LOVE

I'm FINALLY an aunt!!

Keith & Rachel had a beautiful baby boy yesterday afternoon at 2:20pm. Owen Daniel Becker weighed 7lb 0.5oz, and is 21 1/2 inches long. What a wonderful Christmas present! Everyone is healthy & doing great. Rach did it without an epidural! What a woman! I know that many women have babies naturally, but not me. The more drugs the better! Rach was a trooper! What an adorable family!!!
The hospital lifted the "no visitors under 18" rule, so Griff & Channing were able to meet their new cousin. Griffin can even say "Owen". I tried to get a good picture of the three kids, but in this picture Channing is spitting up.....

& Griff couldn't keep his eyes open for this one.

Rach, we'll have to try again when you get home!

We are so happy he is finally here!

Congrats Keith & Rachel!

Love you guys!

Pics that missed the last post

Griffin went to the dentist for the 1st time last Thursday! He did great. It helped that our friend Megan is our dentist. Megan, Ben & Carson had also just come to visit us the night before & her son Carson & Griff had a great time together. Griff's teeth looked great, and the visit was so easy! I was pretty stressed about it & wasn't sure how Griff would act, but it was a breeze.
Aunt Krista also came for a visit last week. She brought some pretty presents for Channing. Can't wait to take some pictures of Channing in the dress Krista gave her. Too cute!

Presents are wrapped, Christmas cards were sent---I think I'm officially ready for the Holiday!

Busy Week

Channing is growing like a weed. The visiting nurse came for a visit last Monday & weighed the little peanut. At hospital discharge, Channing's weight was 8lb 2oz. Last Monday her weight was up to 8lb 6oz, and today at her 2 week Dr. visit, her weight was 8lb 12oz (75%). The little piggy eats 3-4 oz every 3-4 hours. I know, sounds like a lot for a newborn, but Griffin was the same way. We worried about him eating too much, but he turned out OK. Speaking of Griffin, he is adjusting pretty well...or as well as to be expected. We've noticed a few more tantrums & he is using the word "NO" more often than we would like, but he has taken a liking to his sister---and hasn't told her to go away yet.

Last Monday Channing's umbilical cord fell off, so she got a real bath. She was less than thrilled. She hated every minute of it. Fortunately, bath time has become more enjoyable for her. Changing her clothes has also been better. Griffin liked helping with her bath--of course he just wanted to play in the water. We've since moved her bath tub into his big boy bath tub. He wasn't quite sure what to think about that at first, but realized quickly that she wasn't going to play with his bath toys.

Here she is just chillin'. We are still working on the schedule. She does pretty good at night, but occasionally thinks she should be wide awake at 2:30 AM.

Look at those eyebrows. She's going to be just like her Momma. A lifetime of waxing & plucking ahead of her. Poor thing!

I had to throw a picture of these on the blog. My MIL finished Channing's stocking, so I was able to hang them all up. I love them! I have regular stocking hangers, but I was afraid to put them on the mantel--never know what Griffin will decide to pull down. Plus they add a little holiday cheer to the kitchen.

Saturday I made sugar cookies. Sunday we decorated them. Griff helped with about 4 of them, which was actually a good thing because all he wanted to do was stick his fingers (or tongue) in the frosting.

Until I have a child that is old enough to really help, I'm not going to make sugar cookies from scratch again. They are a lot of work!

Griff showing some brotherly love. CA-UTE!

Channing's stats from her Dr. appointment today:

Head circumference: 37.25cm (80%)

Length: 21.5in (90%)

Her Dr. said she's doing great, which is always reassuring. Can't wait to see what her 2 month stats will be. Griff was up to 15lb by 2 months & in the 95% for weight. Hopefully Channing is a little smaller than her brother was. Oh well, I love a big healthy baby!

Can't wait for Christmas. We're heading back to my parent's house to show Channing off. Hopefully the weather cooperates! Hope everyone has a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

(no, her legs are not deformed, the tights were a little big)

Channing's First Visitors

Due to the blizzard that blew through the Midwest, we had very few visitors while we were in the hospital. Although we wished all of our family could have come to visit, it was actually kind of nice to get some rest before bringing Channing home.

Here is the view from the hospital room. It did look pretty outside....but we were glad we were stuck in the hospital! I felt bad for the nurses that were braving the bad weather to get in for their shifts. It brought back memories for me when I was a floor nurse. A lot of businesses shut down when there is bad weather, but a hospital is not one of them. Thursday morning we got the OK to head home. We found out quickly that Channing does NOT like to get dressed. She's a very easy-going baby, but if you want to make her mad, just change her outfit. Guess we won't be playing dress up for a while.


We are ready to go home & see big brother Griffin!

Channing's first visitors:

Grandpa B.

Grandma B.

Grandma & Grandpa E. & Riley

Keith, Rach & future cousin B.

Darcy, Teagan & Tate

I love this picture of the three kids sitting in the chair. Griffin is pretty sweet on Teagan. She's just a few years older than him....they'd make a cute couple someday (as long as brother Tate approves!)

The visiting nurse comes tomorrow, so we'll see how Channing is growing. She's sleeping pretty good at night, eating well, & having no trouble messing up diapers. Hubs & I are so blessed to have two beautiful healthy kids.

Oh, & thanks for all the comments, emails & text messages!

She's Finally Here

Channing Grae Becker

Born December 08, 2009

at 4:06AM

8lb 15oz.

21 1/2 inches long

Everyone is doing well. We're just a little tired! We think she looks just like her big brother looked when he was born. Channing has more hair though--and it is a lot darker! I'll post more pictures soon....after we rest a bit!

Is This Nesting?

So, I don't remember "nesting" with Griffin, but I'm pretty sure that is exactly what I was doing today. This morning Hubs, Griff & I went to Lowes, Menards & Walmart to stock up on all the essentials...batteries, light bulbs, kleenex, cleaning supplies, diapers, baby wipes...you know, the fun stuff. Then, this afternoon I cleaned my floors & the bathrooms, did the laundry, washed the sheets, cleaned out two cupboards, made supper, baked 6 dozen cookies, took my son to see Santa Claus & cleaned up the kitchen. I don't know where all this energy came from, but my guess is this is "nesting". So, today is the due date.

And I still have this precious girl inside me. I thought for sure I was going to go early with her-- not so much. I'm guessing I'll be waiting on her the rest of my life. I suppose I might as well get used to it now.

(me, 40 weeks pregnant)

Tonight we came upon Santa's footprints.
Funny, I didn't know Santa's shoes had his initials on the bottom of them. Learn something new everyday, I guess.

Griff was fascinated with Santa.
I think he was frightened a little at first, but warmed up to him quickly & kept wanting to go back to look at him.


Griff told Santa he wanted "cars & Bob books" for Christmas. Thing is, I think they stopped making Bob the Builder books. I've looked several places & so has some of my family. Too bad. Griff really loves Bob. But, if anyone can find Bob books, it would be Santa. Hopefully Santa is internet savvy & can get on Amazon.com or Ebay & maybe order some gently used books.

Last night after I got a pedicure (toes were super scary looking), I stopped at Hobby Lobby & picked up a few ornaments for Griffin's Christmas tree. HL had cute little football, basketball, soccer, & baseball ornaments.

Griff loved decorating the tree.....for about 2 minutes. Then his attention deficit kicked in.

I finished the tree & we put it in his room on his dresser. He does love the final product & loves to go into his room & admire the tree.

Something else we are excited about...Our Church is collecting money for children in Puerto Rico & each family is to put money into this little white box & take it to the Christmas Eve service. Griff loves putting money in the box & we love hearing him say "Puerto Rico". It is hilarious! It's never too early to start teaching about giving.

Well, after all the activity today, I'm exhausted. Hopefully the next time I blog, I'll be blogging about little baby "C".