1st Church Service

We decided that we would go to church today. I would say we were the last two to arrive. However, we did beat the offering plates (not by much). I will no longer wonder why or have that "you’re kidding me - your actually going to come to church this late. You might want to think about waking up 20 minutes earlier." look on my face when ushering. I understand now. I got us two fold out chairs and we sat in the very back. It didn't take long for her to get going. She was sleeping but was grunting a little but you couldn't hear her over the organ which was fine. However, it got real quite and she announced her presence to the row in front of her with a nice loud delivery of a number 2. I am glad the people in front didn't turn around because that would have been embarrassing (more than it was). Hey there's nothing you can do about it. They always say it's better to let it go than hold it in and she's a believer. Anyway, after Bob got going good in his sermon, she decided to let him know that she was there for her first visit and wasn't too impressed. So, I took her downstairs and removed her from the car seat and we hung out in the stairwell - listening. We finally got to the top of the stairs and Aubrey was knocked out when all of a sudden she let out another cry without out any warning. I guess she had gotten startled by something she was dreaming about (which is a whole different subject - what is she dreaming about?). The good thing is that was it for the rest of the morning and until after lunch. She was completely knocked out. So church wasn't a compete bust but she's going to need to work on her behavior.

Aubrey spent most of the afternoon knocked out on my chest - it's our Sunday afternoon bonding/nap time. Her great aunt and uncle came to visit her from Hemingway (Deborah and Archie). I told Deborah not to wake a sleeping baby but she wanted to see her eyes. Aubrey didn't like that too much but her mommy got her calmed down so Deborah could hold her again. It was good to see them and super nice of them to come and visit.

What does week 3 have in store for us?
*We do have a doctors appointment on Thursday - two week check -up.
*Who knows - everyday is an adventure in flexibility

Shopping Day

LA and Nana Von decided to go shopping today. However, before they could leave, I got a phone call at work asking me how the stroller folded down. Since I only had done it once about a month ago it wasn't real fresh in my mind. I knew it had something to do with the handle but LA was struggling to get it to fold down. The most surprising development was that Nana Von actually figured it out - actually it was a miracle. So while I was working to make money, LA was spending it. It's kind of like my father and second father (Clyde) always would tell me - Your spending money out the back door quicker than we can bring in the front door with shovels. They bought some cute outfits and to be honest it wasn't excessive, especially since we had not bought any gender specific clothing before she was born. Aubrey was a trooper and didn't cry the whole time and that is impressive because when I go with LA I feel like crying as soon as we get in the store (just kidding, I love shopping with you LA. It's important that we spend time together.)

We need to revist a standard rule for those that are visiting Aubrey. If Aubrey poops or pees while your holding her then you get to change her. We have relaxed the rule the last two times - Meghan and Tommy. However, it will be enforced going forward. Trust me we already have enough training in 10 days. We will provide the diapers and wipes.

PS - Stay tuned for the Halloween pictures. She is going to be adorable!

It's pretty amazing to watch Aubrey already start to change. Each day is something new.

Weigh-In

LA had a doctors appointment today so we went with her. Aubrey was pretty good. She wanted me to feed her shortly after arriving at the doctor's office. You know the rule - no crying babies in the lobby. Anyway, after LA's appointment we decided to stop by Summerville Medical Center for the breast feeding support group that meets on Tuesday's. We only wanted to go to get her weighed for free so we could see how the breast feeding is going.

I told LA I wasn't going in until she confirmed it was ok. I didn't think any males would be there so LA opened the door, stuck her head in and turned around and told me "you don't want to come in here" like it was some kind of war zone of breast feeding moms. I think I might take her next week just for a laugh and to if anybody would say anything. There are such things as stay at home dads which I would be excellent. Anyway, LA wasn't interested in the "support" function of the group but just the free weighing.

It is confirmed. We have a little chunker on our hands. She is eating well and gaining weight. I told ya'll a long time ago she was going to be a superstar at everything - so far she got sleeping and eating down pat. The official weight was 8lbs 12.5oz. She has already surpassed her birthweight after 9 days. The goal was back to birth weight in two weeks. Wonder if that broke any records. Wonder who you check with about that - might be her first trophy. Guess we better put her on a diet now - just kidding. That's good news and tells us the she is getting enough to eat and that it's full of good nutrients to help her grow up strong and healthy.

So today's summary: Aubrey is a superstar and overachiever (which translates into chunker).

1 Week Old

We had our 7 day old birthday party today. It was a pretty low key affair - breakfast at Sweetwater and a pizza/pool party without the swimming at Swoop-a-loop's house in Knightsville and the most important thing a nap on daddy's chest after breakfast. That's what were going to do every Sunday afternoon - it's a family tradition.

We had a surprise visitor today. LA wanted to get some Perkins for breakfast so we attempted to make the trip and we were too late. The line was out the door. It's hard to beat the heathens (including us) and rednecks to breakfast on Sunday morning. I guess we should have went after the 5am feeding but we weren't motivated enough for that. So on the way our second choice Sweetwater, we ran into Morgan W driving down main street. She was coming to see us but we weren't going to be home. The timing was perfect and you think things happen randomly. There is a greater purpose to our lives. To make a long story short - it was important for us to see Morgan because she and her husband Michael are getting ready to go live in St. John's for awhile. Yeah, that's right, there going to do the island life thing which doesn't sound too bad to me. I think we skipped that option. We will have to live vicariously through them. We might have to go visit them. A free place to stay in a tropical paradise and a baby sitter while we go explore. It kind of far to drop Aubrey off at the babysitter but we might have to do it. Anyway it was great to see MoMo.

We finished our first load in the Diaper Genie II. I didn't count the diapers but there was a pretty good load. I took them downstairs and left them by the back door to take to the trash can. As you can guess - I forgot about them and the next morning I remembered them because they were stinking up the house. I guess the DGII works but you have to remember to remove the hazardous waste outside. I want to take a minute to post an open apology to our garbage man. For the next two years our trash is going to stink to the high heavens. Sorry.

LA and were wondering that since we had a girl, if Heather could bring the wardrobe full of clothes we gave Emmy back for Aubrey to wear. Hope it's not too late.

Got the update from Wes and Garrett this morning... Everyone must be doing well. They said Aunt Leigh Ann was getting skinnier and her feet were getting smaller though they are still bigger than Uncle Scott's feet.

After seeing LA on Sunday afternoon, here's what Garrett and Wes said to Mindy Ulmer about LA:
"Aunt Leigh Ann was getting skinnier and her feet were getting smaller though they are still bigger than Uncle Scott's feet."
That is funny!

Craft Shopping and Family Visits

Evidently, I haven't passed the "flying solo"/"stay at home" with Aubrey test yet. It has multiple parts - written and observation. I might not pass it until she's eleveen. So LA and Nana Von took Aubrey shopping today for crafts at their favorite store - Michael's.

Hopefully, I can pass it soon so I can keep Aubrey from being sucked into making wreaths...that's pretty girly. She needs to hang out with me doing man things and and I can teach her play sports or even just take her for a ride in the car.

I am getting closer to finishing her bookcase. We are to the staining stage and finding a color to match the existing crib and dresser. Hopefully, it won't be much longer.

My sister (Julie), her husband (Chris) and two of their three children (Katie and Meghan) made the trip up from Savannah. They stole Aubrey from the car while I was showing LA, Aubrey's bookcase. When I opened the car door there was no Aubrey, we didn't have long to panic as we looked down the driveway as my sister was walking away with Aubrey. I guess they drove down to see her and not LA and I. It was great to see them and they got to hang out with Aubrey for a little while. They even came by our house to check out the nursery. Aubrey was a little fussy but she's got them wrapped around her little finger. Meghan wouldn't change her diaper when she did a number two...breaking the rule of if your holding her you change her. I'll give her one pass but next time she's changing the diaper.

We can already see her growing up before our eyes. It going to happen fast.
We are almost 7 days old...last week mommy was having contractions and preparing for a trip to the hospital. It seems like its been a lot longer...but in a good way. If week one is any indication of the what's to come, I think we are going to make it. But keep checking back because we might be pulling our hair by the time you are reading this.

Going Out On The Town

We started the day off getting ready for our big night out on the town. It's Friday night everybody get dressed up and goes out on Friday's to celebrate the end of another week. Nana Von and LA gave Aubrey a bath and it wasn't much different that the first - she isn't real thrilled about it at this point. I am sure that will change.

Aubrey and LA directed me in hanging curtains in our bedroom. Yep that's what I will be doing for a long, long time - taking directions from my two ladies. I am not a handyman either so scratch that off my list of skills. Ulmer's boys better get ready for phone calls from their sister to take care of all her requests that I am incapable of doing to my high standards (or is it her high standards?)

We got Aubrey all dressed up in her going out clothes to impress all the boys and went to Chili's to meet a large group from our Sunday school class. This was our first attempt to take Aubrey out for any extended length of time. Because we had such a large group we had to sit outside. Aubrey was fussy (don't know why - chilly, wet diaper...etc) most of the time but we survived. We learned a few things to make our next trips out into the big world a little more successful - don't go, stay in the bubble. She didn't pick up any boys this trip...no boys attended but she put everyone on notice that she's going to be a heartbreaker.

Great Grandparent Day

Just want to clarify a few things - I (KC) am the creative mind behind this blog. All the typed words, I will take responsibility for. However, all baby pictures that will be posted have to go through an approval process (LA). So if you have an issue with the posts (content, appearance, length, frequency) please submit them to me. If you had your picture taken with the baby and it is not appearing on the blog or Facebook, you will need to address that with LA. However, it would probably be safe to assume that "she just overlooked it because there are so many pictures" or "it was blurry". I am sure it didn't have anything to do with you or your outfit and it was a bad picture of Aubrey - (not much chance of that because trust me it's kind of hard for her to mess up a picture). This blog does have a complaint department but they really aren't very nice and probably don't want to hear your babbling but if you must submit your complaint/request to them via email and we will get back to you as quickly as possible (I am pretty sure your definition of quickly and there's are not the same) However, there is a simple way to remedy this issue - come back over and visit Aubrey and make up some excuse that you want to have your picture taken with her. You might even want to ask to preview the picture and ask LA for her opinion.

All that is to say - we love all of ya'll and we are sorry if we don't mention you in the blog or your picture doesn't show up on the internet. We are glad you are interested. However, it is probably my fault because my memory is not too good or I didn't tell LA something so just remind me and I will make any additions and corrections that you ask. We want everyone to feel apart of raising Aubrey - it going to take a lot of family and friends to do it.

LA and I had an interesting conversation today about how old Aubrey was - She is four days old but LA is trying to say she is 5 because we had her early in the morning on Sunday. Nice try but that's not how we count. Guess I am going to be the math wizard and LA can teach her spelling (ask anyone in Sunday school about why I am not touching that subject), english, and science. I'll take history also since I am so old and actually lived through most of the stuff in the book.

So today was another great day. In the back of our minds, we are wondering if everything is ok. However, we realize that this train could derail any minute. We hope not. We have been blessed by 4 great days of a perfectly content baby - knock on wood. We know this is subject to change and will change any minute but so far it has been much better than we imagined or thought possible. Keep the prayers coming for nights with sleep. We are pretty sure Aubrey would have slept through the night last night but LA had to wake her up to feed her. She is such a good sleeper that it is quite an ordeal to get her to wake up.

Aubrey got to meet some of our friends from Providence (the girls). They are such good people. They brought us lunch and Aubrey had her favorite - The Big Nasty (open faced roast beef sandwitch) wonder how that's going to digest (we asked them to leave off the green onions just in case her stomach wasn't ready to digest it - she didn't seem to like it as much as her daddy). Two of Aubrey's future playmates were there also - Jenn and Shara are both pregnant with due dates falling on consecutive days in February. We can't figure out what was going in May but we evidently missed the excitement and romance in the air.

The big excitement of the day was Aubrey meeting her only set of Great Grandparents - Mama and Pop (Corey's parents). Aubrey is the thirteenth great grandchild for them. Aunt Karissa drove them from Lodge which was super nice of her. I think she really wanted an excuse to come see Aubrey again. Mama is a pro. As I mentioned earlier, this isn't her first rodeo. We wish she was closer to teach us a few things but we can still call when we have any questions.

Grandma and Aubie came over and spent some time with us which was super nice. Grandma has been a trooper this week by working so daddy can be off as much as he has been.
No telling what's in store for today, every day is an adventure but it's the best adventure that we have ever been on.