Month 2

We documented each week to see how much you had grown

(this wears off after awhile around week 23, then we decided to go by month)

You love sleeping on people

Actually you are 6 months now and it's still your preferred method of slumber

You LOVE to eat, I think this comes from your Dad

Looking back, I think you probably had gas but nursing was really the cure all to make you stop crying

Still is...

Precious

Aunt Jenna comes to visit for Thanksgiving

This is your first Thanksgiving/Hanukkah

Your Aunt Jessie sent you a onesie to celebrate both

'Thanksgivingkuh'

You make really hilarious faces while you are sleeping

You will smile then frown, makes us wonder what you are dreaming about!

Week 7

You're pretty ok with

It's freezing out but we had to get out of the house

Enter snowsuit

Week 8 

You are clearly really excited about

Visitors

Your first month was filled with visitors who couldn't wait to meet you.

Nanna

Pop

Gigi stayed for two weeks and took care of me while I took care of you. 

She was a Godsend. 

Daddy took care of Poppy so he wouldn't get bored;)

Just kidding! Wouldn't have been the same with Pop there. 

Aunt Jessie drove down the night you were born. 

She got in around 11pm just to see you. 

Poppy

(not sure how we are going to differentiate between the Poppys)

Strat and Ash came to visit a couple weeks in.

Lexie Lou

Carl Ravech from ESPN

Janice Story

(Daddy invited everyone he knew)

Kevin and Brooke came to visit in week 3

Uncle Kevin made fun of your cross eyes even though I explained it's totally normal 

for a newborn

Fern Wachter

(again with Daddy inviting Board Members over)

Hoorah, Auntie Kristi is here in Week 5

She was chomping at the bit to get here and meet you!

She got you to take a pacifier, stayed up with you till 2am and let us have a date night 

(we promptly returned 55 minutes later)

Everybody loves you. 

Month 1

Was a doozy!

I was trying to wrap my head around the fact that you were actually here.

No sleep, crazy hormones, reality hitting you in the face that you have no clue what you are doing, plus endless bouts of crying really scare the pants off ya!

But we made it through, phew

Coming home from the hospital was so exciting. I couldn't wait to get out of there. 

It was also a little terrifying as well.

Thankfully our families where there to help us through it. 

Family dinner

Your first bath

Clearly not a fan

We received these blocks at a gift to document your growth

So fun

4 Weeks, heck yah

5 Weeks

Not so much

At the end of the first month, smiling started...

I know it was from gas but I would take them anyway I could get them

The Day

October 5th came and went. 

 I knew you would be late. 

 I took this picture right before I went out shopping and to lunch that Saturday.

The doctor scheduled my induction on October 10th. Your Dad and I took one more walk around the neighborhood with Lulu the night before and I made him take me to Marshalls to buy one final decoration for your nursery at 9pm. 

He knew I wouldn't be able to sleep until it was done. 

On the morning of October 10th, we woke up and got Dunkin Donuts on the way to the hospital. Your Dad forgot my hash browns. 

We were so excited we forgot to check in at the hospital and were sent back downstairs. 

I was given Pitocin and Daddy and I walked the halls to try and get things moving! 

We still hadn't decided on a middle name so we knew we had to choose, we stopped and talked to nurses to ask them to weigh in. 

We had a few names but decided to wait until you were born to make the final call. 

The doctor broke my water and then the contractions started! 

They were intense. I asked for the epidural but it only worked on one side. 

I had to have a second epidural but this one worked. 

Daddy was excited to have his hand back and said when the epidural started to work, I turned to the nurses and said, "just so you know, I feel REALLY good right now".

Around 4:30 the doctor came in and when your Dad asked what the next step was, he shrugged and said to me, "want to push?" 

Things got real, real quick! 

28 minutes later, you were born! 

Your Gigi and Poppi  and Nana and Poppy arrived at the hospital right when you were born. 

The hospital played a nursery rhyhme over the loudspeaker of the entire hospital to let everyone know a you were here.

When you arrived, your Dad turned and said to me, "Stella Olivia?"

Then your Gigi tried to run past the nurses to meet you but was stopped and had to wait for her visitor's pass.

Having your Grandparents there made everything perfect. 

And so our life with you began...

I loved being pregnant. 

I loved feeling you kick inside me, I loved eating whatever I wanted.

 I loved watching my belly grow and thinking about what you would be like, how you would look, and sound.  

And now I love being your Mom, seeing you grow everyday. 

Stella Olivia Seiden

October 10, 2013

5:08pm

7lbs 11oz 

21 inches

Maternity Pics

Confession. 

Maternity Shoots frighten me. 

Huge bellies in bad studio lighting with nothing but a sports bra is not something I wanted to document, let alone pay for.

 Enter my cousin Lizzy with her snazzy Cannon camera that i lust after and a beautiful CT day after my baby shower.

 Here's Liz

Isn't she a babe?

Here's what she captured for us

Thank goodness for loved family and awesome cameras