Jealous Mocha

So Mocha was reading the blog, and realized that she was getting the shaft and wasn't on the blog anymore so I (Devin) figured we would post some more of her.

Mocha asking to get up into her spot...

Her favorite spot to hang out

She found a frog, who tried to hide in a ball of Mocha-hair...

Then a few days later, found a toad that wasn't as scared of her as the frog, but she wasn't too interested in chasing it either...



More pics of Tori will be coming in the next day or two... whenever she'll give me a minute to post...

New toys!

No matter what age you are getting new toys is always fun! This past weekend was my birthday and I got an iPad and a new camera! The iPad is just fun to play with especially when I am confined to a chair when I am nursing or pumping. Devin and I had been talking about getting a new camera so we can take good pictures of Tori, so we took the plunge and did it. We've only had it two nights and I am so glad that we got one! We got a Cannon Rebel and are in love with it! You all will benefit from both of our new toys, as we will now have lots of pictures of Tori and I think I am going to be able to update the blog from my iPad, I just have to find the best app for it!

Anyways, things are going great! Tori is now 6 and a half weeks old. As of Monday she weighed 9lbs 10 oz which is up two pounds from birth and a little under three pounds from when she was released from the hospital. We will get another weight tomorrow when I meet with the lactation consultant again. Now I have a decent amount of milk, but she won't latch, go figure! I like to do test weights to where we weigh her, then nurse, and weigh again to see how much she is getting. I know we are overfeeding her because I always worry she doesn't get enough, so after nursing I give her a bottle with breastmilk in it.

Since my last post Tori has started sleeping in her crib, coo-ing, being more alert, recognizing me from across a room, following a toy with her eyes and I am sure there a lot more. I hope to catch her coo-ing on video sometime soon.

Here are some new pictures!

She now loves her swing! I love it too because it occupies her so I can do things around the house!

Bouncy seat is okay, takes her a while to settle down in it though. Hoping she really starts to like it because it is more portable than the swing!

Bathtime! Devin loves to pour water all over her. Luckily, she doesn't mind too much.

We had to drain the tub because she peed in it and when we were filling it up she kept kicking the faucet.

Sad bathtime is over! She randomly makes this face when she is in the middle of screaming! I am so glad I got a picture of it. I think it will be on her wedding slideshow some day!

We went to visit Grandma at the quilt shop! Started out happy.

Mom where is she taking me?

Stretching out. Tori loves to just lay and look around while stretching and squirming.

I see you mom.

First time wearing shoes. Devin hates them, but they look so cute with the outfit.

Happy baby after eating (and after Grandma calmed her down)!

The quilt shop really tires a girl out!

Thanks for checking in! I hope to post more soon!

Alot of firsts

We have almost survived a month! It is hard to believe that Tori will be a month old this coming week! It is very exciting for us because she is starting to be more and more awake. We can't wait for her to be able to interact with us all the time. We are anxious for her to start sitting up, crawling, eating food, and all that stuff, which I know sounds crazy but we both like that age. I'm sure there will come a time that we wish she was little again though! I do love cuddling her!

First off, Kelly has posted the pictures of Tori! You can check some out on her blog at nickandkellymccormick.blogspot.com and there are more on her photography website, kellymccormickphotography.com She did awesome and I can't wait to get some! Kelly, I am already looking forward to her 6 month pictures!

Tori weighs almost 8 and a half pounds. I've been seeing a lactation specialist at least once a week so it is nice to be able to see how much she weighs. I'm struggling with low milk supply because my milk was delayed in coming in due to the c-section so if anyone has tips on how to boost milk supply please share! Tori is currently getting about 30% breastmilk which is awesome compared to what she started at and that doesn't include what she takes directly off the breast since you can't measure that. It is hard work to breastfeed her, then give her a bottle, then pump, it is a never ending cycle, but for some reason I will not give it up, maybe because I like a challenge or maybe because I know how good it is for both of us. The lactation consultant has told me everytime that I've seen her that Tori is so lucky that I work so hard to get her breastmilk and that most moms would have given up by now. It always makes me tear up for some reason! Stupid post-pregnancy hormones!

If everyone could say a little prayer for us this week we would appreciate it. Tori's belly button isn't healing properly. When we were at the doctor a little over a week ago she said if it was still oozing stuff out of it in a week or two to call and they would take a look at it again. She threw out the word surgrey like it was no big deal, but of course I am scared to death that it will come to that! They tried to cautrize it but that didn't work, hoping they can maybe try again? I'm calling the doctor on Monday or Tuesday so we should know more then.

Okay, now for the fun stuff! New pictures!

Mocha, the dirty diaper sniffing dog!

Sittin on her boppy!

She is finally big enough for her sleepers, although her feet are too big for some of them.

First trip to Olive Garden! Snoozed through the whole thing!

Tummy Time!

Not too big of a fan, however she can push herself onto her back.

Mocha keeping an eye on her.

Daddy showing Mocha some loving!

First time being submerged in a bathtub. She looks happy because this was the beginning of the bath. The window entertained her for a very short period of time.

Now shes mad! Look at that curly hair.

Happy bathtime is over!

Look at that hair!

First time with a pacifer. It has penguins on it which are my favorite! We are being very careful with the pacifer so she doesn't become addicted. She just gets it after meals when she still acts hungry, but isn't. It tides her over until her tummy tells her brain that she is full, that is if she takes it. She is smart enough to realize no milk comes out of it.

Devin has been cooking. This is a "fatty" which consists of a weave of bacon, then layers of whatever. This time Devin chose sausage, hasbrowns, eggs, and cheese. Then you smoke them for a few hours. Heart attack waiting to happen.

What it looks like after you roll it up to put on the grill.

Two weeks old....

WOW! It is so hard to believe that we have been parents for two weeks! Time really does fly! I have a few short minutes while Tori is napping so I thought I could bring everyone up to speed on what has been going on.

The morning of June 29, I went in for a scheduled c-section. We had scheduled it the Thursday before so it wasn't a surprise to us as it was to everyone else. We chose only to tell our parents and siblings because we wanted to be able to enjoy some time as a family of three before being flooded with visitors. The c-section went great, as expected. We had a c-section because they were concerned about the size of the baby (ha!) and because my cervix was unfavorable and they didn't want me going past my due date because of the gestational diabetes and low fluids.

Anyways the day before the surgrey we had to go to the hospital to kind of pre-register and reality really sunk in for me. I was bawling when we left the hospital that day, I wasn't neccisarily scared, but you always wonder what if!

We got to the hospital at 6:30 on June 29 and I had a special nurse there! A friend of mine that I went to school with since Kindergarten was going to be taking care of me and be in the delivery room. It was such a relief because I knew she wouldn't let anything happen to me or Tori and that she would be there to explain everything to me. She prepped me and got me all hooked up to everything and before we knew it they were taking me back to surgrey. Devin had to wait for them to get the spinal in before coming back and it was the longest twenty minutes of my life! As soon as it was in they let him back and it seemed like five minutes later Dr. Reinerston was asking if I was ready to be a mom and I asked if I had a choice in the matter, then we heard our little girl crying! He came and showed her to me and then took her to Jenni who did all of the tests and cleaned her up. Jenni also came and got Devin from my side and had him cut the cord and hang out with Tori. It kinda sucked being on the table with no one to talk to, but I liked knowing that he was with our little girl. After they were done, they flopped her on my chest and then we were off to recovery! As they were wheeling me into recovery they played the lullaby and the parents in the waiting room knew that it was for us. So cool!

Our hospital stay was great, until the last night. All babies lose weight in the first few days, but if they have lost 10% of their body weight it becomes a problem, so a nurse talked to use about supplementing with formula because my milk wasn't enough which upset me, but we knew that it was what was best for Tori. If we hadn't started formula that night we probably would have had to stay another night. To make a long story short we are still supplementing with formula and breastfeeding and pumping as much as possible, which is hard work! As of yesterday she was back up to 7lbs 8oz, so she just needs to gain two more ounces by her appointment Thursday.

Okay I will quit rambling and start posting some pictures!

Dr. Reinerston with Tori. I forgot to mention one of the nurses took our camera and was running around taking pictures in the delivery room.

First family photo!

Not as big as we expected!

BEST NURSE EVER!

Daddy played dress up with Tori before leaving the hospital!

Finally an outfit that fits somewhat!

Ready to go home!

Mocha meeting Tori! She has been great with her!

Talkin on Devin's cell phone.

Watchin Daddy play softball!

I will try to post more pictures when time allows. Now that we are settled in and have somewhat of a routine down we would love to have visitors! Just please let us know when you are coming so we aren't surprised or in the the middle of nursing. Speaking of nursing, time to go do that again...

Thanks for checking in!

Introducing Tori Lynn Burks

On behalf of proud parents Devin and Christy, I am happy to introduce their new daughter Tori Lynn Burks who was born at 8:57am on Tuesday, June 29. She is 20" long and weighed 7 lbs 10 oz! Both Christy and Tori are doing great and the whole family wants to say "Thank You" for everyone's Congratulations and well wishes that were passed along yesterday. I apologize for not posting photos sooner - I intended on doing it right away yesterday but the hospital didn't provide wi-fi access so I had to get home to get the job done. Better late than never! So without further ado....

Miss Tori Lynn Burks

What a cutie!

Momma and Tori cuddling :)

Proud Daddy Devin holding his new daughter!

Grandma Debbie getting a turn

Grandpa Mike can't be more happy!

Grandma Stacy, uhhh I mean Meemaw, taking her turn

Great Grandma finally gets to hold her!

Snuggling with Great Grandma Burks

Great Grandma Budke trying to keep her awake for a little while!

I will do my best to post some more pictures tonight - I know there were more family members who were able to stop by for a few minutes and I don't want to leave anyone out. Plus I'm sure there will be a whole new group of pictures from today, too, so keep checking back for more updates. Thanks again to everyone for being there to share such an exciting time!

Bummer Dude...

Well, Baby Burks is continuing to not cooperate and will not be here for another week or two. From the sound of things its going to be closer to two weeks. I am due two weeks from today on July 2nd so that works, but it is hard to not get bummed when I had been told the 15th, then the 25th, and now they are saying even longer! Apparently the doctors don't know how impatient I am! I am ready to meet our little girl! I am happy though that the doctors have her health and mine in their minds though. Originally, OSF didn't want me going past 39 weeks, but my doctors that are going to be delivering want me to dilate or at least show some signs of labor starting before they induce me. If I have no signs of labor starting and they induce me, Dr. Brinkman said it will be a long, hard, painful labor, which I of course and not into.

I had a sono this past Monday and we were told she weighs 7lbs 1oz give or take a half pound either way. I'm still thinking she's going to be bigger, but I guess we shall see. I have two appointments this coming week, both for non-stress tests. They will check me on Thursday to see if I'm dilating or anything, but my hopes aren't too high!

So, everyone just needs to have some patience (us included) because apparently this little girl will arrive whenever she damn well pleases!

Thanks for checking in! Time to do some rearranging in the nursery! Gotta love nesting!