One Exciting Weekend

The weekend began unlike any other. Craig took the boys from the Boy Scout Troop on a camping trip Friday night. They had such a great time going on a hike, cooking breakfast and enjoying the view while bonding such as men do. He finally returned Saturday evening to a family who missed him very very much.

While he was gone, I had a friend, Cristi, spend the night with me because I hadn't had to spend a night with Charlotte alone yet. I hopefully won't have to for quite some time. Luckily enough I had a companion - after having fed Charlotte, I was walking around with her to get her to burp and she ended up vomiting all over me. She was covered and I was covered and had it not been for an extra set of hands, I don't know how I would have gotten it all cleaned up and gotten Charlotte re-fed. Thank you, Cristi! We'll have to have another movie marathon soon!

Craig and I both enjoyed our Friday night - Craig loves to camp and says that he couldn't stop thinking about having Charlotte and I with him the next time he goes. We're both really looking forward to it - camping is so much fun! But the fun and excitement was short lived. Saturday night with Charlotte was a repeat of the night before and we both got little to no sleep at all. We did give her the first bath she's ever had, though. She didn't like it as much as we'd hoped she would and so it didn't last very long - but every bath we've given her since has been such a joy for her and us. She makes the best happy faces - she's such a cutie! Luckily; however, we felt rested enough to travel to Little Rock to surprise the family. And it was a surprise indeed.

It was so much fun getting to see everybody. Charlotte's Uncle Ross had recently had an operation on his wisdom teeth but was luckily feeling well enough to play with Charlotte a little bit.

We invited my mom over to Craig's parents house and we all enjoyed some dinner that Grandma Debbie prepared for everybody and it was delicious! We got to see Nina and Kayla and Hailey - but unfortunately, sweet Callie had an ear ache and stayed home. Getting Charlotte and Hailey together was so much fun! Hailey has certainly gotten bigger since we last saw her and she is just beautiful!

My mom got to spend a little bit of time with Charlotte, too. And so did Charlotte's Aunt Rachel. It was really fun to see them again - I know Rachel really enjoyed seeing Kayla and also playing with her little niece.

Also - Grandma and Grandpa Shelton got to play with Charlotte. It was really fortunate for Grandpa Shelton because he hadn't got to spend any time with her like Grandma Debbie and Grandma Gail had. We ended up spending the night with Grandma and Grandpa Shelton and luckily so! We got our first full night of sleep thanks to Grandma Debbie who got up with Charlotte while Craig and I slept and fed Charlotte and put her back to sleep. I hadn't ever felt so good when we woke up Monday morning and it is all because Grandma Debbie is amazing! Thank you so much Debbie! You're the absolute best!

We're really looking forward to Thanksgiving so Charlotte can spend some time with family members she hasn't even met yet (Uncle Ryan, Uncle Brendan and Aunt Michelle! - We miss you!!!).

Also, Charlotte had her first Dr. appointment this morning. Get ready for it - Charlotte has gained another pound! She is now 10 lbs. and 4 oz. So within three weeks my sweet little baby has gained 2 lbs and never lost an ounce! She has also gained another inch! She started off at 20 inches long and is now 22 inches long! She is sure growing - I don't notice it on a daily basis, but she has gotten somewhat heavier!

So we had a very busy weekend - which is always nice! We're really looking forward to the up and coming weekend when we'll be hosting a pumpkin carving party and heading back to Little Rock to visit the family for another weekend!

A day in the life of...

You wouldn't think much would happen in just one week with a newborn - however, many things can and do happen, all at once and by surprise.

Where shall I begin? Craig has decided to shave his mountain-man beard. As many of you know, I love Craig's big bushy beard. There is just something about all that man hair that really makes me smile - but he shaved it. No, he didn't keep the handlebar, he just shaved it down to a five o'clock shadow, but he had fun with it first.

Also, Charlotte lost her cord stump. We were really excited when that happened and so took pictures. We lost the stump in her pajamas first, but it fell out during the search. Craig suggested keeping the stump somewhere, but we threw it away. After all, Craig suggested eating the placenta, too, but we never did that either.

In the above photo, Charlotte is sporting a really cute top and legging set given her by Craig's wonderful cousin, Kelli. Thank you Kelli, it is so cute on her!

While on the phone with my mom this morning, she reiterated to me a dream she had had last night. It involves little 2 week old baby Charlotte who can speak as clearly as any adult. She asked my mom to change her diaper and even asked her for a peanut. My mom was in disbelief and said: "You're just 2 weeks old, you can't talk to me like that!" But Charlotte was hungry... SIDENOTE: If any of you are aware of Craig's eating habits, this part is about to be really funny. Especially when Craig was a baby who couldn't be fed enough. ... So, upon having asked my mom for a peanut, and my mom saying "You're two weeks old, you can't have a peanut" Charlotte replied by saying "I think my mom's drinking all the milk and she's not leaving enough for me..." That's right. Even in my mom's subconscious little Charlotte is somehow not eating enough. She's a little porker, though. She never did lose any weight and instead gained a pound a week after her birth and went from an 8 lb. baby to a 9 lb. baby. She eats constantly. I never have to worry about becoming engorged, Charlotte will eat 24/7 if we let her. I thought that was so funny!

Charlotte has been a genuinely good baby. She's already almost sleeping through the night which Craig and I love. However, she does occasionally have really bad nights. Two nights ago she had one of these nights where the starving insomniac was up all evening and then up all night. On top of the fatigue I was already battling with baby Charlotte, I had taken some benedryl to ease an allergic reaction I was having (we think to lotion - it was on my hands). So the Benedryl was trying to knock me out, my own bodies lack of sleep in 24 hours was trying to knock me out, Charlotte was up and screaming and hungry and Craig was in bed next to me - snoring! That was a rough night, but we got through it and it was just one of a few. She really does a very good job and is generally a very happy baby. Craig and I couldn't be luckier or happier.















I would also like to thank my mom for giving Craig and I a camera. Without the camera I would not be able to capture so many wonderful memories from my little baby's first weeks of life. This has been an amazing few weeks and I so look forward to watching her grow and do more things each week. Thank you, mom. We love you.

Beginner Blogger

Good Morning,

Inspired by my sister-in-law, Nina, I have decided to create a blog to share photo's and stories with the family. Since Craig and I live a state away, and in some cases states away, from our families, this seems to be the best method of sharing everything important in our lives. Especially since email will only let us post 2 pictures at a time.

As many, if not all, of you know, Craig and I have very recently given birth to a baby girl: Charlotte Frances Shelton. She is two weeks old now and the most beautiful baby I've ever seen (I'm biased). It's amazing how something so little can be so big and awe inspiring. We've been stressed out, exhausted and edgy - but these past two weeks have also been the most fun. I've seen her smile, frown and shoot poop across the room at 2:00 in the morning. Life may have its ups and downs, but nothing will ever prepare a person for the joys and stresses a new baby has to offer.

After our scare and emergency room visit with baby Charlotte, things have settled down immensely. It seems as though she isn't suffering from reflux like the doctors originally thought and perhaps is really only suffering from an excess of milk intake. She will gag and lose her breath completely. After I get her to my shoulder and pat her back for a minute she seems to gain her breath back - but it's still terrifying every time it happens. Poor little baby.

It was really scary when Craig had to go back to work again - luckily though it's the time of the year when he'll be spending less time at the office and more time at the home. He can input data on his laptop (If I ever give him time to!) and spend more time with Charlotte and I. That's really nice because while I love my little baby, it's still really scary being alone with her.

I know almost everybody has met Shiner, our boxer. Like many boxers, Shiner is a glutton for attention. With a new baby dominating his lime light, Shiner hasn't been receiving the attention he is so deserving of, and will NOT hesitate to let us know how he feels. He's an extremely silly dog but he's just going to have to be patient until Charlotte is about 6 months old. He sheds a lot, too.

Being so far away from our family is sad right now, but pretty soon Charlotte will be able to travel and we'll get to see everybody for the holidays. We will not be able to come to Little Rock in time to get all the girls together, but in the Spring we'll have a blast with the three of them (very recently three Shelton baby girls were born - the oldest of them is 4 months this month but she'll be gone for the winter).

Hoping everybody has a good day - I'll be sure to update as often as I can - thank you Nina for suggesting the website so I can keep in touch with everybody. This is a really great idea!