Christmas Pics!

For Christmas we celebrated with my mom, step-dad, and grandma. Then we headed to Florida the next day to spend Christmas with Kevin's family. Somehow we managed to not gets pics with everyone but we had a lot of fun hanging out. Altogether we had Kevin's mom, dad, aunt Ivory, sister Sherry and her husband Oliver, their kids Daniel and Hannah, Kevin's sister Wendy and her husband Andy, Kevin's brother George, Kevin's cousin Danny. It was quite a crew all staying in one house. But there was never a lack of people to play Wii, Mah-jong, and Halo Live. And of course Ayda had plenty of people to hold her, spoil her and love on her. Enjoy the slideshow! More pics to come but dinner is ready and a baby is ready for hers!!!!

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Whew...

That word is the only one I can come up with to sum up the past couple weeks. I promise to post some pictures soon. It has been a little busy and I can't seem to get on the computer long enough to download them. However for a quick update...We made a trip down to Florida to spend Christmas with Kevin's whole family. His sisters and their families were in town, as well as his cousin. There was a total of 13 of us in one house. We played games and hung out which was nice. I had not spent much time with his sister, Sherry, and her family so I loved being able to do that. It was a little difficult being out of our element with a two week old but we made it and had lots of hands to help! Unfortunately on our trip I developed Mastitis. Honestly the worst thing I have experienced in a while. I ran a 103 degree temp for about 18 hours but was able to avoid antibiotics and my body took care of the infection. We did have to cut our trip short by a day to get me home to see our Chiropractor. No place like home when you are sick too! And so we had to feed Ayda every 2 hours, I had to put warm packs on me with feeds, pump, rest (not an easy task), etc. It was crazy for a couple days but we made it. And now I am back to normal, just more tired than I was just being a new mom. Kevin has been wonderful taking care of me and Ayda so that I can recover. He also drove the whole way home from Florida while I was passed out in the backseat with Ayda. And in the midst of all this we decided to get control of our house. It was not a dirty place to live, just unorganized. And by adding one member to the family we had lost control. So we got someone to come help us learn how to organize the place. It was amazing to see our house transform into something of order and a new sense of clean. We are still working on it but I am excited to have it finished! So 2008 ended with a bang in our house. And we are excited to see what 2009 holds. Hopefully a great job for Kevin, most likely a move for our family, and who knows what for me as far as a job. Ayda we know will have quite a year of firsts and we are so excited for that. She will be a month old tomorrow...hard to believe! Well I am going to bed. Gotta sleep when the baby sleeps, right? I'll get some pics from Christmas and such up soon! Happy New year to our readers! We wish you the best as we all begin another year!

Graduation!

Ok so it snuck up on us but Kevin had his graduation yesterday! His school only has a ceremony in December and June so Kevin was able to walk yesterday. It was a little weird because we knew he has one more quarter but it was still very exciting. I was definitely proud to see him in the Doctorite attire! He will be Dr. Lin in no time...officially! The ceremony was very nice and Ayda did great through the whole thing. Like I have said before...she is such a trooper. Mom got her to go to sleep right before it started and she slept the whole time, which meant I was able to enjoy everything and take some photos!

The turning of the hood (I guess that is what it is called...it's what I named it!)

Receiving the diploma from the President of Life

A family picture! Kevin looked good!

Santa!!

Ayda went to see santa today! I didn't want to take her to the mall Santa...too many germs this time of year for a two week old. So a friend of mine invited us to her office where Santa would be visiting this morning. He and Mrs. Clause were more than willing to take a picture with her. I couldn't get Santa to stop looking at her and get him to look at the camera! So cute! And she did great.

And Ayda also got to enjoy her "Spa" tonight for bathtime. My mom bought her a Soothing Spa and Shower bath tub. And Ayda seemed to really like it. We started bathing her in the tub monday night after Dr. Long said she could have a real bath but we didn't have batteries to put in the thing to make the waves. Kevin stopped tonight and got some and we were set. It was the first bath Ayda did not completely scream through. And GrandPam was here to see her in her tub enjoying herself! Kevin and I may be in trouble if we have a Spa girl!! Although if I can go too I don't mind!!!

Pics as promised!

Well today has been a MUCH better day so far! I am feeling tons better and Ayda is being her cute little self. We went to Dr. Patrick again today and we are all still running clear, meaning no adjustments. Ayda gets quite a lot of attention at the office. Dr. Patrick proudly tells everyone she is his youngest patient! Here are some pics as promised! I took one yesterday and one today!

Sleeping on her boppy pillow! Her very favorite if not being held!

Chilling out in mommy and daddy's bed. She loves being there but we have transitioned her to her bassinet a few nights ago. She still wakes up around 5 or 6 and wants in the bed with us and then she will sleep till the next feeding. Totally SIDS inappropriate but we love it! She is definitely a snuggle bug!

A day of Firsts...

Well today has been interesting to say the least. Ayda and I started out by going back to the pediatrician. Her bilirubin was 17 when we went last thursday so we had to get it rechecked. I was dreading her having to get stuck again but to my joy Dr. Long said her coloring was much better and he did not feel it was needed to draw blood. YAY!!!! Then they weighed Ayda and she is 8 pounds 6 ounces. They told me to feed her over the weekend to help with her bili and so that is what i did! And 7 ounces later we are getting quite chunky. So we left there and headed home for a quiet afternoon. She slept great today and I was able to get some things done. Also her Aunt Lauren came and stayed with her so I could go to the store. So that is the first of the firsts...she was left without mommy or daddy (although daddy got home soon after I left). We also hit quite a road block with the breastfeeding. Ayda's latch is apparently not good on one side which has lead to (without being too detailed) some serious cracking issues on me. It got to the point that I cried before and during feeds that required that side. So I called a dear friend, the lactation consultant from work, and our midwife Debbie and compiled a plan. Against my wishes I pumped a feed and gave her her FIRST bottle. Ayda Grace didn't mind that one bit...as long as she is getting fed. It was harder on mommy than her. We also started using a nipple shield and again my little trooper didn't bat an eye. And that brought me so much more comfort during the feed. So the feeding situation was pretty stressful for me but I feel like we are on the right track to getting me healed. Susan a good friend is going to help me on wednesday with her latch on that side once it has healed a little bit. Say a prayer this all gets worked out!
And the last of the firsts was Ayda got to take her first "real" bath. We were signed of at the pediatrician that she can ditch the sponge baths and get in the water!!! Her cord fell off at 5 days but there was a little nub that was oozing so we had to let that clear up some. Ayda was pretty tired during bath time today but overall I think she enjoyed being in the water.
So it was quite a day in the Lin house and I am exhausted! And while all this was going on Kevin had three finals, saw patients, went to target for me, and hit the store for our small group Christmas dinner tomorrow night!
Ayda is already tucked into her bed and sacked out and that is where I am heading next! No pics today...no time! I promise to post some tomorrow or wednesday! She is getting cuter each day!

Just hanging out...

Things are going great with Ayda Grace! She is such a good baby. I have been most pleased with breastfeeding. The girl loves to eat which has made my job really easy. She eats every 2-3 hours during the day and usually about 3-3.5 at night. I was so miserable the last two weeks of pregnancy and unable to sleep so now when i get 3 hours in a row I feel like a new woman! Kevin has had a crazy couple of days with school. His last HUGE paper is due today and he has finals this week and next. So any free minute he has is with his baby girl. We are both looking forward to another quarter being over. And while he is busy with school stuff, I am just getting adjusted to mommyhood which is definitely the best thing ever! We went to the Chiropractor yesterday and we are both still clear. I am amazed that I am but so happy! No one needed an adjustment! So things at the Lin house are going great! Kevin's mom leaves tomorrow morning. It has been wonderful having her here. My mom stayed till Sunday. Having both of them made the transition so much easier for Kevin and I. We are ready though to be a family of three and I am very much looking forward to resuming life outside our home! I really have forgotten it is Christmas so Ayda is in a Christmas outfit today to get us back in the spirit!!!


Merry Christmas!!!!


Having some snuggle time with Daddy and quite content!