Catherine's (almost) 4 weeks old...

More visitors!

Catherine is excited to have her Aunt Rachel in town. Rachel got into town around midnight on Wednesday night/Thursday morning, and Catherine got to go with me to help pick her up. She clearly has been having fun with her Aunt...

Catherine's baptism is this weekend, so we have lots more visitors arriving tomorrow/Sunday morning, including both sets of grandparents and Chaz's sister Della and family. We look forward to celebrating with our loved ones (both near and far).

I can't believe how fast our little one is growing. Three and a half weeks already!

Father's Day - Catherine's 3 weeks old

Chaz and Catherine's first Father's Day was pretty great. It actually started with a dinner out Friday night. Chaz was supposed to have a softball game Sunday night (before the rainstorms hit), so we moved that part of the celebration to the start of the weekend. At Chaz's request, we went out for Pizza and Beer (well, Cate skipped the beer...) and it was a fun outing. For Father's Day, I got Chaz a gift certificate for a couple of books from Barnes and Noble. Catherine got Chaz a second gift card so he can pick out a couple of books for him and Cate to read together (for him to read to her for now). So, on his first Father's Day, Chaz gets to continue his love of reading and share that love of reading with his daughter.

Then, on actual Father's Day, we went to church where both Chaz and Cate received a special father's day blessing. We then went out to lunch at the sandwitch shop next to church. Then, we came home and enjoyed a quiet evening watching movies Chaz picked off Netflix. A wonderful day.

Here are a few Father's Day photos. Cate is 3 weeks old now. I can't believe how fast she is growing.

2 Week Check Up

Today was Cate's two week doc appointment. She did great (the doc's actual words were "she gets an A"). Cate has grown quickly in her two weeks home with us. She is now 8 lbs 3 ozs and 20.5 inches long. She is falling in the 45-50 percentile in all of her measurements, so for the time being, she is a pretty average baby. She is also eating like a champion (the lactation consultant calls her a super efficient eater) which is nice too. All in all, a successful day. Now we don't return to the doc until Aug 3. I've fallen terribly behind on taking photos, but I promise more of the growing-kiddo photos soon.

Doc Appointment Update

We finally made it to the orthopedic specialist yesterday morning and the visit went very well. According to the Doc, Catherine's likely just fine. After examining her, he said he couldn't find any odd movement in her right hip (the one they diagnosed at the hospital) and there was just a little clicking in her left hip. So, for now, no treatment recommended. Catherine is scheduled for a follow-up ultrasound on July 13th, at which time they will determine whether she might need a brace on her hips. That appointment had to be scheduled once she is a bit older, because apparently the estrogen that makes mom's (my) body flexible for delivery could give us a false-positive result. So, we're just encouraged by the positive news, and hope they find nothing when they look in just over a month!

Picture from Catherine's first trip to Church: My mom (her grandma) bought her a hair bow, so she is quite festive.

Visitors and other fun

Though it is hard to believe, baby Catherine is one week old today! The time has absolutely flown by. In fact, Chaz's cousin Kelly had a baby son last night, making Catherine no longer the youngest kiddo in her extended family. What an exciting week!

We've also been blessed with a number of visitors this week. Grandpa Bob & Grandma Lorene came by on Thursday and had lunch with us on their way home from Chicago. It was great for us to see them outside of the hospital, and I think they were impressed with how fast our little one was growing. Della & her family then was able to stop by on Friday. Catherine had a blast meeting three of her older cousins, and Kirstin, Zach & Keidra are welcome to come visit (and babysit) any time they wish!


Finally, my parents (Grandpa Mick and Grandma Jill) are both in town now. Jill arrived Wednesday and has been helping us out tremendously. Mick arrived last night, and they are both going to be here for a bit. Catherine loves visiting with them, and we're so glad they're here.

This week has been filled with little firsts: first bath, first walk around the park, etc. I've become the crazy parent that takes 1000 pictures. Good thing she's still too young to object!

Home and (soon-to-be) Visitors

Catherine's coming home outfit was a present from Aunt Rachel. It says "My auntie loves me." Catherine's a little mad that we woke her up to dress her, but she still wanted to show it off.

We were discharged from the hospital yesterday evening and Catherine had a very eventful ride home! Because this is spring in Nebraska - Nebraska greeted Catherine with severe weather. So, during her ride home, Catherine survived her first "severe storm"; her first "flash flooding" on the roads and her first hail (thankfully the hail never got over the size of a nickel). It stormed all night, but she seemed blissfully unaware.

Another thing she is blissfully unaware of is sleep. This made for a long evening. She is, of course, passed out now (noon on Wednesday) in my arms. Hopefully we can convince her to nap for more than 5 minute intervals in the not distant future.

We are looking forward to seeing several visitors this week. My mother arrives this evening to stay with us for a while and help us out with our new little girl. I know she is very excited to meet her first granddaughter. Chaz's folks are planning to swing by again (picture from their first trip below), this time on their way home from Chicago, and will get to play with Catherine outside of the hospital on Thursday evening. Finally, Chaz's sister Della and her daughter Keidra are coming for a visit on Friday. Keidra is no longer the youngest girl cousin on her side of the family, so she seems very excited to share her older cousin wisdom with Cate.


Finally, Catherine has two doctors appointments tomorrow. The first is the standard pediatrician appointment where they check her height/weight and set up her first full well-baby appointment for two weeks later. Given that she did fine in those tests at the hospital, I'm sure it will go well. However, at the hospital the pediatrician also noticed that Catherine's right hip does not appear to stay in its socket (it dislocates, slips back in, and dislocates again). So, we are also going to visit a pediatric orthopedic specialist in Omaha tomorrow. If he confirms the diagnosis, she may have to wear a brace/harness to help her little hip develop more fully. We would love well-wishes and prayers that it turns out to be a minor, treatable condition.