Christmas

Ashley had a great first Christmas!

On Christmas Eve, we spent the evening with the Valcik family (“Aunt” Debbie’s family) and Ashley was the hit of the party. She always made it back to mom when it was time to eat or be changed.

On Christmas Day, Ashley woke up at 10:30 after 11.5 hours of sleep! After dad gave her a bath, we packed up and went to Grandma and Grandpa Braun's house. Ashley hung out with Aunt Debbie for a bit, but then needed a nap. After her nap and a feeding, Ashley opened some presents. She had so many that we had to do it in spurts! Once Ashley had some quiet time, she was ready for more gifts! She received dolls, toys, books, ornaments, a play-mat and super-gate (we're getting ready for those crawling days that will soon be here) as well as a pool float for the summer!

She spent some quality time hanging with Uncle Steve and came home and took a long nap. I'm sure she'll sleep well tonight.

Merry Christmas!

4 Months

Ashley had her four month doctor visit on Monday. She was just over 12 pounds and 24.5 inches long. She's in the 25th percentile for weight and 50th percentile for height. She's petite but growing on track. She's finally starting to fit into some of her 3-6 month clothes since she's getting longer.

She had a shot in each leg, and seems to cry less and less each visit. She slept it off Monday night when she slept 13 hours waking up once for a feeding (at her normal evening feeding time).

The doctor said we can start giving her food. Pete thought she would eat soggy Special K! I guess that's why I'm around. We gave Ashley a very small amount of rice cereal today and she did very well eating off the spoon and swallowing. Unfortunately, it made her very bloated. So, we're going to give her a few days off.

Ashley had a visit with Grandma and Grandpa Anderson this past weekend and while they were here, Ashley started giggling! It is the cutest noise!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday! We're looking forward to an exciting year in 2010!

Hoo Hoo

Ashley started playing in her exersaucer this week. She's still pretty small for it, but she is padded in there with a blanket. She loves looking at all the toys and when she really stretches she can turn with her tippy toes!

Monday she started "talking" back and forth. It is so fun to be able to have "conversations". As you can see from the videos, she's big on the animal noises :)

First Overnight Away

Ashley had her first overnight with Grandma and Grandpa Braun on Friday night while Pete and I attended a wedding. I thought they'd try and back out after Ashley had such a bad time at their house on Thanksgiving, crying most of the evening, but they were excited to have her all to themselves.

Ashley slept a little over 10 hours for them and she spent the following day playing with grandma and grandpa. Grandpa took her on a tour of the house and told her what everything was and even spent some time looking in the mirror (He'll have her doing projects in no time) and she played with her dolly with Grandma.

No tears were shed. We all survived Ashley's first overnight away from home!

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!

3 Months

3 Months today! No Doctor appointment this month, but Ashley is about 10.5-11 pounds and you can tell she's growing. She's been sleeping about 8-10 hours at night but still working on a better day time nap routine.

The newborn clothes were finally packed away but she is still so skinny that the size 1 diapers are too big!

She smiles all the time and has "silent" laughs. She "talks" all the time now and learned how to scream in high pitch (which is done in random spurts). Ashley is obsessed with her hands - putting them in her mouth and grabbing and even pulling at her toys. We'll post videos soon!

Guestbook Entries

From: Grandparents AndersonFriday, August 7th 2009

Welcome Ashley Nicole! We are so anxious to meet you and so glad that you and your Mom are doing well. Congratulations to your Mom and Dad. We send our love and will see you all very soon!

• From: Aunt LauraSunday, August 9th 2009

  Dear Ashley,
  
  From your tiny feet, to your little nose and puffy cheeks, you are perfect in every way. I can't wait to come see you in a few weeks and I'm so happy you're here. Congratulations to your new Mom and Dad!
  
  Love,
  Aunt Laura

• From: Clare and HansSaturday, August 8th 2009

  Congratulations! Ashley is beautiful! Can't wait to meet her.
  Our love to you and your family.
  

• From: the H familySaturday, August 8th 2009

  happy baby!
  Baby Ashley Nicole , Shannon and Pete’s babe...
  always nice to see the perfect miniatures...
  the square chests, the scrunched legs...
  and feet that can bend so that they can touch shinbones....
  magic of compression......
  enjoy the peach fuzz on the face,
  the beauty of the perfect lips, the softest of skin,
  the distinct sound of a newborn crying and
  the wonderment of a toothless mouth not yet able to tell the secrets of heaven....
  the crinkles of an ear,
  the thinness of a heel,
  the callous-free footpads....
  the thinness of a toenail or a fingernail...
  the jerk of arm and leg stretches.....
  in both happiness and in the "feed me" mode.....
  and then too, in the happy " I have no clothes on" wiggling and freedom mode....
  
  a mom doing the diapering, the dressing, the thisNthats, all the while with one loose hand lightly touching the babe.......
  
  the special palm placement around the back of the neck when holding the babe in a 'sitting' position.....
  
  that other palm CHIN-CHEST HOLD when turning them over...
  
  a newborn neck, free of the muscles to support the heaviness of their essence ~ their head
  
  little 'cheesies' in the cracks, the folds of the skin....
  
  the soft spot, which magically becomes one of the strongest places of our bodies
  
  discussions of alcohol vs plain old water!
  
  the magic of a simultaneously sucking, swallowing and breathing baby, an ability lost as we get older...
  
  a baby fist, not the defensive fist of an adult.... thumb in vs thumb out......
  
  a flat nose bottom......
  
  peach fuzz all over...... sometimes glistening on the shoulders, the forehead, the arms, the ears...
  a new voice in your family....
  
  
  and just think....
  she will never be smaller than in the photos you take this day...
  
  ~ valentine
  
  
  
  and the wish~
  
  
  Care for the creatures, the earth and the sky
  
  Make good luck for others and you will make good luck for yourself
  
  Take care of your actions during the daylight and you will sleep calmly and peacefully under the moon and stars
  
  Know that the horizon exists even though you cannot always see it - keep striving
  
  And, always let the sunshine grace your face
  
  ~Valentine
  

• From: Bernie McGuireSaturday, August 8th 2009

  Congratulations and Best Wishes! God Bless your beautiful Ashley Nicole! We'll have to teach her to play Bunco as soon as we can! Enjoy your little bundle of joy!

• From: Teri & David SmithSaturday, August 8th 2009

  Congratulations to all of you! What a precious gift! May God bless!

• From: Amy & ScottSaturday, August 8th 2009

  Ashley is adorable!!
  
  Congratulations on the new addition to your family.
  
  

• From: Ann GonskiSaturday, August 8th 2009

  The miracle never ceases to amaze me. She is lovely and perfection! Many blessings to you and baby Ashley. All my Love, Ann

• From: TriciaFriday, August 7th 2009

  Shannon and Pete,
  Congrats! And welcome baby Ashley! I cannot wait to see all of you and get my first snuggles in! Rest up and I will see you all soon! I can't believe she's here!
  
  lots of love!

• From: Grandparents BraunFriday, August 7th 2009

  Dear Ashley,
  Well, we just got home from seeing you for the first time and you look perfect! You never once opened your eyes the whole time we were there (your first few hours), but we had your Dad take a picture of you in Grandpa Dale's arms and you squinted your eyes shut really hard when the flash went off. We are so in love with you already. Tell mom to take care of herself and tell mom and dad to get rest as often as they can because you will be up and active before they know it.
  Love, Grandma Maureen & Grandpa Dale

• From: Jamie MillsFriday, August 7th 2009

  Welcome to the world little one....my are you beautiful...can't wait to meet you. Congratulations Pete and Shannon. We are so happy for you both!

  
  

  • From: Grandparents Gail & Hank & G. Grandmother WagnerTuesday, October 13th 2009

    We've just returned from a wonderful visit with Ashley and her parents. She is starting to smile, exercise her arms and legs, and bat at her mobile animals hanging over her crib. Her great grandmother Wagner was especially happy to be able to make the trip from Maryland to Chicago to meet her first little great grandchild! Ashley is very fortunate to have such loving and dedicated parents as Shannon and Peter.

  • From: Anne and Don AndersonMonday, September 28th 2009

    We have been enjoying the photos and video and only wish we could meet Ashley in person! You guys look like you're doing a great job. How about a photo of the two of you with Ashley?

  • From: Grandma MaureenFriday, September 4th 2009

    It looks as if she likes to pose for pictures.

  • From: Alex NewtonMonday, August 10th 2009

    Congrats Shannon and Pete, welcome Ashley!

  • From: Kaitlin KnottMonday, August 10th 2009

    Congratulations!! She's beautiful! Glad to see everyone's doing well

  • From: Allison S.Monday, August 10th 2009

    Congratulations and best wishes! She is beautiful!!!

  • From: Christine VanHyfteMonday, August 10th 2009

    Congrats Guys! Glad that Momma and baby are doing well.

  • From: Andrew, Joyce, and AbeSunday, August 9th 2009

    Welcome! We can't wait to meet you!
    
    Love,
    Andrew, Joyce, and Abe

  • From: Uncle SteveSunday, August 9th 2009

    Welcome Ashley...
    Your parents are going to spoil you and you are going to make your 2 older sisters very jealous. But don't worry, they're dogs compared to you.
    
    Congratulations to Shannon and Pete

  • From: Uncle DaveSunday, August 9th 2009

    Congrats Pete and Shan. We'll see you and Ashley very soon.

2 Months

Ashley had her 2 month check up on Friday. She had two shots, one in each leg. She was very sleepy and sore for a good 24 hours. We had to wake her up to eat! She's still in the 40th percentile at 9 pounds 5 ounces and 22 inches. She's getting bigger every day.

Pete was on a business trip last week and Ashley and I were on our own from Monday through Friday. We made it out of the house a few times and only had one meltdown - from lack of sleep.

Pete's parents came to visit along with Ashley's Great-Grandma Wagner! This is the first visit with her one of three great grandmas. Ashley was a little out of it on Friday from her shots but she made up for it later with lots of smiles!