Superlative Baby

What can we say? Noel is a superlative baby, in multiple ways:

Smallest: ok, she was not smaller than Cordelia at birth, but she totally seems like the smallest of our babies to us. This could be because she is our current baby, but for whatever reason, we agree she is our smallest.

Easiest: probably setting ourselves up for a fall, but Noel is our easiest baby as well! She very rarely cries -- usually just to signal "feed me" or "put me to sleep". She is already going 3.5-4 hours between feedings during the day, and 4-4.5 hours at night. WOW!

Sleepiest: Noel likes to sleep. This is a good thing for the most part. She naps during each feeding cycle, usually for at least 2 hours. She also naps during feedings, which makes them go an hour or longer.

In a three-way tie for cutest and sweetest: Of course we can't pick favorites in these categories! But rest assured, Noel is just as cute and sweet as her sisters!

Back on Track

Good news from the pediatrician's office! We are back up to 7 lbs even, which is a 5 oz gain over the weekend -- exceeding the doc's expectations. To say the least, we are relieved. Sunday had been a much better day for feeding/eating, so we were hopeful, but little babies are so hard to predict!

So, we are now able to approach feeding like a "normal" baby: not having to wake her night or day to feed her, and we're eliminating the supplemental bottles of breast milk, which means less pumping for Holly :)

Cordelia and Evie are still loving their baby sister in a big way. Cordelia is doing a lot of mommy imitation -- from walking the floor and patting her doll to nursing. It's cute.

Evie is more into trying to give Noel affection: kisses, love "pats" (more like swatting at her face/head), and hugs. Noel is at risk of being loved to death...literally. We're being really vigilant about the girls not being alone together.

Geri left yesterday to head back to Santa Claus. We were so glad to have her with us again, as she was when our other two girls were born and brought home from the hospital.

Now we're flying solo and trying to figure it all out in terms of parenting
three children. The house is still standing, but all three girls need baths. There aren't enough hours in the day at this point.

Enjoy the new photos, courtesy of Holly's dad, Larry.

Need to Gain Weight

Words every woman would normally love to hear, but it's a little more complicated in this case. Noel lost 10% of her birth weight before leaving the hospital, which is the ceiling for what is acceptable. So, we're trying to nurse around the clock this weekend to ensure she stops losing and starts gaining.

The challenge is that she is so sleepy. Noel nurses for a little while, then falls asleep, and Holly spends the remainder of the feeding trying to coax Noel into eating more. We're pumping and offering breast milk in a bottle to supplement the feedings as well, but so far one additional ounce has been the most she's taken after a normal nursing.

Noel will return to the doctor's office on Monday morning to get weighed, see the doctor, and see where we are.

The featured photos are of proud Daddy and Noel, shortly after she was born, and one of Noel in her hospital bassinet on the day of our release. I thought she looked funny with her hat pulled down over her eyes and her little hand lost in the sleeve of her gown.

More after the doc visit.

"Noel" the angels did say.....

Say Hello to Noel Magdelene!

It's been one heck of a day. There are now two Eble's born on February 11th. Dominic's sister Carla is now joined by Noel Magdelene Eble!

Noel was born at 10:22 after two short pushes by Mom. She weighs in at 7 pounds and 7 ounces and is 20.5 inches in length. Noel has more hair than either of her sisters did at birth, and nearly more than Evie has now at 14 months! She's already showing to have the tempermant of her sister Evangeline (thank the Lord!) in being a very easy going child and rarely crying.

Big sister Cordelia was a bit disappointed to have a sister rather than a brother but did manage to tell Dad that she wanted to name her Fluffy...sorry Cordie.

Big sisters Cordelia and Evangeline made it over to the hospital this afternoon to meet their little sister! Would you believe that she was nice enough to bring presents for both of them? Noel brought Cordelia Lego's and Evie got a stuffed Pig.

Contraction = Action?

Holly was awake for about 90 minutes last night with fairly regular contractions -- the strongest experienced during this pregnancy, but nothing that required Lamaze breathing to get through. She wondered if she would need to wake Dominic for a middle-of-the-night trip to the hospital, but eventually she was able to fall back asleep.

It's a good thing, as we're getting a new hot water heater installed in our home today, and Holly has a haircut appointment scheduled for tomorrow. Holly is working to finish some projects during the pre-baby-arrival portion of her maternity leave.

Holly's sister Haley is also going to come up to Indy on Wednesday -- not to be in the delivery room for the big event like Hillary, but to be able to visit afterward. Also, Holly's Aunt Pam will also be in Indy on the big day (assuming that Baby doesn't decide to arrive before the induction...), so there are more visitors expected at the hospital. Baby #3 will not lack for attention in its earliest hours.

More news as it breaks...

Countdown to Baby 3!

First, we have to show off how cute our girls are waiting to leave for daycare, "my school" to Cordelia. LOVE Evie's hat!

So, at the last OB visit, Holly was 4 cm dilated and 75% effaced. Progressing to delivery of the latest Baby Eble! We have scheduled an induction for Wednesday, February 11 if Baby does not decide to come by then, as we have no desire for a home or en route delivery! Holly has had some off/on contractions since then, so she expects to be 5 cm (half way there!) by the time we get to the hospital on Wednesday morning bright and early -- 6:30 am! We also expect to have greeted our new baby by noon, as our labor/delivery experiences have been relatively short in the past.

Holly's mom, Geri, and her sister, Hillary, will join us in the delivery room. Geri has been there for the births of our other two girls, and Hillary is studying nursing, and considering specializing in labor and delivery.

Evie is oblivious to our impending family addition, and Cordelia is very excited. She claims our baby is going to "bust out." We're hoping for something slightly less dramatic. Cordelia usually says she wants a baby brother, but regardless, she wants to call her new sibling Sparkle. Yep; she came up with that one all by herself. She may be disappointed to discover that is not on our short list of names for either gender...

One last photo of the girls to share, as they played together on their couches they got for Christmas. These have been a big hit in our household.

Until Wednesday...(or sooner?)