2 months with Riley

Riley turned 2 months old this week. It has been amazing having her in our lives! She is growing so fast! She is 13 lbs 3 oz and 22 inches long. She loves her brother and Daddy so much! She lights up when they talk to her. Her smile melts all our hearts.

She is doing really well with the Previcid. It seems to be making her feel much better and in the end, that benefits us all. She typically sleeps for 4 hours, wakes up, eats and she is back in bed after about 30 minutes, then sleeps another 4 hours. We seem to have a pretty good routine. However, I'm ready for her to make the jump to sleeping all the way through the night. We aren't too far from it, maybe a month or so longer.

I started coaching volleyball this week as well. It's been a blast being back in the gym and working with the girls. I've had the 11 and under age group. Here are some of my favorite quotes: "I'm really sweaty." "Can we do something funner?" and my #1 pick... "Wait, we have to compete in practice?"

I love being home with Owen and Riley! Week 1 was awesome! Owen helps me cook and do some housework (don't call CPS.... he LOVES sweeping and wiping stuff up). We found a great show on PBS called Word World. It's really educational and cute. He loves watching it. They do a lot of spelling and building words. We've been going to the YMCA where he gets to play with other 2-year olds. I'm so happy they have a great Child's Watch program. It allows him to still play with other kids his age. It's pretty awesome overall!

A new chapter in our life

I am so excited to announce I'm a full-time stay at home mommy! Nathan and I are so excited about this new change in our life.

Another new thing in our life is me coaching for Fort Bend Fire Volleyball starting this Monday. From now until the end of October, I'll be coaching a developmental program camp (4th-8th graders). Then in November, club season starts. I'm so ready to get back in the gym and be around volleyball again.

Another thing I started today is a basic cake decorating class. My girlfriend Clair is taking the class with me. It is awesome! I'm ready to bake lots of cakes and try out all the new techniques! The only problem with that is then we are eating a lot of cake.... which is not conducive to "Mission Lose Baby Weight"... humm...

Riley is doing great! The medicine seems to be working more and more each week. She slept from about 9:45pm to 3:20am last night! That's the longest she has ever slept! Yay! She has her 2-month well check on Tuesday.... time is really flying. Owen is more loving than ever, always wanting to hold and kiss Riley. He is a wonderful big brother!

Turning 2 is fun to do!

OWEN IS TWO! Where has the past 2 years gone? Nathan and I can't believe he is already 2. We had a great little birthday party on the 11th. Here are 2 pictures are from that night. He was so excited to have a big cake in front of him and to blow out the candle. Also, when you're 2, you get to hold your baby sister just like a big boy. Check out that awesome cheesy grin!

On Saturday we had a birthday party for him. It was awesome!!! We got to celebrate with our close family and friends. Owen's buddy Jase came. They had so much fun together! Since Owen loves the Disney show Phineas and Ferb, that was the party theme. They have a pet platypus Perry.... that is who is on the cake. Owen (and us too) are so blessed to have such wonderful people in his life. He got all sorts of fun new games, toys, clothes, a SLIDE!, and an Owen size table & chairs!

On another note, Riley seems to be doing MUCH better! She is now on a new medicine which seems to be working. She is much less fussy and acting like a regular newborn. We are so thankful! She was really hurting. She is just about 5 weeks old now. I can't believe how fast life flies by!

Reflux in babies?

Yep! Believe it or not, babies get heartburn too. Riley was diagnosed yesterday with relux and we've started her on Zantac. Last night was the first night she didn't cry and scream all night. We are so relieved to finally figure out what was going on and get her some relief! Here's some information on GER. Riley had all the symptoms on the list below. Fortunately this has not affected her weight gain. She is 9 lbs 10 oz!!

Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) is a medical term doctors use to describe a condition where food and stomach acid flow back up (reflux) into the esophagus. A ring of muscles at the bottom of the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter )LES) opens and closes to all food to enter the stomach. The LES opens to release gas after meals.

More than gas may escape, however. The LES may also allow stomach contents to flow back into the esophagus and out the mouth. Parents often see the result of spitting up, though vomiting may also occur. GER can occur at times other than during or shortly after a feeding. Reflux can occur when babies cough, cry, or strain.

GER is common in infants and has its own name -- spitting up. Reflux occurs during the first three months of age in more than half of all infants. Many babies don't require treatment. Referred to as "happy spitters," their symptoms usually disappear between 12 and 18 months of age. However, for a small number of babies, symptoms of reflux are severe, and medical evaluation and treatment is needed.

Common infant GER symptoms are:

• Frequent spitting up or vomitting
• Irritability when feeding
• Refusing food or eating only small amounts
• Sudden or constant crying
• Arching the back while feeding
• "Wet" burps
• Frequent hiccups
• Frequent coughing or gagging
• Poor sleeping habits with frequent waking

Owen has been amazing with Riley! He calls her either "baby Riley" or "baby sister". He loves holding her but only for a few minutes. He kisses her a lot too! He recently had a big fall off the changer resulting in this hideous bruise! It is almost gone now but it was a doozie!

Riley's birth announcement

Riley has arrived!

Riley James Mery arrived July 12, 2010 at 12:14PM. She weighed 7 lbs 14 oz and was 18.46 inches long. Labor and delivery went really fast which was great. Nathan was amazing and I'm so blessed and thankful he was with me the whole time. We are so excited to have Riley finally join our family! Here are some pictures.

Owen loves his baby sister! He likes holding and kissing her. She is 2 weeks old today! Riley already weighs 8 lbs 6 oz. She has lots of dark hair like her daddy. We are all doing well. I'll try to keep everyone updated but it's quite busy with a newborn and an almost 2-year old!!

37 weeks

We've been very busy since my last post. Lacey, Amanda and Ashley threw us a wonderful baby shower! It was so nice getting to celebrate with our family in preparation for our new addition. Here's a picture of the yummy cake and me. :O)

The following weekend, Nathan and Owen were off to the beach. Owen didn't like touching the sand the first day but loved the waves hitting him. The next day consisted of lots of sand castles.

I stayed home and got pampered by Ashley, Mom, Lacey and Misty. We had an awesome girls lunch and then pedicures. We came to the house and they helped get a bunch of things done like wash Riley's clothes, hem the living room curtains and finish painting Riley's room. It was awesome! Then we went to dinner and to Mom's house for a girls slumber party. It was so fun!

I have gone to 2-weekly appointments. On June 23rd we had an ultrasound. The ultrasound tech could see hair on her head! My doctor thinks Riley is about 7 pounds. Based on this we are going to induce on July 12th!! We will be at 39 weeks which is when we had Owen. Owen and Riley will be 23 months apart. This is of course if she doesn't decide to come in the next 9 days. It kinda hurts when she stretches since there is really no room in my belly. I have another appointment on Tuesday, July 7th. Then the next stop is the hospital to bring this baby girl into the world!