Rattle

Halyn is now 5 1/2 weeks old. I'm guessing she weighs at least 10 lbs by now. (At her 4 week appt she was 9 lbs 14 oz.) She has been doing really good at night. A few nights ago she slept 4 hours straight and last night she slept 4 1/2 hours straight. The older she gets, the more capable she is of sleeping a little longer without waking up to eat. I had no idea that "sleeping through the night" for a baby 3 months and older was 5 hours. If you would have asked me a few months ago if 5 hours was a lot of sleep I would have said definitely NOT but now it sounds amazing! I actually enjoy being up with her at night and in the early hours of the morning when her little eyes are as wide as can be just looking around. Today we went to our library for the first time with Halyn and checked out several picture books and a few baby einsteins dvds. She loves to be read to at night.

We were playing with Halyn before bed the other night and I got out one of her rattles for the first time. She held onto it with a pretty tight grip. Here is a video from September 9, 2011:



This is a closer picture of the outfit she had on. "If I don't sleep, nobody sleeps" New York City. So funny and so true!! (Thanks Christine!!)

Videos from end of August

First Walk

We put Halyn in her stroller for the first time and took a lap around the neighborhood last Saturday when she was about 3 1/2 weeks old. She looks so tiny in that big stroller!


Its amazing how much she has changed in just a month. She loves holding your hand and she smiles a lot. She is gaining more head control and when on her tummy she can turn her head side to side. The past week she has been reaching her hands out to touch our faces and grab onto my hair. She is the sweetest little thing. Her 4 week doctor's appointment was Tuesday. She now weighs 9 lbs 14 oz and is 22 inches long. She has started to make her own little schedule and is doing really well sleeping through the night. She is such a great little baby!

Baby Einstein

My friend Melissa in Arizona copied several of the Baby Einstein DVDs for us as a baby gift. I don't know at what age babies usually start watching them but thought I would play it and see. It was my first time watching one too. I must say they are so weird but for some reason you can't stop watching it haha.


Halyn 3 Weeks Old:

Our Hospital Stay

The three days we spent with Halyn in the hospital were some of my favorite days that we have had with her so far. Jason had about a week total off of work and was able to stay with us at the hospital. It was so nice being able to just focus on holding Halyn and getting to know her while the nurses took care of everything else. She slept in our room with us in a little raised bassinet with clear windows. We didn't get much sleep the first night. She wasn't interested in sleeping in her bassinet and just wanted to be held. I was so afraid I was going to fall asleep while holding her so I basically stared at her all night long wide-eyed while she slept in my arms. She did awesome in her bassinet the second night in the hospital, Jason and I got over 6 hrs of sleep. We gave Halyn her first bath together and dressed her up in the adorable newborn outfits we brought to the hospital. After a few days we couldn't wait to be discharged to take her home!!

One Day Old: 8/3/11

Bambina has arrived!

August 2, 2011

Halyn Eve Skinner: 8 lbs 4 oz, 21 inches, born at 9:23am

An ultrasound late in my pregnancy showed that Halyn was not in the head down position, instead she was closer to the breech position. So we knew in advance that we would likely have a c-section if she did not turn. Jason and I went in for our c-section the morning of August 2nd (at 39 weeks pregnant). We left early to drop the dogs off at my Mom's house and got checked in to the hospital at 6am. I was not in active labor, although I was quite a bit dilated. When I think of delivering a baby, I imagine rushing to the hospital in a panic after your water breaks. It was so different having a c-section and being so organized about having our baby. I never felt one contraction, not even a braxton hicks contraction.

Jason was able to be with me almost the whole time. After I was prepared for surgery, the nurse brought him back in so he could be there for the c-section. I thought I would be nervous but I was actually pretty calm. (Turns out I was more nervous to have my staples removed at the docs office the following week then to do the actual surgery haha). I was wide awake the whole time and Jason actually video taped the surgery. I am so glad we did! One of the nurses in the operating room mentioned that we should definitely video tape it and take pictures. Strangely enough, several people have watched it. Who knew so many friends and family would end up seeing my uterus. Since I couldn't see what was going on, the anesthesiologist (and Jason) told me step by step what our doctor was doing and made me feel so comfortable. It took less than 10 minutes until Halyn entered the world. Her weight was 8 lbs 4 oz and 21 inches, which is the exact same weight and length I was when I was born. She was placed in my arms in the stretcher with me and opened her eyes. There are no words to describe the moment we saw her for the first time. It truly is love at first sight.

After checking in at the hospital

So excited!

Our first family photo

Chicago Trip

It seems like every summer for the past four years that we lived in Arizona we would start talking about how much we missed Chicago. Especially when we went to all the cubs spring training games around Phoenix. Once we decided earlier this year to move back to Indianapolis, Jason started planning a weekend in Chicago for us and got Cubs tickets at Wrigley Field. We went a few weekends ago in April and had a blast. The Cubs won against the Dodgers in the 8th inning. We sat in the outfield with the "bleacher bums". It was a beautiful day there and such an exciting game. We didn't plan for such a sunny day and got a little burnt on our faces!

After the game we ate at Uno's Pizza which was a few blocks from our hotel. Then we walked around Michigan Ave and went up in the John Hancock Tower Observatory once it got dark. It was so beautiful! We actually went up in the observatory when we went to Chicago back in 2003, one of our first trips together. Since then it looks so much different. They added a restaraunt at the top and a bunch of tables and sitting areas.

The next morning we went to Shedd Aquarium. It was awesome! It was actually Easter Sunday when we were there. Didn't know if it would be more or less crowded, but we are glad we went early because the line to get in was crazy by the time we were leaving. We took a lot of cool pictures there and are glad we went!

Springing Forward

The past month since we have moved back to Indiana has been exactly what we were hoping- cold and rainy! ;) There have been several warm spring days in there too but I really missed this climate with all the changes in the seasons. I am now 6 months along (24 weeks) and getting more and more excited to meet Bambina! About two weeks ago Jason and I took a tour of the labor and delivery floor at Community South Hospital where we will be delivering. It was neat to have a visual of a room and talk with a labor and delivery nurse. We have been considering taking some expectant parent classes in the next few months too.

A few weeks ago I found out I passed my NCLEX nursing boards and have been looking for jobs and interviewing around the Indianapolis area. This past week I took a position at a sub-acute rehab facility in Carmel. It is a four unit transitional care specializing in ortho where patients can stay for about 30 days or less after they leave the hospital and before going back to their homes. I was able to start yesterday and the facility is amazing. I am so excited to have my first nursing job!!!!

We are heading up to Chicago this weekend for a Cubs game at Wrigley. The weather looks great so far, just crossing our fingers it doesn't rain! :) Happy Easter!

24 Weeks

Pregnancy Pictures

This past weekend Blair took some pictures of Jason and I now that I am showing. We went to a small park nearby where we live and the pictures turned out well. We are getting more and more excited the closer we are getting to August. Its been a fun few weeks since we have been back in Indiana. Love being able to see our families without taking time off work and booking flights! Now it just needs to warm up a little! We put all of our pictures from our "photo shoot" (at 21 weeks) up on our website: http://public.fotki.com/caskinner

20 Weeks

We are now about 20 weeks pregnant. On March 4th we had our 3-D ultrasound before leaving Arizona. It was amazing to see each organ in such detail when she is so small! At that appointment she weighed .7 oz. Who knows how much she has grown since then. I have been feeling great, especially now that we are more settled and school/ moving is over. I think I would be happy to not see any boxes for a while! The past few weeks I have been able to feel Bambina kick- especially when the dogs bark. Last week in the middle of the night the dogs heard a noise outside and started barking (since we just moved here the noises are still unfamiliar to them). It was about 4am. Bambina must have been sleeping, because she certainly woke up when she heard them. I felt the biggest movement I have ever felt on all sides of my stomach. Since then she has been kicking a little anytime she hears them. I think she is already a dog-lover. It is such a unique feeling! Hard to describe. I also noticed her kicking more frequently the other day after we went out to dinner with our friends to On the Border. I wonder if the salsa was too spicy for her liking? ;)

March Madness

Somehow in the past 3 weeks we survived the following: nursing school finals, graduation, Jason leaving his job, planning a graduation and going-away party for leaving Arizona, packing up our entire apartment, driving a uhaul and cars from Arizona to Indiana over 3 days (with lots of help from our parents!), finding an apartment in Indianapolis and moving in there... and everything in-between! We love our new living arrangements though and are happy to be living in the midwest... although we have had several "missing Arizona" moments (like realizing we can't do an inexpensive 3 day trip driving to Cali anymore on a few days notice) and I'm sure more to come. I would recommend to anyone to move out of state if they get the opportunity for at least a few years- best decision we have ever made!!


The day before we moved, the girls in my nursing program surprised me with a baby shower. I was shocked to say the least- I've never had a surprise anything and definitely wasn't expecting it. It was such a fun time and I already miss all of them dearly!
















Later that same day was our graduation! It was an outside ceremony and we had a beautiful day of 75 and sunny. There is no feeling better than graduating!!















All of us after my graduation at our going-away party. Now we are just looking forward to starting a new chapter! :)

Our last family picture in our apt. in AZ

After moving back to IN, Dakota and Heinz getting reacquainted with Indiana weather

Its a GIRL!

Thursday, February 24th was our last appointment with Dr. Sawyer in Arizona. We were not scheduled for an ultrasound, just a "tummy check". I was 16 weeks along at that point, and we already had an appointment scheduled for 18 weeks at another facility for an ultrasound there to reveal the sex of the baby and check each organ. Dr. Sawyer walked into the room and said, "Who wants to find out what you're having?!" We were so excited, especially since we didn't think we would find out for another few weeks. During the ultrasound the baby looked like it was running a marathon with the legs kicking non-stop. Finally our doctor got a good look and announced.... ITS A GIRL!

We had immediately agreed to not say anything to our families, as they were planning to fly out to Arizona the following week for my nursing school graduation and to help us move. We thought it would be neat to be able to tell them in person. Well that lasted for about 20 minutes. We also wanted to share the news with all our friends in Arizona before we left so by the end of the day I think we had called everyone we knew.

Jason and I have had fun looking around at things at Babies R Us now that we know the sex. We also found some discontinued baby bedding online in a cute print at a great discounted price. Once we get a chance to scan our recent ultrasound pictures I will post them. We are now officially "thinkin pink"! :)

Our Second Ultrasound

Today marks our second doctor's appointment and second ultrasound with Dr. Sawyer. We were really looking forward to getting another look at Bambino now that I am 12weeks along. (Our first ultrasound pictures were taken at less than 6 weeks). I think during the first appointment we were more in shock because I didn't "feel" pregnant, but this appointment I was teary-eyed from the moment we started the ultrasound until we were back out in the car. Hearing that little heartbeat is so reassuring. The pictures of Bambino turned out really clear, considering he or she was doing flips the whole time. We are happy to announce that Bambino no longer has a tail, and is starting to look a lot less like our puppy Dakota and a lot more like a precious little person! We could see the brain, heart, limbs, and systemic blood flow. Jason and I have decided that we are going to find out the gender. That appointment is scheduled around 18 weeks. I have not had any cravings although I do have a long list of things Bambino does NOT want. This list includes cheese its, saltine crackers (or any crackers for that matter), candy (ex jolly ranchers), chocolate, popsicles, lemonaide, and anything carbonated. I thought I would miss my caffeine-free diet coke but boy was I wrong. Luckily most of the things I eat on a normal basis are okay, especially salads, fruit, pasta, and chicken. Ok lets be real and ice cream!!

Some of my pants are tight but I'm unsure if I'm showing 100% of the time or not. Below is a picture we took before going to our doctor's appointment today.

12 weeks

Jason and I VERY excited for the doctor to come in

1st Doctor's Appt

Our first doctor's appointment was last month (12/20). We got to meet Dr. Sawyer and have our first ultrasound. We were beyond excited. At that point the baby's heart chambers had recently formed and the heart had been beating for 6 days. The heart rate was 145. Jason and I had estimated our due date to be the end of July, but our actual due date is August 9, 2011. During the ultrasound, Jason had mentioned that twins run in his family. Dr. Sawyer got excited and wanted to play a practical joke on Jason's family, and created a fake ultrasound with two pictures of the baby. I was so hesitant to send this to anyone !! Jason text the picture to his sister and of course she called us back immediately and we told her that it was just one. Blair did the same thing. :)

Since then we have been having so much fun discussing names, looking at baby items, and imagining what the next year will be like for us.