Continuing Traditions

There are a few traditions from the Bennett side that we have continued in our family, and a few things that are becoming traditions as our family grows.

The Bennett traditions are as follows:

Every grandchild (and some of the generation before) has slept in this family bassinet when they come home. Our girls tend to be scooters, so they only last in the bassinet for a week or so before they get moved into the crib, but the tradition lives on.

Also, Grandma Bennett comes and helps out for about a week after the baby is born.  She met Ellie and Mckayla in the hospital the day before they came home.  This time, she also brought applesauce cookies which Ellie LOVED.

Ok, maybe we all rather enjoyed them... She had to make another batch before she left and they didn't last long...  But, that also meant Ellie got to enjoy helping Grandma make cookies.  She loved baking with Grandma!

And, before Grandma leaves she paints the toe nails of any new granddaughters.  We had to wait till the end of the week just to have enough nail to see to try and paint Mckayla's toes.  This time Reva also got to paint Ellie's nails too as Ellie loves finger nail polish.

Grandma also got to stay and do lots of other fun things with Ellie for Halloween, but that is another post.

As far as our family goes, our traditions are just kind of informal occasions.  Sometime in the first week or so my folks come and see the baby.  With both of our girls it's been the first Saturday after the baby is born because of work.  And, because my sister Julie is in town right now, she came with them.

I love this picture because Mckayla had just had a pretty loud and gassy bowel movement that made Julie jump and then made her and I laugh until we cried.

The other informal tradition we have is that at some point we celebrate our babies with Henry Weinhards soda - root beer for Mckayla and vanilla cream with Ellie.  That stuff is beautiful.

Our last tradition also has to do with food and drink, but will come in a little over a week when we bless Mckayla.  When family comes for the blessing we have prime rib - and we all love eating some delicious beef!  Here's to traditions!

Mckayla's Stats

I have been a little busy lately, as one might imagine, but I am worried if I don't post things soon I will forget them.

Mckayla and I had a rough first week with lots of nursing issues, but when she was about a week old we got things figured out and have been doing much better since.  There are still times when it's hard, but overall we're getting used to each other and doing great now.

I was awfully sore and had a lot of healing to do after delivering a 9 lb baby and all the things that come with the hospital delivery, but after about a week I was feeling human again and it only took just shy of 3 weeks for my 3 big bruises to heal from "relaxation" shots the hospital gave me the Saturday before Mckayla was born and the two failed IV spots from during labor.  I pretty much looked like somebody took their anger out on my left shoulder and hand and my right forearm.  But, bruises heal.

At Mckayla's postpartum check up October 25th she was still losing weight and we were told we were letting her sleep too long between feedings because she was down to 8 lbs 7 oz even though she was 8 lbs and about 10 oz when we left the hospital on the 23rd.  Other than that though, she looked great and all was well.

Then, Monday the 29th we took Mckayla to meet our fabulous pediatrician.  I seriously love her.  Mckayla was already back up to 8 lbs. 13 oz and obviously putting the weight back on just fine.  The pediatrician also told us that she is not tongue-tied which was a concern with our nursing troubles.  Instead, she just was being stubborn about latching on properly, and once we got that figured out things got much better in that department.  Seriously, she was only a week old and I had already told Steve several times that I really wanted to switch to formula.  Nursing is harder this time remembering how much easier it was to just put a bottle together for Ellie once we had to switch for her reflux.  Ah well, I know it's good for her and for us to have bonding time, even if I forget to appreciate that sometimes just now.  She is only a few weeks old after all!

Anyway, one of the fun parts of her appointment was getting her stats as far as where she stacked up against other newborn babies.  Her height of 21 inches put her in the 80th to 85th percentile.  Her weight of 9 lbs 2.8 oz put her in the 75th to 85th percentile.  And then the pediatrician asked me if she was a vaginal birth and when I said yes she laughed.  Literally laughed.  I was thinking because of her weight.  That is until the doctor said "Just wait till you see how big her head it!  Well, you probably know how big her head is..."  Yes, I have some healing stitches to prove it.  Anyway, her head size was the 90th to 95th percentile.  So, I am already telling myself after not being sure I want to deliver a big baby again that between only having back labor for 2 days, having a big baby, and having one of the biggest heads to deliver possible, all on my first vaginal delivery - things can only get easier for the next one!  Right?!  We'll cross that bridge a long time down the road.....


Anyway, I just wanted to record a few fun things about Mckayla's appointment before I forgot and try to start catching up on the blog.  A few fun things about Mckayla's first few weeks:  She smiles and occasionally giggles - all in her sleep.  So cute!  She's pretty laid back and has done well with the little abuses she's taken from Ellie.

And Ellie has been so fun to watch with Mckayla.  She loves her so much.  We've had no jealousy, just excitement.  Our only issues have been that Ellie gets so excited she winds up smacking Mckayla with a toy on the head, or leaning on her to give her hugs and kisses.  Poor Ellie doesn't quite understand how fragile her sister is just yet, but considering the issues we could have... not too bad.  Ellie also constantly brings Mckayla toys and books to read to her and wants to give her hugs and kisses and tell her goodbye and that she loves her before nap and bedtime every day.  

She loves to "lay back" with her on the floor and asks if Mckayla can lay back all the time.  She is such a great big sister.  

And we are loving having our two girls - even if it sounds weird to say things like family of four, sisters, daughters, girls, children, etc...