Annabelle at 1 Week!

Annabelle has had a pretty uneventful first week of life although she got to meet some very important people!

This week we mostly hung out at home and relaxed, cuddled, and played with the big kids while Annabelle got acclimated to life at our house.

I stayed at the hospital one night and after spending most of it awake cuddling and rocking Annabelle all by myself I decided to come home early. My recovery was pretty good other than a lot of bleeding so they let me check out a day early. We came home late Saturday night.

Our fabulous babysitter Alexa watched the kids while Kevin came and picked me and Annabelle up at the hospital. While we were gone she and the kids made cute posters to welcome us back home. It was so sweet! Catie had to hold Annabelle the minute we got home. She is such a sweet big sister!

On Sunday we relaxed, took naps, cuddled with Annabelle, and got treats dropped off from several friends. Yum!

Annabelle loves snuggling in her new rock n play sleeping contraption. It is so cozy! We have learned that she DOES NOT like being swaddled though, so we've been leaving her blankets more loose and she sleeps much better. The miracle blanket might need to be retired... we'll see.

On Monday the home health nurse visited and checked Annabelle out. She weight about 6 pounds 13 ounces... so getting closer back to her birth weight of 7 pounds 2 ounces.

On Monday afternoon Scott & Cat came and visited with Sophie & Jude and brought us yummy Zachary's pizza. Kevin was IN HEAVEN and we all ate way too much. It was so thoughtful and delicious!

On Wednesday morning Grandma Julie & Grandpa Kim arrived for a quick one day visit! We spent the day cuddling with Annabelle and playing games and building puzzles. We also had a yummy Chipotle lunch. We were so grateful they could come and see us!

On Thursday Annabelle had her 1 week doctor appointment and was basically back to her birthweight. She was pretty cooperative and the doctor said she was perfect!

On Friday we spent the day catching up on house stuff (laundry, cleaning) and we got cookies to celebrate Annabelle's first week! Grandma Shari arrived on Friday evening to spend the weekend with us! HOORAY!

Annabelle at 1 week...

• is about 7 pounds 2 ounces, 19.5 inches, head is 34
• is a huge cuddle bug
• wears newborn clothes (that are a bit too big for her)
• wears newborn diapers!
• likes to fill her diapers a lot
• gets the hiccups constantly
• hates the swaddle and loves being wrapped loosely in a blanket
• sleeps best cuddled up with someone
• loves to eat every two hours... for an hour (sometimes more)
• sleeps between 2-3 hours at a time (Longest stretch at night has been 3 hours, between 11pm-2am! Loves to wake up a lot between 2-7am. Hoping that changes soon!)
• will occasionally take a pacifier
• just started spitting up 
• loves to be up and looking around (doesn't like when you sit still :))-FOMO!!
• has charmed everyone in our family... we love her!
• has a big set of lungs! Ryan is really good at reminding everyone to cover their ears :)

So grateful this little one has joined our family!

Welcome Annabelle!

A week ago on Thursday night I started feeling some contractions around 5pm while I was getting dinner ready. I went into hyper-overdrive when I realized these could finally be THE contractions that bring our little baby's arrival! I cleaned the house even more, set out clothes for kids, packed my bag, and got several things ready.

I was due on Monday, January 11th. By the time the 12th and 13th rolled around I was feeling awesome and was really wondering if the baby would ever come. It just didn't seem realistically possible. She seemed perfectly content to stay inside forever.

After contractions increased I finally told Kevin around 11pm that I was having contractions. Around 11:30 I started trying to find someone to come over to watch the kids. Around midnight my doctor told us to head to the hospital. My contractions were 4-5 minutes apart but nothing intense or painful and my water hadn't broken yet.

Our awesome neighbors Stefanie & Graham manned our kiddos and Stef slept on our couch all night.

We arrived at the hospital at 12:30am and got checked in. I felt like going over paperwork took 2 hours. Contractions were still light but since I had Strep B they hooked me up to an IV for antibiotics and we got the epidural started right when contractions got more intense. I was at about a 4 when we arrived.

Our awesome nurse Rose made both Kevin and I extremely comfortable and by 2:30am we were both able to drift off to sleep a little. My epidural was great on one side and too intense on the other, so half my body was asleep and I hated it! I had them turn it down a bit and that helped.

At around 6:30am the nurse came in and mentioned how intense my contractions were and she checked me and I was at a 10 and ready to have a baby! She told me to hold tight and she'd get the doctor.

My doctor (that delivered both Ryan & Catie) happened to be on call till 7am (hurray) so she arrived at 6:50, I pushed for a few minutes, and the baby was born at 6:59am! It was a very easy delivery, thank goodness!

We hung out with the baby for a few hours in the labor room and then they sent us up to the maternity ward to get cozy in my new room.

We chatted about baby names and finally decided on the name Annabelle Elise Buskirk! Her middle name is after my twin sister Elise. I am lucky to have Elise as my best friend and couldn't think of a better person to have my little baby girl look up to and have as her namesake. The name Annabelle was inspired by Anna Kristine, one of Kevin's ancestors.

Elise flew in Friday morning and helped watch the kiddos after Stefanie had manned the fort for more than enough hours. I was so grateful that she was able to come and help! Later in the day she brought me Mrs. Fields cookies and a big diet coke to celebrate our new little baby! My friend Jaicy also came to visit!

On Friday afternoon while Elise hung out with me and Annabelle, Kevin hung out with the kiddos and took them to Chic-Fil-A and then brought them over for a quick hospital visit to meet their baby sister. They were so cute!! Catie beelined over to the couch immediately and asked to hold Annabelle right away. Andrew sat next to her and wanted a turn next. Ryan was distracted by the fun hospital bed and my computer but was bribed to come over with some chocolate :) (whatever works).

All three kids ate cookies and had fun playing with the hospital bed. We had them stay for about 20 minutes and then sent them home.

Later in the evening Elise brought me dessert from Cheesecake Factory that I INHALED and then Jessie and Ben came up to visit too!!

The night ended with a quick visit from Kevin and then a LONG night with just me and Annabelle at the hospital while she cried, ate, or was just wide awake all night. I was happy when the morning arrived!

All in all I think our first day with Annabelle was a success!! Can't believe we have 4 kids now! Crazy!