Baby A Letter: December 24, 2013

How did I have time to write a letter to you on Christmas eve?!  I am SO excited for your first Christmas tomorrow, Amelia!  I hope you love everything we (and Santa!) got you.  You really do complete our lives!

Pregnancy Week: 30

Amelia,

It has been almost three weeks since my last letter!  Momma feels like such a slacker, but we have been extremely busy with work and the holidays.  Our hectic schedules have also kept us from preparing for your arrival.  You still have no furniture in your room or anything on your baby registry.  Even though Christmas is tomorrow, I am hoping that I can drag your dad out this weekend to start making some big purchases at Nebraska Furniture Mart to tackle something off of my list for you.

Let’s see where to pick back up… Mommy had your 27.5 week ultrasound finally and Corie went with as daddy was out of town for work.  You are quite the active little girl as the ultrasound technician never got a clear photo of you!  You wouldn’t keep your hands out of your face or mouth.  Little stinker already, I can tell!  My right side pain wasn’t my rib cage like I had originally thought; apparently my uterus has started pushing on my ureter and has caused fluid to backup into my right kidney.  This is causing some intense pain at times, but as long as there is no infection, there isn’t anything to do for the pain unless I undergo surgery to have stints put in (which isn’t an option in my book!).  Also, your growth looked great and they are no longer concerned because you were already weighing in at two pounds, nine ounces!  For the record, that is bigger than most babies at 27.5 weeks.

We have doctor’s appointments every two weeks now that we hit our third trimester.  At your last appointment, mommy was almost 29 weeks along and you were already measuring 31 weeks!  Apparently you are going to be one big little girl!  Hopefully, this also means you are going to be healthy and give momma all the baby chub her heart desires.  Our next appointment isn’t until New Years Eve, which is hard to believe because that is exactly one week from today!  2013 has been a crazy, eventful, life changing year and we can’t wait for 2014 to finally meet you and see what other amazing things God has in store for the Koch family!

Grandma Jamie and Grandpa Doug gave you your first Christmas present and stocking over the weekend.  Mommy can’t wait to put you in the headbands and snuggle you in your new blanket.  I am anxiously awaiting your arrival, if you didn’t already pick up on that.  I am sure that Mimi and Papa will also have gifts waiting for you on Christmas morning.  You aren’t even born yet and are already spoiled rotten!!!

Until next time little miss,

Love you to the moon and back,

Momma

All About Amelia - 10 Months

12-23-14

  
I would estimate 22 lbs and 28.5 inches

Sleeping Habits: We still aren't sure what sleep looks like around here.  Our bedtime routine is still the same and we almost always have Amelia in her crib by 8pm after story time.  Amelia was teething majorly this month and cut her first top tooth!  She started feeding twice a night again and mommy is exhausted from her constant waking throughout the night!  We usually can get two naps a day from her, but they always vary in length.

 

What nap time looks like at mama's work!

 

A very rare car seat nap

Eating Habits: Three solid meals a day, plus snacks, and breastfeeding about 5 times a day, depending on mama's work schedule.

 

Do I have something on my face?! 

Feed ME!!!

New Foods Amelia Tried: All things dairy have been wonderful!  Amelia now loves yogurt and Cheetos Cheese Popcorn Puffs.  She also got to try stuffing, turkey and ham for Thanksgiving, but still isn't a fan of mashed potatoes.  We also introduced a variety of store-bought squeeze pouches while she has enjoyed and polishes off in a few seconds!

 

Thanksgiving food goodness

New Discoveries/Developments/Accomplishments: Bath time now involves lots of splashing with her wash cloth which is very fun to watch!  Amelia stood for the first time 100% on her own on 12*13*14 for about 15 seconds.  We will see how long it takes for her to start walking alone!  She almost immediately falls to the ground when she realizes she is standing alone.  She also cut her very first top tooth on 12*13*14.  You can see that what a very big day for her and probably helps explain the major lack of sleep happening!

 

Trying to walk to daddy

Places Amelia Traveled: We headed to Great Grandma and Grandpa Neuvirths for our first annual cookie bake.  Grandma Jamie and Jordyn, Aunt JoAnn and cousin Megan all stopped over to bake and enjoy the fun with us!  Masilko Christmas in Norfolk also happened this month and we had a blast spending the weekend with family!  A visit to Santa at Bass Pro Shop was also a must!  We waited in line for THREE hours just to make sure Amelia got to meet Santa for her first Christmas.

 

Busy Baking

She LOVED Santa, surprisingly!

Special Events or Holidays: First Thanksgiving!!!  and First Christmas celebration!  We love family time!

Thanksgiving 2014

New Friends: This month involved time with both Amelia's Kennedy cousins and her Masilko cousins!  It is so hard not seeing family whenever we want, so we really try and make the most of our time together with them.  We also went to a few MOPS meetings and had a dinner date with Jake, Corie and Erin at Red Robin.

 

Future Husband

New Baby Babble:  "go, go, go" and "peas" for please on occasion.  Amelia usually whispers/mouths the words, but we know what she means.  She also spends a good chunk of time reading her books to us!  Her favorite pastime is grabbing all the books off of her shelf, surrounding herself with a decent pile and babbling while turning all the pages.  It is ADORABLE!

Reading Time

Likes/Dislikes: Amelia got her first baby for Christmas and loves her "baby alive."  However, she does NOT want her baby to have her bottle in it's mouth and will rip it out the second you put it in!  Bathtime has become a bit of a struggle lately and she will occasionally cry the second we put her in the tub until we take her out.  Not sure where it is coming from, but I hope it is just a phase!

 

Before she started hating bath time

Parents Update:  Brandon was able to take some time off for the holidays, so it was nice having him around more and getting to really enjoy time as a family.  I am busy working at least 3 days a week, sometimes 4, all completely dependent on my dad's work schedule.  Did I mention that Amelia has the world's BEST grandparents?!  We are so fortunate that they always want to spend time with her and it gives Brandon and I a much needed break!  Working wasn't so bad at first because I was able to bring in Amelia when we didn't have a sitter.  Unfortunately, that only lasted through December.  It sounds like I will only be working through January, so we will have to see if I am able to continue staying at home or if I need to find something permanent.  It was wonderful 8 months at home with Amelia and I am dreading the thought of not being there for all her firsts!

 

With Daddy before we saw Santa

 Headed to work with mama

Baby A Letter: December 4, 2013

Wow... It's December already!  I feel like time is flying by and reading these letters proves just how true that is!  Oh Amelia... I love you so!

Pregnancy week: 27

Third Trimester Baby Amelia,

Well… we officially hit our third trimester together yesterday!!!  This means we are in the home stretch and mommy and daddy probably need to kick it into high gear.  Although we have no furniture for your room, no car seat or stroller, or diapers to put you in, we have plenty of clothes which is really that matters to a baby girl.  Right?  Or maybe not…

Last week was Thanksgiving and it was wonderful!  Mommy has been craving Thanksgiving food for weeks and hitting three Thanksgivings in one day took care of that.  I went to West Point to see Grandma Jamie’s family for a bit, over to GiGi Harriet’s for another meal, and finally hit up Aunt Bev’s to see Grandpa Keith and family.  It was a lot to take on in one day; mommy was exhausted and very full, but it was well worth the travel.

This week has been mommy’s worst week in terms of discomfort.  Something is happening near my right side/rib cage and it is making me very uncomfortable during the day and makes sleeping at night more difficult.  You are still kicking pretty low for it to be you kicking me in my ribs.  I think my rib cage may finally be expanding and hopefully at our doctor’s appointment on Friday, we can confirm it is that and nothing more.  Also on Friday is another ultrasound!  Usually, the last ultrasound is at the 20 week appointment, but we need to make sure you are growing properly since mommy had subchorionic hematomas.  I can’t wait to see you again!

Daddy is out of town for work this week, so things are pretty quiet on the home front.  Nothing else new to report, so until next week Amelia!

I love you so much!

Momma