Happy Snow Day!

 

This is how I spent my first Snow Day!

 This is all we got and it turned into a Snow Day...geez.

I like to hold onto mom's pinky while I sleep!

It's January 12th and the weather yesterday was about 60 degrees, I had some of our windows open, and here we are today with wintery weather keeping us home on our first snow day!  Well, I guess I would have been home anyway, but we got to enjoy an extra day this week with dad home! I'll also get an extra day off at the end of my maternity leave, so it will be a great birthday present since I have to go back to work right after my birthday.  We have been enjoying ourselves today just lounging and watching TV.  Elena has been napping on and off, which is good because she was up almost every 2 hours last night...ugh.  This was the first time this has happened in a few weeks now.  Needless to say, I wasn't the happiest person waking up to put a pacifier in her mouth every two hours, but that was all she wanted!  I have a feeling it is going to be VERY hard to wean her off of it when it's time.  We will have to get creative.

Elena is 6 weeks old as of yesterday.  She is beginning to show some of her milestones.  She is cooing and making sounds when we talk to her.  She is focusing on faces and large objects too.  Keeping her head up has not been a problem for awhile now.  Elena is VERY strong.  I hope this development continues.  She is almost to the point where she can grasp a toy ring on her own.  She even holds onto her pacifier at times to keep it in her mouth. Up until last night, I would have said that her sleeping patterns are improving...I guess we'll see how tonight goes ;) All in all, she is one amazing baby.  I love being home with her during this time to work with her...reading books, tummy time, etc. have all been wonderful experiences so far.

I can hold my head up all by myself!

Moving on...
Last weekend was Elena's first road trip to St. Louis.  She got to meet the Keeven side of the family and most importantly, meet her great grandma and great grandpa.  She was excited to meet them.  It was a beautiful moment seeing my grandparents hold her for the first time.  I am so glad we were all healthy and able to make the meeting a success.  My grandpa turned 85 years old on Sunday and I'm glad we were able to bring Elena as a birthday present.  Below are a few pictures from her first trip...she had lots of fun and snuggle time!!

 My aunt Erin loves to snuggle me!

 Great Grandpa is already in love!

 Hi Grandma!

 Aunt Michelle is another one of my favorite snugglers.

 

 My cousin Hayden held me just right.

 The Keeven girls with the newest addition!

This was just another picture I took the other day that I couldn't resist putting on here...

Love you so much too, Daddy!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of our family and friends!  We have had a whirlwind end of 2011 and are ready to begin anew in 2012.  Lots to look forward to this year as we embark on being parents of a baby girl.  Elena has been the coolest thing to ever happen to Juan and I.  She is just a doll.  Everyday we learn so much about ourselves by taking care of her.  It is amazing how much instinct we have as parents and how much babies have not knowing anything about the outside world.  We marvel everyday at what God has graced us with!

Today, Elena is 5 weeks old and it was Juan's first day back at school after a nice Christmas break.  It was great having him home again for awhile to help with Elena.  Now just us girls are left at home during the days to talk, read, nap, clean, cook, do some laundry, cuddle, and listen to music!  Mom especially loves when she gets a second to write on the blog since baby girl is napping for now! I am so happy that I still have a little over a month to spend at home with Elena...I know this time is going to go by so fast, so I cherish every second I can.  I am honestly loving the time here at home not having to go out in the cold.

This weekend Elena is going to get to meet the Keeven side of the family.  She will get to meet her great grandma and great grandpa for the first time.  It will be pretty amazing and a great birthday present for great grandpa.  Pictures will come next week after our visit.

Here are some more pictures from the last few weeks...

Olivia came to visit!

January 1, 2012!

1st Christmas

Here are some photos of Elena's first Christmas with the family.  We enjoyed a nice holiday at home! Sorry one of the pictures wouldn't flip accordingly, but it was too cute not to include!!

Elena is 1 month old!

Today marks one of Elena's first milestones...she is 1 month old today!  It is really hard for Juan and I to believe that an entire month has gone by already.  She is growing and changing so much everyday.  Yesterday I came to the realization that she is growing out of her newborn outfits and onesies.  I attempted to put on a onesie yesterday that she hadn't worn yet and I couldn't get it over her head.  I decided to quit trying and put something else on her.  It made me kind of sad knowing she won't be able to wear the cute itty-bitty clothes anymore; but on the flip side, I am SO happy that she continues to be one great eater meaning she is growing and healthy.  Elena continues to marvel all who come and visit her.  She is one amazing girl.  She is getting so strong too.  When on her tummy, she can lift her head up by herself and hold it there for quite some time.  She has strong legs for kicking and her grip is getting good too.  She makes us laugh when she is trying to focus on something and her eyes get crossed.  It is just the cutest thing.

We wish everyone a Happy New Year and the Diaz family is looking forward to all the wonderful things coming in 2012.  We already got the coolest gift in 2011, now we get to enjoy her for years to come.  Happy 1 month, Elena!

This is how she celebrated this afternoon...a nap in mom's arms!!

Homer loves his little sister...I just had to put this with her one month photos!!

3 Weeks Old!

I am 3 whole weeks now!  I like to look at everything!

Me and grandpa fell asleep.

Peyton came to meet me! 

Snuggling with Aunt Michelle

Me and daddy fell asleep!

Elena has graced us with her presence for 3 weeks now.  Life has definitely changed, but boy is she one beautiful change!!  I just wanted to post some pictures of her from the last couple of weeks.  WE LOVE HER!!!!

We've made it 2 weeks!!

I'm 2 whole weeks!  Sorry about the dirty onesie...

Elena Elizabeth turned two weeks old this past Wednesday.  It's hard to believe that two whole weeks have gone by.  She is just the most incredible thing.  We just love her so very much!!  It's been quite the adjustment coming home with her and having a few sleepless nights, but what a blessing she has been to our family.  Juan and I are so thankful that the grandmas and grandpas have been coming over so much to help out or just give us a few hours for a nap. We have gotten so much food from family and friends over the last few weeks that we haven't even had to think about dinner plans.  Let me tell you, that has been wonderful since we've been so busy trying to figure things out around the house!  I TOTALLY thought I had this house ready to go for a newborn, but it's amazing how when you bring one home, things get turned upside down again! I wouldn't trade it for the world.  Elena is our everything.  Below are pictures from right before heading to the hospital to an afternoon nap.  Enjoy!!

An afternoon nap...so peaceful!

I'm going home!

All packed up and ready to go home!

Right before we left for the hospital!

Elena Elizabeth Diaz

 I'm so pretty that I made my Aunt Michelle and Aunt Erin cry when they came to meet me!!

Well, it's been over a week since I've had a chance to actually sit down and write a few words about Juan and I's newest addition to our family.  Elena Elizabeth was born last Wednesday, November 30th at 2:38 pm.  She weighed 7lbs and 15 oz...exactly my birth weight too!  Elena was 20.5 inches long and has a healthy set of lungs for crying!  It was music to our ears when we heard her cry for the first time.  She is truly our little miracle.
I went into the hospital last Wednesday at about 7am.  A nurse called me at about 4:50am to ask if I could come in a little late since the Labor and Delivery floor was SUPER busy already that morning.  Of course we were OK with that and got a little extra rest before heading in to have Elena.  When we arrived at the hospital, Juan and I went straight into a delivery room where I spent most of the day.  My nurse, Maggie, who was just AMAZING got me all hooked up right away.  Juan and I just sat together for awhile as I got some IV fluids in my before being hooked up to Pitocin.  Because I was already dialated 4 cm when I arrived, I was put on a low dose of Pitocin at first.  I didn't have but just a few contractions, so Maggie increased the dosage...not by much, though, because I was making progress.  Finally, my contractions were coming frequently and boy were they intense.  I clenched my fists and held Juan's hand so tightly every time I had one.  I did lots of breathing and tried to relax as much as possible.  It wasn't long before one of my favorite people, the anesthesiologist, came in to give me my epidural.  It was not as scary as I initially thought.  Having contractions while getting the epidural was such a distraction to what he was doing.  But, he made me feel so much better.  My legs and feet got all tingly and I could not feel the contractions anymore.  I really did feel like a new woman.  I highly recommend the epidural to anyone debating on whether or not to get one.  I don't think I could have done all of this without it.  It made the birth process much more doable.  I eventually made it to 10 cm dialated and was ready to push.  Maggie, my nurse, did most of the work until my doctor could come over to finish delivering the baby.  I pushed for about 40 minutes and finally we had a baby girl!!  It was one of the most amazing moments of our lives.  I feel so lucky to have been able to share it not only with my husband, but my mom and mother in law too...all three of these people were so helpful during labor...especially towards the end when I felt like I had no more juice in me to push.  All in all, 11/30/11 will always be one of the most special days in our lives.  Welcome to the world, Elena Elizabeth!!