Grandfather name requests...

Ok bloggers... if anyone out there still reads our blog, I need some help. We have 2 grandfathers who cannot pick a "grandfather" name for Braylin (and future grandkids) to call them. So help us out and please let us know what you call your grandfathers and/or what your kids call their grandfathers. Thanks!!! Hopefully this will help them out a little bit...

The grandmothers' names: My mom is going by Gammie because we loved it as soon as she mentioned it one day, and Jay's mom is going by Poppi because that's what all of the cousins called her when they were little kids so we're keeping it in the family

Aunt Jennifer & Uncle Ray

Braylin's Aunt Jen and Uncle Ray made a quick trip to visit last weekend, and we had so much fun! Jennifer hadn't seen her since she was born, and Ray had yet to meet/see her. So they packed up and headed to Shreveport for the weekend. We had all day and evening on Saturday -- they came to our house for a little while, then we headed out to lunch, Target and Ladies in Waiting, and then dinner at my parents. It was a lot of fun, but of course too short! We'll have to make a trip to New Orleans to visit them once Braylin gets a few months on her.

Valentine Baby

Braylin had her first Valentine's Day! If you can't tell, this 3-week-old is spoiled rotten.... she had several valentines day admirers...

Putting on the ounces....

Today was Braylin's 2-week doctor's appointment, and everything was perfect! She was wide awake all morning, and Dr. Haynes couldn't believe how alert she stayed during her full body assessment.

Now sit down for this information.... she weighs 8lb 7oz. Yes, that's correct...she's gained a whole pound since last week's doctor visit. But Dr. Haynes was thrilled. She was glad Braylin is finally back to her birth weight. The poor child was so under-nourished that first week home, so it's good she's putting the ounces (pound) back on. She's a healthy, growing little girl -- whose cheeks continue to enlarge on a daily basis. :)

Her umbilical cord fell off Monday night, so we're now seeing a belly button! Yippy! She continues to swing those arms around with every chance she gets, as well as kicking those adorable feet out as soon as she finds an opening in her swaddle blanket. She's so much fun to watch! Always moving around some way or another. The other night she wiggled out of her swaddle blanket, and when I woke up to her crying she had somehow rotated 90 degrees and moved to the back of the crib. Not at all where she had started the night! That little booger scared me to death when the monitor wasn't showing her anywhere on it because she had moved so much out of the camera's view.

Braylin is such a wonderful baby. I'm sure I'm jinxing myself right now and this will all change by this evening since I'm bragging about her, but she's so wonderful! We get in bed around 11 or so, and once she's sleeping SHE'S SLEEPING! I have to set my alarm to wake her up every 3 hours to eat. Otherwise, I really think she would just sleep until morning. I'm enjoying it so much...since I'm fully aware it could take a turn any night now. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't. :)

2 weeks

1st (and 2nd) doctor's appointment

I need to play catch-up on my postings! So here it goes...

Monday was our first doctor's appointment, and oh how Braylin had already changed in those 5 days! Her birth weight of 8lb 3oz decreased by 11% which put her at 7lb 4oz on Monday. We had a horrible time getting her to breastfeed over the weekend, so she dropped a good bit of weight, but Dr. Haynes wasn't too worried. We discussed the whole breastfeeding option and what to try since this little booger wouldn't latch on long enough to get any nutrients. So, now I'm pumping and feeding her breastmilk thru a bottle. Works for me!

Since her bilirubin was a little elevated (due to decreased nutrition) and her weight had dropped, Dr. Haynes had us bring her back on Wednesday for another bilirubin check. Good news... bilirubin had dropped back to 9.6 and Braylin had gained 2oz in 2 days, which is exactly what we're looking for! So, now our healthy little girl is growing away!

It has been quite humerous trying to manage my time with a newborn. If you could have been a fly on the wall Wed morning while my mom and I were trying to get Braylin ready for the doctor appointment. Monday Jay and I had gone together to her afternoon appointment which seemed to go quite smooth as far as getting her ready, the diaper bag ready, and loading up in the car. But for some reason Wed morning just didn't have enough time in it. We were laughing so hard trying to get everything situated and to the doctor on time. I definitely will be needing practice at time management skills now that we have an added addition to the family. :)

Week 1

At the hospital

Braylin's newborn photos....

I promise to get on here and post some photos and a baby update soon. She had her first doctor's appointment Monday and we went back today -- will post an update hopefully later today. Trying to figure out this time management thing.... taking me some time. :) For now, click here to see a few photos from her first photo shoot.

Happy Birthday Braylin!!!!!

Braylin Paige Langham
born January 28, 2008
8:07 pm
8 lb 3 oz
20 inches long

The day came exactly 1 week earlier than planned! Originally scheduled for a Feb 4th induction, Braylin decided to make an earlier appearance. And thank goodness she did, considering she wasn't exactly a feather weight.

I worked Mon and Tues, so I ran by Dr. Gayle's office Tues afternoon for my 38 week appointment. I was dilated 1cm, Braylin had come down a good bit more, and my cervix was 90% effaced. I was so excited! Then came Wednesday morning around 2:30am.... I woke up with horrible cramping in my lower back. It was bearable, so I figured I would lay there and wait for them to go away. The cramping was only happening with a contraction, but my contractions were irregular. I assumed I would go by the office in the morning and get some pain meds to hold over the cramping. From what I could tell, I was only in early labor (which can last days) so I wasn't too concerned.

Then at 3:30 when I was having contractions about every 7 minutes or so, I decided to call the labor unit to get another opinion. Angela agreed that a warm bath, two Tylenol, laying back down on my side for a little while, and kick counts would be a good start. Long story short... I was still having cramping at 8:00 so I called the doctor's office and they said to come on in. After the monitor read contractions every 1-2 minutes and my cervix had changed to 2cm, Dr. Gayle said "today's the day!" So across the hall we walked to the Labor Unit!

It felt so weird being the patient! But I have to say that it was so much fun having "my girls" take care of me!!! At 11:00, Dr. Gayle broke my water and they started the Pitocin. By 11:30 I had my epidural and was ready for an exciting day. At 3:00, I was 10cm! I couldn't believe how fast everything had happened! But then the story changes a little.... :)

Dr. Gayle wanted me to labor for another hour or so to see if Braylin would open up my pelvis a little more. He gave the go-ahead to start pushing around 4:30.... I was in stirrups and pushing at 5:00... took a break at 6:45 because the little squirt wouldn't make her way under my pelvic bone..... Dr. Gayle started the fist-in-my-stomach fundal pressure at 7:30 (still feeling that).... and at 8:07pm Braylin was born! There were several times throughout the event I just knew Dr. Gayle was going to call a c-section, but he stuck with it and sure enough she eventually made her appearance. Needless to say, I was EXHAUSTED but it was all so worth it.

I promise more photos to come...... but here's 2 for now! Jen took over 300 photos in 2 days, so I have a lot to sort thru! :)