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Stories
She's Six Months Old and Bellyflopping - February 25, 2009
I can't believe Callie turned 6 months old this Monday - the time has flown and she's changing every day! It's been a fun month. Mom & Bill came to visit and let James & I go out for a Valentine's dinner. He had to work later that night, but it was nice to have a little time alone. This week, Callie has been amazing. The pediatrician told us last week we should let her try the sippy cup. So, last night I put an ounce of milk in the cup and handed it to her. She drank it all up without spilling a drop - such a surprise - I wonder if she'll ever do that again!! Tonight, I layed her on her stomach and encouraged her to try to crawl for her toys. We've been doing this fairly regularly with no forward motion. Tonight, she got up on her toes and did two bellyflops toward her toys - our new nickname for her is Flopper Monkey. I'm sure soon we'll have a hard time keeping up with her!
20 weeks - She's laughing out loud! - January 14, 2009
Well, this coming week will be 5 months and we're having so much fun! We love to make Callie giggle now, which is so easy... and hilarious! The holidays were wonderful - we enjoyed Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh (except the huge pooh we experienced on the road trip back - yuck) and Christmas in North Carolina! And, Grandma and Grandpa Johnson came to town for New Years so James and I could go out on the town - thanks! On Saturday, we're going to start some rice cereal and will soon be delving into solid foods Stage 1... I hear that will be an adventure. James seems to be really enjoying his days with her and I come by the house for lunch as much as possible so I can see her - little did we know that she would steal our hearts in such a big way! We love you, Callie, with all our hearts!
3 Months - We're all sleeping through the night! - November 23, 2008
It's been a busy month, but we are getting some rest now! Callie slept through the night for the first time while visiting Grandma and Grandpa Johnson for Halloween weekend. We also visited Great Grandpa Clore that weekend, and the great aunts and uncles came by to see her. A week or so later, Grandma and Grandpa Clore visited and we took a shopping trip. Grandpa Bob strolled Callie all around Crossroads Plaza and would have loved to feed her icecream! Callie's pretty much been sleeping through the night for 3 straight weeks now - James is loving it, especially when she goes back to sleep in the mornings! She also has learned to roll over from her stomach to her back, and she holds her head up when we pull her up to sitting. From what we've read, she's very advanced in meeting her milestones! Grandma Betty & Grandpa Bill are visiting this weekend, and we all enjoyed watching Baby Mozart (Callie was mesmerized by the video and music) and a trip to Ted's Montana Grill. Grandma Betty bought Callie several warm outfits just in time for Thanksgiving and our long road trip to Pittsburgh to visit the Coulters - Callie gets to meet her Aunt Debbie and Cousin Erika soon!
2 Months - what a ride! - October 23, 2008
The past two months have been an adventure! So many visitors and gifts since Callie's birth... and what a change around our house. James is actually waking up in the mornings since I went back to work - Callie just won't let him sleep all day anymore :) I get the early evening and weekend shifts. This week, she's smiling for real (it's not just gas) and reacting to our voices - amazing! Grandma and Grandpap Coulter are here for a visit and have been a great help with meals and giving us a break here and there. Next weekend is James Birthday/Halloween Party and Callie will go stay with Grandma Johnson in Charlotte for the weekend - we've been busy with decorations and costumes in between feeding, changing and holding... I thought I had learned to multi-task well, but have learned from this experience that I don't know anything yet!
Callie Pooh's 2 Weeks Old! - September 6, 2008
Wow, time flies... I can't believe it's been two weeks since this precious little girl arrived! Callie's doing wonderful. Yesterday, she weighed in at 6 lbs 3 oz at the pediatrician's office, so she's exceeded her birth weight now - yeah! It's been an interesting week. She had a couple of fussy days/nights. There's supposed to be a growth spurt at 10 days, and we're thinking that she's just been super hungry. What a wonderful baby. She sleeps most of the time, and if she is fussy you know she's either hungry or needs changing. She likes to stretch and make funny faces, and she loves to be attached to either mommy or daddy all the time - and we must admit we love it, too. Earlier this week, I gave her a hug and got this overwhelming feeling of joy I've never felt before! It gives me such an appreciation of the love my mother must feel for me every time she hugs me so tight even today. I see the same love in James' eyes every time he holds her - what a proud and wonderful father he is! This experience truly is amazing!
First Day Home - August 27, 2008
It was a great day at home today. I woke up and fed Callie the first of many feedings - she balled up on my shoulder like a little butter ball. Why is it we use food names to describe babies? My mom's favorite nickname for her is pudding pop - I guess that's because you could just eat her up and she's soft like pudding!
We went to the pediatrician and she weighed in at 5 lbs. 10 oz. - that's up 2.5 oz. from when we left the hospital, so she's doing great - they expect her to keep gaining and be back up to her birth weight by the weekend. Dr. Chow at Triangle Pediatrics was great and pointed out what a good job James is doing because he doesn't seem to be scared of breaking her - he's really getting into a good groove with her!
Going Home - August 26, 2008
It was a long morning at the hospital as we got ready to bring Callie home! My obstetrician came in to give me the green light and then the pediatrician had to check Callie out to clear her. They let us come home even though Callie's lost quite a bit of weight - we're supplementing her diet with formula and hope she'll gain it back quickly.
We dressed her up in the pretty dress Grandma had picked out for her for the trip home and then waited to be discharged. James drove us home carefully and then carried her into the house - she was wide eyed as he showed her around the house and her nursery. Welcome Home, Callie!
Callie's Birthday - August 23, 2008
She's here! At 3:43 this morning, Callista Danell Coulter was born at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC. She weighed in at 6 lbs., 0 oz. and measured 19 inches long.
Around 10:00pm last night, I began to be able to time contractions at 10 minutes apart. By 4:00am, they were 5 minutes apart, and the doctor told us to head to the hospital around 5:45. After around 30 hours of labor, our perfect Callie was delivered by C-section. Welcome, "Little Miss Callie"!
Oh baby - here we go! - August 15, 2008
So, we went to the doctor's office this afternoon for our weekly check. I think my eyes about popped out of my head when he told us that I'm dilated. We're at about 1cm, so only 9 more to go and Callie will be coming into the world! Now, all my friends are having different reactions - some think she'll be here before the weekend is out (especially since there's a full moon) and others were dilated with their firstborn for up to 3 weeks. There's a pool going at work, and Jill has asked me to plan for the 21st! The doctor said maybe they'll see me next Friday at our next appointment, and maybe they'll see me sooner. So, who knows? Mom thinks I won't make it to my due date, but James is still predicting September (and his predictions usually come true). All we can do now is wait and see! I go back and forth from terrified to excited, not knowing what to expect next. I just hope my body releases that hormone to make my hips flexible soon :-)
Pampering is Great! - August 13, 2008
My friend Tina came to see us yesterday. She's just moved back to NC from Virginia, and wanted to see me before Callie comes (although she pushed it pretty close). She told me on Monday evening that she wanted to treat me to a pedicure, so since I don't do that type of thing very often, I asked Cathy where to go and she recommended Pacific Nails in Cary. We headed that way at lunch time and ate at the YoHo Asian Bistro - we had bento boxes that were AWESOME! After lunch, we headed to the salon for a fantastic experience! The vibrating chair was the perfect therapy for my aching back and hips, and Tina said the pedicure was the best she ever had - it definitely was the best I ever had! All the girls in the salon wanted to know about the baby and predicted that I was going to the hospital last night because I'm so puffy. They gave me all kinds of advice about birth, which was very fun. The owner, Tiffany wants me to bring the baby in! Tina also treated me to a manicure and eyebrow waxing, so I'm all dolled up to have this baby now. The day of relaxation and pampering was so nice - thanks, Tina! We followed up the day with a Mexican dinner at Los Tres. Tina was determined that between the ankle rub and the spicy food, I should go into labor anytime, and today I thought she might be right! I ended up at the doctor's office, but it was a false alarm. So, now we wait some more :)
Mom, You Rock! - August 3, 2008
It's weekends like this that make me hope I will be as good of a mom to Callie as my mom is to me! She came up from Concord to spend time with me and help me with a few things here as we come into the home stretch. I was miserable with a cold - had stayed home from work Friday. We got out Friday evening for a little while and bought a few final essentials for the nursery - the sale at Toys R Us was AWESOME - I got two mobiles, dreft, etc. We also went to Burlington Coat Factory, where Mom bought a cute Sassy clothes hamper with bright flowers and butterflies that is perfect in the nursery. James made us a WONDERFUL crabcake dinner and had it waiting for us when we got home. On Saturday, we had a lot of fun finding neat stuff at the dollar store including some letters that I used to personalize the end of the crib. Exhausted from my cold, we went home so I could lay down and medicate (I wish there were more options for medicine right now). Mom helped with my laundry, cleaned up a couple of things for me in the yard that I just haven't been able to do in this heat, helped me get things in order around the house and gave me home remedies for my cold - what more could a daughter ask for? I guess this was our last time together before the baby comes and opens up a whole new world of adventures for us (tears of joy)!
More Beautiful Gifts - August 1, 2008
It's just amazing what wonderful friends we have who continue to send such thoughtful gifts. Linda Roseberry surprised me with the cutest little romper for Callie earlier this week at a meeting, and Shannon Powell gave me an adorable dress and matching hat from Gymboree. When mom arrived today, she had hand-monogrammed personalized burp cloths from Donna & Denise that match the nursery. Thanks to all our friends and family for helping us bring Callie into the world with so much love!
Bellycasting and Announcements - July 31, 2008
James casted my baby bump a couple of weeks ago. I turned purple in the process, but the cast turned out really nice. He's been working on sanding it down and getting the surface smooth so I can paint it. I'm trying to decide how to paint it up for Callie's room - it will be the final Piece D'Resistance to hang over the rocking chair. I'm not sure if I'll be able to get it painted before she comes - my hands tingle all the time and aren't a lot of good to me right now!
I did get the baby announcements designed this week - they're so cute! The envelopes should be here next week so I can get them addressed ahead of time. Then it's just a matter of filling in the info and a photo and mailing them out - yeah!
A Fun Visit - July 27, 2008
Dad & Latane came to visit this weekend. Despite my hips hurting badly, we decided to go over to the Kids Exchange sale at the Fairgrounds yesterday. It was enormous. Dad couldn't resist buying the shape ball and pull turtle, and he found a brand new layette set with cute onesies, shirts and pants that he loved for Callie. I also found a boppy tummy play pad that was like brand new. After an hour of shopping and an hour and a half in line, I was ready to call it a day! Last night we had cake and ice cream to celebrate Dad's birthday. It was a fun visit!
The Nursery is Almost Complete- July 7, 2008
Mom & I got a lot done this weekend. She brought the ADORABLE window treatment she had made and we hung it, and the two lamps she decorated look great. She also had the bedskirt started, and we got that finished so the crib is completely outfitted... and she helped me paint a little table from my Grandma Flippin's to put the lamp and baby monitor on. I did two pastel drawings of two stories that James & I feel taught us lessons as kids: "Horton Hatches an Egg" and "The Little Engine that Could." Mom also bought the cutest little padded photo boards that match the room and made a cushion for the rocking chair. And, most importantly of all she put up with me for the weekend with my swollen feet and hands trying to help and showing more frustration & irritation than talent most of the time...
Paint, Crib Assembly and the Big Furniture Move-In - July 2, 2008
Well, we've certainly been busy the last two weeks. The weekend of the shower, James & Mom painted the nursery - the colors are BEAUTIFUL - lime and lavender! Then, we all put the crib together - it wasn't as bad as we had anticipated - thanks to IKEA for making that task easy, and mom painted the rocking chair she rocked me in to put in the room. This past weekend was the big move - James borrowed a dolly from his shop and moved the dresser/changing table and armoire in, and then I worked to get everything in its place. We also got all the gifts put together that we got at the showers, so there's now baby stuff in every room of the house. I'll update photos of the nursery after mom and I work our magic with decor this coming weekend - we'll be finishing up the window treatment and dust ruffle for the bed and getting some things up on the walls. It's starting to come together!
What a Fun Shower - June 26, 2008
Over 20 of my friends and family gathered at the new Hummingbird office this past Saturday for my Raleigh Baby Shower. What a fantastic party! Sherry Mitchell hosted the shower with help from Kristi Drum, Cathy Sanita and my mom, Betty Johnson. Patty Briguglio provided water and wine, and the food everyone contributed was awesome! The gift list is too long to put here, but I do want to hit on some of the creative highlights. Julianne Harrelson, my best friend from college and maid of honor made some cute onesies - she actually changed our Hummingbird logo into a stork and created a decal that says "Mommy & Daddy, my personal branding consultants" - how cute! I received so many handmade items - a beautiful baby quilt, pink baby blanket, coat and hat from Cheryl's mom, Ruth; a gorgeous colorful baby quilt made by MC Rothwell; a baby blanket in Hummingbird colors from Jennifer Griffin; a purple baby blanket made by Sherry's mom, Betty Moss; and wonderful handmade diaper bags for both me and mom, as well as a cute pillow made from my nursery fabric by Sherry & her daughter, Kate. Mandy, who owns Swagger Gifts, gave me some awesome items including adorable clothes separaters for the closet and a cute bib. My mother and stepfather, Bill, went crazy with a suitcase full of cute clothes and other essentials for going to grandma's house, as well as a highchair. Another highlight was two little t-shirts from my Account Exec, Sandy, that say "Chief Executive Offspring" and "New Acquisition." James parents, Renie & Bill, sent the carseat/stroller combo and bottle warmer, and his sister, Debbie, and family sent us the take-along swing, BabyBjorn carrier and medical/grooming kit. And the list goes on, and on, and on... It also was wonderful to reconnect with friends from college I haven't seen in a while, Amy Fox and Stephanie Garner! Thanks to everyone who attended for helping us welcome Callie to the world with so much love and creativity!
She Has Wendy's Nose - June 12, 2008
We went back to Duke for another ultrasound on Tuesday to see if there were any signs of Vasa Previa - an extra placental lobe has been showing up in my ultrasounds and we were concerned of this very serious condition. Thankfully, the ultrasound did not show any of the other warning signs of Vasa Previa, and we got a wonderful surprise - a 3D ultrasound! How amazing - they gave us 3 photos of her face that are so clear. We should recognize her now from these photos! Mom and Aunt Jeannette say she has my nose (which actually is Jeannette's nose now surviving two more generations). It's so neat to be able to see the baby so clearly now! That should be my last ultrasound, and we're at the 30 week mark so she'll be here before we know it!
Third Trimester Traveler - June 8, 2008
We entered the third trimester last week - I can't believe how fast this is all going. It's been a whirlwind! James says my bellybutton is the strangest thing he's ever seen - little did we know that an innie can become an outie... We traveled up to Pittsburgh this week to see James' family. James has been sending them weekly videos of our progress and news, but we wanted to make it up once before the baby comes. Our neice, Erika, graduated from High School, and Renie & Bill (James' parents) took us all out to a wonderful Italian restaurant to celebrate. It was a good trip. They gave us some cute onesies for the baby, and his sister Debbie gave me a beautiful mother charm. Renie & Erika both got to feel the baby move.
Showered with Love - June 1, 2008
My aunts on the Clore side and my stepmother Latane threw me a wonderful baby shower in Winston-Salem at Barbara & Woody's house. Rose & Rick made it into town from Atlanta, Jessica came in from Greenville, and Jennifer came in from Chapel Hill. Latane had wonderful red velvet cake squares made with cute little icing rattles and booties. Everyone bought beautiful gifts for the baby, and it was a fantastic party!
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