6 weeks

Here we are just 6 weeks into this journey of parenthood and I feel like we're pros. Ok, so there are times when neither one of us can calm her down for what seems like an eternity, but we are learning what she likes from day to day. She is starting to show off her voice more and more in a good way. She has learned she can make noises when she's not crying. I love listening to her as she has tummy and back time on the floor. I am also impressed that when she does cry she actually says "waaaa". When we get a good video of it we'll show you how her mouth actually moves when she says the "w" and how it really does sound like she's crying "waaa". Sometimes mommy giggles at her a bit too long, but we always recover well. She has started to settle into a pattern that allows sleep in chunks growing closer and closer to 5 hours at a time at night. It's amazing how much that helps me feel like a human again.

Bruno and Daphne continue to be great friends as you can see in the picture below. For those of you who know Bruno well, you know one of his favorite games is to take off our socks and throw them around the room. Well, he has discovered that Daphne also wears socks (and when she has footie p.j.s on he thinks she has socks on), and that sometimes she has socks on her hands (her mittens). He tries a little to take them off, and she just keeps kicking and waving around which of course only provokes him. We cherish these moments, but can't wait until she can really play with him.

(thanks to the Brock family for this outfit)

(thanks to "auntie" lori for her new dress)

(best friends)

One Month Old!

Today is Daphne's one month birthday. Things are going well for the Hill family. Tina is learning how to function on very little sleep (something she never learned to do during school) and Paul has transitioned back to work fairly well. Most nights we get at least one stretch of 4 hours if not two chunks. Daphne has a great appetite and so far the supply is there for her. She tends to be a bit more of a mama's girl these days, which I guess can be expected due to the amount of time we spend together - and the fact that I have the milk. I don't mind the middle of the night feedings, but the three hour awake time between 2 and 5 kind of wears at me. It sure helps that she captivates me with every little grunt and smirk she makes. One thing that Paul won't have to teach her is how to grunt out her farts and poops. She is a pro. She even makes the best little grimace face when she's working one out. It makes me laugh every time. We have discovered that she loves hanging out in the swing which helps mom out a lot. It allows me to get some stuff done around the house or catch a nap on the couch while she just watches the world around her.

Of course I have lots of other great little stories I would love to tell, in addition to her birth story. However, I'm sure that not everyone wants to hear them. So, if you want more details please call me or stop by. I welcome the company.

Bruno & Daphne

Just wanted to take a minute to post a quick video. One of the common questions we have been getting is "How is Bruno taking this transition?". I was watching Chuck, and Daphne and Bruno decided to cuddle with me a little.

It's a Girl!!

Daphne Grace Hill was born on February 8th.

I have finally caught up on some sleep (Paul posting again), and figured it would be time to give another update. We came home on Wednesday, our bed has never felt so good. Daphne's bilirubin was a little high and so the doctors had Tina on a pretty strict feeding schedule while we try to get that number to come down. As of Friday the pediatrician told us that Daphne was very healthy and we could start feeding her when she is hungry rather then having to wake her up all the time. Tina is an Amazing Mom, I have no idea how she is still functioning on as little sleep as she is, but she is doing it wonderfully. Her recovery from the C-section is going well and she is a pro at feeding our baby, Daphne has already gained more weight then she lost the first couple days.

I think thats enough updating for now, how about some pictures.

Hospital Couches are Comfy.....

(Paul here with an Update)

Tina's water broke today at about 1:00pm, we called her doctor who told us to go ahead and come in. We took our time packing up the car an getting the dog ready for us to leave. Around 1:45 we arrived at the nurses station at labor and delivery where they confirmed Tina's water was indeed punctured and that we won't be leaving until we have the baby. So far it's been a pretty calm adventure, we have taken quite a few walks around the floor here and Tina has been able to get some good rest and eaten her last meal for a while. Its now about 8:30pm, our doctor checked in and let us know that if we haven't began natural labor they will start some sort of inducing. That's where we are for now, I'm sure once we have the baby most of you will hear from us, just wanted to give an update of where we are at right now.

38 weeks and 4 cm down!

Sorry for the delay in the updates, but there really hasn't been anything to say other than we are still here and everything is going well. Today, however, we have something to report. I went in for my weekly check up and had a suprise. I'm dialated 4cm and 65% efaced. We still have 12 days to the due date, but we're not expecting to make it that long. I've been having a smattering of contractions, ranging from unnoticable unless touching the rock hard abs to actually having to stop and breathe through it. Luckily the harder ones aren't happening at work (except one that totally freaked out some of my coworkers and made me laugh). My doctor is currently on a trip to Hawaii for a medical conference for 2 weeks, so I got to meet the other doctor in the office today. She's just as wonderful and personable. I told my regular doctor last week that I was getting more and more comfortable with someone else delivering the baby, and that really may happen. I am thrilled that I have gotten this far without any significant pain, but I'm not too proud to think the rest of it won't kick my butt. Our goal is still to go without drugs as long as we can, but we'll see if/when our code word comes out.

So stand gaurd everyone, you are officially on call. My dad says I can't have her tonight (friday), but tomorrow is ok. I told him I would bear that in mind and do what I can. So, pray for safe delivery of both the baby and those traveling full of emotions for their little girl to have her own little girl.

Thanks so much for your support and encouraging words during our journey. We will update the blog as we have more news.

32 weeks down, 8 weeks to go...

We have hit the home stretch folks! The baby will be here before we know it. Everything is going well with baby and mommy's health. We had a bit of a scare of gestational diabetes, but after the three hour test we came back normal. Thank goodness too since it happened at the peak of the holiday season. Paul is very excited that we only have 8 weeks left, and of course I am getting nervous again about this whole birth process. We have decided (after much education and discussion) to go as long as we can without drugs. Partly of course, so I can show Paul that I am one tough chica. ;) I have gotten to the point of pregnancy where there is no hiding the "pregnancy waddle" and Paul likes to giggle at me every now and then. I kind of laugh at how much I grunt to get out of the car or recliner. It's just one more part of the beautiful miracle that we women get to participate in.

I'm sure you all have heard, if you aren't living it locally, that we have had lots of snow here in Portland. It has been fairly dangerous out there on the roads, but also just getting out of our drive way. Paul and I both stayed home from work on Monday, but Paul went drove to work and our neighbors drove me later. It was nice to get out of the house, and make some money, but I sure do like staying home and hanging out with the husband and doggy. Speaking of Bruno, he is no fan of the weather either. It takes a lot of convincing to get him to go outside to do his business, but he's done pretty well. We shoveled the sidewalk and he finds a nice spot under the bushes next to the house with limited amount of snow to use, then runs inside and sits in front of his little heater. Also, due to the weather we will be celebrating our Christmas in our little house just us since my folks have more snow on their end than we do. We are actually looking forward to celebrating just the two of us one last time before our world changes (for the better).

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas holiday and are blessed by your loved ones as much as we have been.