there.  I think the kids spent most of the entire weekend outside, and it was great!  I even did some sunning on the patio with them. I know come July and August we'll be paying the price for this super warm winter, but it sure beats being cooped up in the house. I had the garden bug bad yesterday, but resisted buying any plants, since I'm sure we'll at least get a blackberry winter before Spring truly arrives.

Final Countdown to Baby #3

I haven't posted in several weeks, but baby girl did turn in a head down position by week 37.  I did everything in the book to get her to turn: guided meditation, inversions, hands and knees, music on low belly, ice packs on upper belly, and even an hour of handstands in the Ole Miss pool.  I have no idea when she actually flipped, but she did!

I'm now past week 38, so just waiting on her arrival.  Yesterday she was measuring about 8lbs, and I've made it to 3 cm.  I'm hoping she'll come this weekend, but since Sullivan came 3 weeks early and Evie a week late, there is no telling what this one will do.  I feel relatively good. I'm awake for a few hours most nights around 3:30 am.  I've got swollen ankles/legs/hands- which I don't think I've ever had before.  I've had lots of contractions or braxton hicks over the last week, but nothing regular yet.

I don't have any pictures from this week, but this is more recent than the last I posted. This was taken at JA Charity Ball.  It was a fun event, and we even attempted a little dancing.

Maybe next post will be after baby's arrival!

Turn, baby, turn!

At my weekly OB appointment last week, baby #3 was head down and looking great. This week...totally had flipped to breech. I've never had a baby flip on me this late in the game, and it's making me a nervous wreck! At my doctor's recommendation, I've been trying  inversions, hands and knees poses, playing music for low belly, flashlight and Daniel talking down there, etc.   Due to my "advanced maternal age" I get an ultrasound every week now, so we'll see next Wednesday if she's cooperated.  She had hiccups early this morning, so from that, it appears she's still head up.  If she doesn't turn by week 37 (2 weeks!), my doctor will attempt an ECV at the hospital.  This can sometimes cause labor to start or break water, so really hope we don't have to go that route.  Glad it's a least an option to try if she doesn't cooperate.  I'm going to be so disappointed if I end up having to have a section after 2 natural childbirths, so say a prayer for my baby girl to turn please!

33 weeks

Christmas, birthday, new years!

Another Christmas break has come and gone.  This year we stayed on the road from the 23rd to the 1st. It was fun, but exhausting! Here comes lots of pics.

We started our trip in Ocean Springs with Daniel's family.  The kids enjoyed spending time with their Nanna and their Martin cousins. Evie's currently outnumbered on the Martin side, but with baby sister and a new baby GIRL cousin coming soon, next year will be even!

Spreading the Reindeer food.

Kids all nestled snug in their bed...

Sums up this Christmas for Evie: pink and princess 

On Christmas Day, we loaded back up to go to Mobile to stay with my older sister and her family. I got basically no pictures while there other than from Evie's 3rd birthday celebration.  My awesome sister ordered her cake from Publix, and it was so cheap and so delicious! I love a low-key family birthday. Evie told me she wanted a pink, sparkle birthday, so I ordered her party dress and we got a pink cake...done and done. She was very proud of both. My little three-nager just seems so grown up, but she's still an excellent snuggler and hugger.

modeling her new kicks from Mimi and PawPaw

with her Mobile cousins

After two days in Mobile we loaded up again to head to Seaside for our annual New Years trip with friends.  As usual we had a little bit of all seasons while there, but started the trip with warm and sunny temps for some beach time. It cooled down the second half of our trip, but not cold enough to stop our walks, bike rides, and beach time. 

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Sullivan drew a portrait of his stuffed "Froggy" while at lunch at Bud and Alleys.

Having a N.A. beer for sunset.

Enjoying hot chocolate/lattes on the coldest day.

Baby #3 just about prevented my jacket from zipping. 

Looking forward to what 2017 brings. Lots of changes coming our way!