Charley's First Thanksgiving

Charley is named after my Grandfather Charlie and his birthday was on November 24th.  We thought about him as we celebrated Charley's First Thanksgiving and I'm quite positive that he was proudly looking down on us and smiling.

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Grandpa Allen's house with Marilyn, Oma Kathy, Great Grandpa Pop, John, and John's daughter Jessica.  Grandpa Allen made a wonderful Turkey dinner that was delicious!

Charley's First Thanksgiving

Marilyn and Charley

Grandpa Allen cooking the Diestel turkey

Carving the turkey

Charley with Oma watching the football game.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Four Weeks

It's hard to believe that four weeks ago today Charley came into the world!  It has been awesome to watch her grow and develop over this past month. This week when Charley is awake she has been a bit more active for longer periods of time. She has been playing in her toy gym that Grandma gave her and she has also been working on her head control while she is on her tummy.

Playing in her toy gym

Tummy time on the Boppy Pillow

Lifting your head up  is hard work when your four weeks old!

 

 

Daddy's favorite picture, Charley getting burped.

Everybody loves nap time!

Monty getting in on nap time!

Three Weeks Old

It's hard to believe but on Wednesday November 16th Charley turned 3 weeks old. We took her to the Pediatrician on Monday and she weighed in at 4 lbs. 14 oz. Our little peanut has almost broken the 5 lb mark!  Her Pediatrician was very pleased that she was past her birth weight.  Darrin and I have noticed that her face is getting a lit bit fuller and she is beginning to outgrow some of her premie clothes that her Auntie Jennifer bought for her.

It's truly amazing how much we love this little girl!

Three weeks old in her first new born outfit

On Wednesday we took Charley on her first social outing to go visit her Great Grandpa Pop at his home in San Ramon.  She also got to see her Oma Kathy and her Great Aunt Karen.

Charley with Great Grandpa Pop

A sweet moment! Great Grandpa with his Great Granddaughter

Most new born babies sleep a lot but because Charley is a preemie she sleeps more then most newborn babies. However, this week she has been staying a wake for longer periods of time. When she is awake we spend time reading books in the glider in her nursery and this week we tried out the swing that Oma Kathy bought for us.

Trying out her swing

Cuddle time with Daddy

Taking a nap with Mommy

On Friday our friend Ali came over to bring us dinner and meet Baby Charley. She brought us homemade pesto! We got to meet her friend David. Both Ali and David couldn't believe how little Charley is. Thank you Ali for bringing us dinner!

Ali and Charley

Charley with Ali and David

Charley's First Bath At Home

At our doctor appointment last week our pediatrician had told us that when Charley's umbilical cord falls off we can give her a bath. On Saturday night her umbilical cord fell off so we decided to give her her first bath tonight. We gave her a bath in her new bathtub that Aunt Karen bought her.  She didn't like the newborn sling but as soon as we removed the sling and put her in the water she liked it.

First attempt at the bath with the sling

Much happier without the sling

Such delicate little fingers!

 Monty has been quite indifferent to Charley but the other day he took a bit of interest and introduced himself.

Monty Checking Out Charley

Charley and Mommy! My what big eyes you have.

First Week At Home

It's hard to believe that we've already been home for a whole week 

with our little bundle of joy!

Darrin and I have spent many hours this past week admiring this little wonder. 

We might be a bit biased but we can't get over how perfect she is! 

We feel very blessed to be her parents!

Here are some random pictures of our first week at home with Charley.

In her favorite swaddle blanket

She loves to be carried in the sling!

Hanging out with Monty

Looking around!

First Halloween and Doctor Appointment

On Monday October 31st Charley celebrated her first Halloween.  She started the day off by going to her first doctor appointment. At the doctor's office they checked her blood to keep an eye on her bilirubin levels which causes jaundice and they also weighed her.  Our first night at home had been a bit difficult because Charley had woken up several times and was hungry. We discussed this with the nurse practitioner and she watched as I nursed Charley. She told me that Charley is tiring out before she finishes eating which is common with preemie babies. So she had me try using a nipple shield and.......success! Charley ate twice as much as she did without it! Before we left the office the nurse weighed her again and she weighed two more ounces then she had when we arrived!

Going to our first doctor appointment

While we were at the doctor appointment Oma Kathy took my mom back to the airport.  We were sad to see Grandma go because she was such a big help to us those first few days in the hospital. But she will be back for Christmas with Grandpa. When we got back from our appointment Oma Kathy came over and we dressed Charley up for her first Halloween.

Charley's first Halloween costume, a Candy Corn!

Oma Kathy and Charley

Going Home

On Sunday October 30th both Charley and I were discharged from the hospital and ready to come home. I was so happy that she was able to come home with me and that she did not have to stay in the hospital. Her pediatrician was a bit concerned about her having jaundice so they sent us home with a photo-therapy blanket. Luckily our friends Jennifer and Sheldon had bought us some preemie clothes for Charley. They also surprised us and brought us dinner for the whole week!

Waiting to be discharged

In her car seat for the first time

At home with Grandma Nancy

Charley and Grandpa Allen

Charley looks so tiny with Uncle Sheldon

Charley and Auntie Jennifer

Charley's first night in her bassinet at home

In The Hospital

Charley did so well her first night that she was discharged from the NICU and brought to my room for the rest of our stay.  In the hospital we had lots of people come visit us including Oma Kathy, Grandpa Allen, Great-Grandpa Pop, and Grandma Nancy.  My mom stayed with us for our entire hospital stay and was such a big help. She helped relieve Darrin and stayed with me several nights so Darrin could go home and get some rest. During our stay in the hospital we had to supplement Charley's feedings with finger feedings to make sure she was getting enough nutrition.  The nurse taught both my mom and Darrin how to do this so I could get some rest.

Charley with Grandpa Allen

Charley with Oma Kathy and Great-Grandpa Pop

Mommy and Charley taking a rest

Daddy giving Charley a finger feeding

Our New Addition

We are pleased to announce that on October 26, 2011 at 6:12 PM Charley Ellen Silver was born.  She decided to come five weeks early and weighed 4 pounds 7.4 oz.and was 18 inches long.  Although she was early and quite small she was very strong and healthy.

Me and Charley after delivery

Our New Family

Her official birth-weight

Since Charley was born at 34 weeks and six days she was considered premature and taken to the NICU for observation.  Darrin went with her and was able to give her her first bath.

Darrin and Charley in the NICU

Charley's first bath

Daddy and Charley

After the surgery I was placed in a recovery room for an hour and then wheeled into my own room in the mom and baby unit. I was told that once I could stand up and get into a chair I could go see Charley in the nursery but to my surprise one of the nurses brought her to my room for her first feeding.

Mommy and Charley

That first night both Darrin's mom and dad were able to go into the nursery to see Charley with Darrin. My mom was flying in from Albuquerque.

Meeting Oma Kathy and Grandpa Allen