One Month Birthday for Jaycee

It has been an exciting month in the Carlile home. I thought I would make a list of the things I have learned over this period of time. Whit has been giving me a bad time since I haven't posted in a while. I created a list of 20 items in no particular order. So here it is from the male perspective......

1. When buying diapers, don't judge the size of the diaper by the baby in the photo on the packaging.

2. When wiping a girl, the proper technique is front to back.

3. The placement of the epidural needle is critical to a successful epidural. (Special thanks to our Doc who nailed it, even though he was an OU fan).

4. There is a difference between a cradle and a crib.

5. If you are driving and you have to pull over so Whit can feed the baby, pull over at a Sonic during happy hour.

6. If your wife doesn't pump or you don't use formula, that means more sleep for you (husband).

7. When your girls (wife and baby) don't get enough sleep, they can get cranky.

8. It is okay to breast feed in public, with a hooter hider, if baby cannot wait until later.

9. Baby clothes require separate laundry detergent.

10. When your wife leaves you with the baby for the first time, and you perform test "let the baby scream until she is worn out" don't chat about it on gmail or your wife may find out what you have been up to.

11. Do not plan next child to be born two weeks prior to you being gone for a week in Phoenix for work. Especially when southwest cancels all flights the day you are planning on leaving.

12. Do not waste your time trying to convince your wife the "let the baby scream to sleep technique" can be effective.

13. Taking good, quality photo's of a new born can be very difficult.

14. Do not print photos at Walgreens, way too expensive.

15. Do not be offended when your wife regularly tells you how large your head is. (Its just because she is used to holding the babies small head).

16. Watch out for these sayings from your wife after you become a father: "Man, you are dressed like a DAD today." or "All the sudden you snore very loud." or "Ev, dress socks with basketball shorts? really???"

17. When going to bathe baby for the first time, you should probably tell mom before you go ahead and do it. I guess the babies first bath is a bigger deal than I realized.

18. When it doubt, burp the baby.

19. When watching basketball or football and holding the baby, look down at her every once in a while or mom will think you are more interested in sports than baby.

20. The connection between baby and parents is amazing and like nothing else.

I love being a Dad (and husband)!

*All photo's taken at one week of age.

Sneak Peak

Us girls are keeping busy by doing the baby stuff- sleeping and eating- while Ev is in Pheonix for a few days for work. We sure miss him already! I'm pretty sure I held Jaycee for 95% of the day today. I just can't help but sit and stare at how beautiful she is. SO in love! I am also loving that Grandma Chapman is staying with me while Ev is away... a little more sleep has been nice, even though she does pretty good in the night considering she is a newborn.

I just saw our photographer put some pics up on her blog of our photo shoot of Jaycee. I anxiously await seeing the rest of the pics... stay tuned!

Jaycee's Pink Palace

Here is little Jaycee's room. She seems to only be here when she's getting her diaper changed. Of which, she had quite the messy experience today, hence the changing pad cover is soaking in the sink at the moment. It is a bright room that's for sure! The chair was a great $10 find off Craigslist that we had reupholstered. We will have the ottoman recovered in the same fabric at some point probably.

Jaycee is doing great. Every night gets a little better. She is just a dream! She tested out her swing... I'm not sure she really knows what to think about it.

Jaycee Stella Carlile

We welcomed Jaycee Stella Carlile into our family on Dec. 31, 2009 at 9:32 am. She weighed 7 lbs 14 oz and was 20.5". We are SO in love with her already. What a sweet little girl she is!

Going into the whole labor process, I was always anxious and nervous about what my 'birth experience' would be like. Since I like reading the details of others' births, the following is what went down a few hours before she entered this world. Skip below and check out how cute she is if you could care less about the details :).

I was already at 4cm going to the hospital. At midnight we arrived to be induced. After getting all settled in, they started the pitocin and got the epidural going. I told them if I could get the epidural in the parking lot, that would be fine with me! The anesthesiologists did a great job with the epidural, (which is surprising because he is an OU fan<---inserted by Ev) I felt nothing but could still move my legs and such. The next few hours were spent watching ESPN (since at that time there are mostly informercials), eating a popsicle and ice, and watching Ev sleep in the tiny chair (I was way too anxious/excited to sleep!). Around 7 am they broke my water. Things started going very quickly after this-- just an hour and a half later I was all set to start pushing. When he said I was a 10 and going to start pushing, I had a little emotional moment thinking about the fact that it was really happening, she would be here soon. I think all those episodes of watching A Baby Story really paid off because I only had to push for 61 minutes (that and in between pushes I told myself to get her out quick so she wouldn't have a cone head :) ). The last few minutes of pushing was the only uncomfortable part, I knew she was so close and I think I just got a little nervous. Sure enough though, all of a sudden she was here! I couldn't believe it. Ev then cut the cord and got to watch them do all the after labor stuff. It was such a special experience with our little family now together. Ev was so wonderful through the whole process (although I did make it easy for him!). So 9.5 hours, a few episodes of Saved by the Bell and some ice chips later, our little angel was here!

The past few days have been going well, considering she is a newborn. She eats great and often. We had a doc appointment that went perfectly. Poor thing gets to be the tester as we figure this whole parenthood thing out! I don't know what I would do if Ev wasn't as great of a dad as he is. I think I've only had to change one or two diapers if that tells you anything. She is a daddy's girl that's for sure!!! And I love having a buddy to match bows with. We often just sit and stare at here... we just love her to pieces!