Sunday, December 9, 2007
Izzy & Luke sittin' in a tree...
Posted by McCulloch Family at 9:49 AM 0 comments
Monday, December 3, 2007
How big is Izzy? SO BIG!!!
Posted by McCulloch Family at 9:58 AM 0 comments
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Lazy weekend...
Izzy enjoying playtime...
Tummy Time!
Snuggling with Dad...
This past week has been non-eventful in the McCulloch house. Izzy has been struggling a bit with nursing...so we went to the Pediatrician to learn that she has acid reflux. She now gets liquid Zantac and she is back to her normal nursing self! No more spitting up, no more screaming when she burped...our sweet girl is back. But now her sleeping patterns have changed. All my girlfriends have told me that JUST when you get used to a routine, the little boogers will switch it up on you. And that is the truth with Izzy! At one time we had 6 hour stretches of sleep at night...now we're back to 3 hour stretches. Mike and I are READY for some longer sleep at night. We are finding the past two weeks to be more difficult than the first two at home!
We spent all day Saturday in our jammies...watching movies and playing with Izzy. She is staying awake MUCH more these days, with lots of smiling and watching everything that is around her. She loves to stare at her xmas tree! We're now watching the Colts game...Mike is at the game and we are (once again) lazing around in our jammers!
Posted by McCulloch Family at 2:15 PM 1 comments
Monday, November 26, 2007
Thanksgiving Weekend...
Izzy still isn't a huge fan of her swing, but we're trying
Baxter was pooped after our first run in over a year!
Posted by McCulloch Family at 1:46 PM 0 comments
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Tynans Visit Indy...
Maggie holding baby Izzy
Bridget finally meets Isabelle
This is an old hat for Sam...
Posted by McCulloch Family at 6:12 PM 1 comments
Monday, November 19, 2007
Visit from the Keels...
Cousin Dylan, Aunt Kimmy & Cousin Taylor were very hands on & helpful!
A little project from Pottery Barn...
Turned out very cute!
Bathtime & Buddha Belly!!!
Staring off in the distance before her bedtime bath...
And a hint of a smile...
This past weekend Mike went up to Notre Dame with some buddies to watch a football game (among other things!). While daddy was away Izzy had some visitors: Grandpa Keel, Grandma Anna, Aunt Kimmy, and cousins Taylor & Dylan. We had lots of meals out (which Izzy slept through) and lots of fun times snuggling with Izzy. She is one loved little girl...
Posted by McCulloch Family at 11:11 AM 0 comments
Starting to Smile...
This is how Izzy sleeps...too precious! We swaddle her and then lay her on the wedge/positioner, then wrap her snuggly. Such a big girl in her crib...she is snug as a bug in a rug!
Posted by McCulloch Family at 10:37 AM 1 comments
Friday, November 9, 2007
New Friends for Izzy...
Cheryl & babies Preston & Holly
Rachel & baby Ella
Jaime & baby Luke
The months of September & October were busy ones in the baby department: we had 8 friends that had babies within 6 weeks!!! Other friends not pictured: Suzanne & baby Max, Angela & baby Jackson, Debbie & baby Max.
Posted by McCulloch Family at 4:12 PM 2 comments
Friday, November 2, 2007
"I am the Luckiest..."
Our friends, Courtney & Zach, came over two weeks ago to shoot Izzy's newborn pictures. Izzy was asleep until we stripped her down, then she remained wide-eyed for almost 30 minutes for the camera...and peed twice (thankfully no other accidents occurred)! The pictures turned out beautifully and I am so thankful for the memories. The link below is just a sampling of all the pics Zach took. I'd HIGHLY recommend him! Make sure you have your volume turned up on your computer, as the song is one of my most favorites by Ben Folds. Enjoy...
http://www.zachdobson.com/mcculloch.htm
Posted by McCulloch Family at 5:06 PM 2 comments
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween!!!
Today was Izzy's first Halloween...she celebrated by sleeping ALL DAY. Seriously, there was little, if any, wake time. Mom was able to shower, do laundry, nap, and shop at the mall all in one day! When dad got home from work, she helped him pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters!
Izzy cannot wait for next Halloween, she has a cheerleader costume from her Aunt Gail that she is just dying to wear! Until then...the pumpkin will do just fine (thanks Grand Roo!).
Happy Halloween!
Posted by McCulloch Family at 6:03 PM 0 comments
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Week Three...
Pammy & Marjan stopped by for a visit!
Izzy loved staring at Pam & Marjan...very alert!
Daddy's nighttime routine...
Izzy holding tight to daddy's hand!
The third week of Isabelle's life has been a transitional one in the McCulloch household! A friend of ours gave us a book called "The Baby Whisperer" that has changed our lives! Mike and I read how to "calm, connect and communicate" with Izzy through her nonverbal cues and cries. Izzy is now out of our bed and into her crib 100% of the time. Wanted to start this habit early...getting her to fall asleep in her own bed for both naptimes and nighttimes. Also, we have learned to catch her tiredness early and put her down at her first cues, so as not to overtire or overstimulate her. We have also started the nightly ritual/routine of bathtime before bed. Izzy LOVES the warm water her daddy splashes her with and her massage afterwards. All of these things have made her a much happier baby (and Mike and I are more rested, as well)! Oh, and Izzy had her longest sleep stretch yet...she only woke up ONCE in the middle of the night on Friday. She never fusses at night...always goes right back to sleep after her feedings. Hopefully we are on our way to more sleep in the upcoming days and weeks!
This past week 4 of our friends had babies. All are healthy and happy...2 boys and 2 girls to join Izzy's circle of friends! I will post pictures soon!
Posted by McCulloch Family at 11:23 AM 2 comments
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Week Two...
Grandma Berger (Mike's mom)
Izzy snoozing in her crib...
Bundled up for her walk on the Monon...
Week Two of Isabelle's life was another successful one! We feel we need to make it through the first 8 weeks and then we're golden!
-Izzy is on a routine 3 hour feeding schedule...and most times we are waking her to feed her (changing diapers, stripping down, tickling, wet washcloth, et al to keep her awake!).
-Nights are not sleepless...she maintains her 3 hour cycle we have her on during the day.
-She has finally taken to a pacifier, which helps her self-soothe.
-I took her on her first power walk on the Monon Trail, which she slept through!
-She had several visitors this week: Grandma Berger, Molly, Katie, the Fellers, Grandma & Grandpa McCulloch and our photographer friends Zach and Courtney (I will post pics from their session soon!)
-Izzy's 2 week Pediatrician appointment was a major success! Dr. wanted Izzy to gain 1/2 ounce to an ounce a day (meaning, ideally gaining 7 oz. max)...she actually gained 18 ounces!!! Guess she is making up for a low birth rate...and guess she is getting enough milk at each feeding! This really helped my confidence in nursing, to say the least.
I believe that's all the updates for now. Mike and I are happy to say we are surviving and THRIVING in our newly adjusted life. Each day is completely different from the previous...and it is all trial and error. But we are loving every minute of it!
Posted by McCulloch Family at 6:33 PM 1 comments
Sunday, October 14, 2007
We Survived the First Week!!!
Her first week we accomplished the following:
-Day 4 we ventured out to Babies R Us...it took us longer to pack the diaper bag and the car than it did to shop for all we needed
-Day 5 we had our first Pediatrician appt...where we learned Izzy is just 1 oz away from her birth weight!! Guess you can say she is feeding VERY well!
-Day 6 we had our first walk around the block...she slept the entire 2.5 miles!
-Day 7 her cousins came for a long visit and again, she slept the visit away
-Had her first bath & loved it (water baby for sure!)
-Lost her umbilical cord
Grand Roo (my mom) and Aunt Kimmy (my sister) have been here and are leaving tomorrow...so we'll see how the week goes with us on our own!
Mike and I are loving the snuggling with Izzy...her presence is just so sweet & joyful!!!
Posted by McCulloch Family at 7:16 PM 2 comments