Soothing My Colicky Baby

I have another colicky baby! Are you kidding? What on Earth am I supposed to learn from having 3 colicky babies? PATIENCE! PATIENCE! PATIENCE! And I finally learned the best way to soothe my hurting baby: a rice sock.

Last night my Aunt Penny and her daughter were nice enough to watch my girls so that Corey and I could attend my Mission Reunion. It was a wonderful night...for me. My Aunt probably had a different feeling about the night. Ellie B (Elizabeth) was in so much pain and crying most of the night with stomach pains. Penny took great care of her and was so patient with the whole situation. When I got home I just wanted Penny to stay all night and soothe my little one. She stayed until well after midnight holding Ellie and comforting me. Penny was a great blessing for me last night. Before she left, she told me to put a warm towel under Ellie's belly because she had heard that helped with colic. So I found this old rice sock Corey had made for me a while ago. Corey heated it up and we laid Ellie over the top of it and she instantly went limp and slept very well. We also laid it upon her belly while she lay in my lap and she seemed to like that as well. I think not only the warmth of the sock, but the weight of it felt good to her. That pressure on the belly really helps her. I am so glad to have found this "cure" to her colic. Doesn't she look so peaceful?

Two Weeks Old and Three Ounces Heavier

Elizabeth is now two weeks old and is just a tiny peanut! She is only 3 ounces over her birth weight. She had a well baby visit yesterday and the doctor isn't concerned because she is at least gaining weight. We had to switch her to a 'low birth weight' formula that will give her 22 extra calories. It's hard on her tummy, but she is doing well.
I really enjoy Elizabeth. She is an easy baby. I could hold her all day because she is just this little ball that curls up on my chest. My other kids were really colicky and hard to handle as newborns. Elizabeth isn't like that at all (knock on wood). She is awake alot more and stares at everything around her. She seems perfectly content to lay on the floor or in her bouncer and take in her surroundings. She is a joy!
Having 3 kids isn't as tough as I had heard. It definitely takes more organizing and juggling, but nothing super hard. Izzy needs alot more attention than usual, but she will get used to this new addition to our family and be just fine. For now I just give her the extra attention she needs and she seems to be happy. Ethan is adjusting really good. Because he is so laid back and goes with the flow it's easy to neglect his mommy time. I have to consciously remember to play a game with him or read with him because he won't let me know that is what he wants to do. He is very aware of the changes Elizabeth has brought to our household, but he adores her so I guess it's okay that she screws things up for a little bit. :) She is only weeks old and yet I can't imagine our family without her. What a special new addition to our Vandenberg clan.

I WILL HAVE ORDER!

Junk DrawerVanity Drawer/Jewelry

Underneath Vanity

Man, I have been on this huge ORGANIZING kick. I think it's my way of staying busy to avoid the baby blues. To quote Shelby from Steel Magnolias, "I feel the need to make things as simple as possible." Thank heaven for "Tupperware" storage bins. Now I have to tackle my husbands vanity, the linen closet, and the office (soon to be nursery). I should have took before pictures. You would die at how organized this is for me. A house of order is truly a house of God. It's amazing at how peaceful my home feels to me now. From now on I WILL HAVE ORDER!

Not the "Baby" anymore...

Well, she is certainly not the baby anymore. Look at that big girl. Since Elizabeth came along Izzy has seemed more like a big girl than a baby to me. Even though she still needs me to change her diaper and get her dressed in the morning, she isn't the baby of our family any longer. Izzy doesn't care though. She still rules the roost and struts around her like she can do whatever she'd like...because she can. She is actually a pretty easy little girl as long as I keep the bathroom doors shut, breakables on high shelves and Elizabeth in a whole other room. :) When she can actually turn the door knobs is when I need to worry. Izzy can reach them now, but isn't quite sure how to get the door to open.
Izzy is a total daddy's girl! He walks in the door at the end of the day and she says, "Hi" and runs to him. Lately she wants Daddy all the time. No worries here; I'm not complaining. My hands are full as it is. She has discovered coloring and can sit for at least an hour at the bar just scribbling on the same piece of paper. I don't remember Ethan liking to color until he was like 3 or 4 years. Izzy especially likes to color if Ethan is coloring. She is certain she can do whatever he can do. It's amazing to me how different Ethan and Izzy are, but how much they like to be with each other. Izzy's personality is very independent and head strung. She knows what she wants and wants it now. While Ethan is very laid back and easy going. He is very imaginative and sensitive and is her personal body guard. She is very lucky to have him. They play really cute together despite the occasional teasing by Ethan and screaming by Izzy. Ethan sure enjoys her company now that she is older and can play with him more. I have to admit I enjoy her company a lot more now that she is more self entertaining. :) That's my BIG girl...they grow so fast, huh?

Here she is!!

Elizabeth Rae is here!
6 lbs 6 oz. 19 1/2 inches
4 weeks early!


For the details head to my mom's blog.

Ahhhhh, she is into EVERYTHING!

Izzy is 17 months now and into everything! I am so not used to this type of thing. Ethan was a gem of a toddler and never got into the cupboards and stuff. I am getting plenty of exercise chasing after this little girl. Izzy is very spunky and dramatic, but she is also tons of fun to watch grow. She is a little explorer and is learning new words and expressions all the time. Ethan adores her but is also easily annoyed with her when he wants to be alone. Izzy doesn't know what to do with herself while E is at school. She lights up when he comes home. Hopefully, he is always her hero.

Great with Child

I am predicting this baby will grace us with her presence by the end of the week or start of the next. I have been having strong contractions everyday. They are just not very consistent; until today. They were every 15 minutes for about 2 hours, then they calmed down (once I did). I guess deep cleaning my house doesn't fit under the "take it easy" catergory, huh? No worries though. The doc gave me some pills to calm the contractions and he hopes I hold out until next week sometime. Me too! I don't want to have another NICU baby. That was really hard with Izzy. Izzy was born 5 1/2 weeks early. I am already past that time frame by half a week, but I know that I need to at least get the 36 weeks to take a healthy baby home...knock on wood.
We still don't have a name for her though. We have a list though:
Ivy Rae-Gabriella Rae-Arianna Rae -Kerrington Rae(call her Kerri after my sister)-Melissa Cory-and some others I don't care for. I really like IVY, but Corey hates it. I hope it's growing on him by the time she is born. I told him I am just going to write it on her birth certificate and he rebuttaled with "I will just bless her what I want her to be named." I would think that was funny and he was just bluffing, if my own father hadn't changed my brother's name in his blessing. His name was supposed to be Chad, instead my father blessed him Daniel. My mom called and had the birth certificate changed right after. Funny story, huh? Therefore, I need to agree with Corey on a name. :) Well, I will keep you all posted on the baby news. Stay Tuned!