Auntie Time

Auntie Booch made her way back from Christmas Break to see my little Sleeping Beauty and I believe it was "love at first sight" and "she's so white, it's creepy... is she alive??"

 And obviously she did what all the Blickenstaff's do... take funny pictures of people who can't help themselves. (This includes, behind other's backs, while they are sleeping, to their face, distorting their faces with apps, the list goes on....)

Auntie Fagita did her hair for this shot. :)))))  basically all my child did for the first 2 months was sleep her life away.

 And here's some more glamour shots of Auntie Booch with the babe on her hip... too good not to post.

 Love this sis. Ain't she perty?? :)

And finally adopted Aunt Nikki made her debut. I was surprised by how much she's loved this little babe of mine. She was so happy when I introduced her as Auntie Nikki :) and she's been such a help every week! I get her for one day and she runs errands and helps me give G baths and everything. Love her.

We finally got a chance to watch a movie in the theater room... I think it was Pitch Perfect?? Yes, I'm wearing Zach's Brookstone robe that I bought him for Christmas last year. And I lived in it for about a month. Soooo comfy.

 Here's one where she's actually awake... 

And another photo op with Auntie Booch... I've been replaced. It used to be me in these sessions but I guess G makes for a better shot. It's also less embarrassing for me. But I do miss them... :)

Oh there I am... still in my robe!

I think we took these pictures for Kell so she knew exactly what she was missing out on. Don't overlook CAITLIN'S FACE haha why doesn't Blooger have emoticons????

Momma Time

January 4th: Mom came to stay with me!!

 Note for next post birth: Remember to smile with my mouth CLOSED. It softens the chubby face.

And she brought the cutest little boots for Georgia, can't wait till she grows into them!

Then we came across this little gem... proving just how much G is her father's daughter! Zach on the left, G on the right.. (he's so.... red.....) just look at those identical button noses!

And mom got to experience the Dynamite Poop... it seriously had my flinching at every diaper change! For once it wasn't me who got hit... thanks Mom for taking one for the team :) and G.... she's a straight shooter, good aim! 

 So we gave her a nice bath in which she curled up and fell asleep

My mom was amazing to say the least... she cooked dinner every night, stayed up late with me and the baby, burped her every chance she got to give me a break, loved Georgia to pieces, taught me all the things I hadn't figured out, helped me get out and about and run the errands I was putting off, helped me to just relax and figure out how to get G to sleep through the night, and basically saved the day. She was AMAZING.

Doesn't Auntie Kris just look hoooooooooot

Mom made me get this shot because she thought it was hilarious how she was sleeping with her arms sticking out. Silly girl!

It was so hard to say goodbye to my mom that she ended up changing her flight to stay 2 extra days!!! Much to my CA fam's dismay I'm sure, but I was soooo glad we even got 2 more days with her. Loved every minute! Thankfully she left early on Monday morning so we avoided a ball fest... I was sure a mess when I woke up and she was gone. So glad I have such a helpful and giving mother! 

Sweet Privacy

The first couple of weeks post Georgia were busy busy busy with lots of family in town. NaNa and PaPa were finally able to come to Utah on the 26th after Christmas and in the meantime, we kept them stocked with lots of pictures every day so they wouldn't miss a beat.

They were so bummed they missed the birth but they came as fast as they could! My mom waited a couple of weeks until the Wingers were gone so that she could continue to help us when we needed it. 
The morning after the Wingers got here, I asked Cathy to help me give G her first bath... I was super nervous to do it myself, she just seemed so fragile at the time. Sponge bathing a baby until their belly button dries and falls off is NOT fun. She screamed the whole time. And my heart was breaking. But as soon as we wrapped her up in her favorite white leopard towel from Aunt Chandice & Uncle Cameron, she was happy as could be all snuggled up warm again! 

 Too bad I didn't give myself a little TLC as well... looks like I could've really used a bath too! Did I run out of dry shampoo????

Over the next few days, the Wingers and Hokes made their way to Utah and pretty soon, we were all crammed in together with kids running around and screaming non-stop. I almost lost my marbles a couple of nights from the lack of sleep/energy/sanity until I remember THE GOOD STUFF. So I readied a bottle of Momma's Milk in the fridge, told Zach to play Mommy for a night, and downed a sleeping pill to get some good uninterrupted zzZZzzZZzzZZzz. I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to do it all over again! Thank goodness for Zach and his amazingly understanding boss who let him have a whole week off of work.

Hanging with this snuggle bunny all day errrday while it dumped snow outside was the absolute best

Everyone else??? Well if you love free spirited living and giving yourself completely to others... sure! The variety of family members knocking down my door to ask me questions, check in with me, and just plain HANG OUT while I was breastfeeding, taking showers, etc... was overwhelming! Mothers/sisters/cousins in law!! Maybe I am overreacting...? I still ask my Older Sissy for advice on the proper public baby care etiquette rules... For example: Is it ok to breastfeed your baby (fully covered of COURSE) on the couch when your husband and Father in law are watching the same show on tv? Or must I be confined to the basement downstairs all alone for the next 45 minutes? No idea. Didn't want to chance it, so I dejectedly slunk away downstairs. Is it ok to feed the babe when she's screaming her head off and you are right in the middle of a good convo with the Father in law that doesn't look like it's going to end anytime soon?? Rude to walk away or rude to stay and feed?? Why do both these examples include my Father in law? Awkward.

Again, thank goodness for clinical strength DEO because I still find myself in a sweaty freaking panic on a daily basis trying to decide what is/isn't acceptable to the general public. I am just nervous in general... still work up a sweat when she starts to cry in public... rights of a new mom. Apparently in the future my senses will slowly dull and someday I won't even be able to hear the cries nor will I care all in all WHO sees WHAT. Right Kell?? ;)

Ahhh how life changes when these little guys come around... 

Love this little ragamuffin and the involuntary smiles she threw around the first few weeks of her life! 

Give Me The Good Stuff

Backing up 3 months to December 23rd, 2012 4:30am....... I woke up to "stomach aches" that came and went. Finally around 5:00am I started counting and my contractions were about 5 minutes apart and getting stronger. So I hopped in the shower - too many disgusting things happen during birth, I wasn't about to add to it with my 4 day old hair and sweaty armpits (thank goodness for clinical strength DEO) - and knew I should go in to the hospital when I couldn't stand up straight anymore. I threw on some make-up, almost left without finishing it, but thought better of it since I knew I wouldn't care to finish it later. SO glad I did! The pictures were brutal enough WITH the make-up on. Arrived at the hospital at 6:30am to get checked in.

Never forget this: the first time I saw tears coming from Zach's uber tough eyes!! Yep. After knowing him for 6+ years, I finally saw him buckle. Probably one of my favorite moments ever. 

Not 5 seconds after we were shown to our private delivery room, we heard another lady in a room next to us scream the most horrible sounding scream I'd ever heard in my life. I thought they were breaking all the bones in her body. Then it was silent and we both thought she died. I look over to see Zach red, wobbly chinned, and brimming with tears. He looked at me and holding my hand said "I don't want you to be in that much pain..." which brought me to tears. Thankfully the nurse came in and explained that that lady had given birth unmedicated (crazy women...) and that happened to be her final push. My experience would definitely not be that painful. That completely wiped Zach's tears and after that, he went right back to supporting me the best way he knows how - making jokes and watching football. He's suuuuuuper good at it. 

At 9:30am my OB came in and said he could either send me home with a shot and see what happens or we could get this thing rolling and break my water. Fact: I don't love making decisions. So obviously I called my parents who were in church and at the moment, on the stand in the choir and couldn't pick up. Then I called my sissy who gave the best advice: Do it! Get it over with!! Go for it! Why would you want to be pregnant longer???????" 

So they gave me the drugs, broke my water and got the party started. I didn't realized that the party included laying down for the next 6 hours and feeling like your legs had died and should be amputated. Suuuuuuuper fun. 

The pic my mom insisted we send her pre-delivery (no idea why): 

And me pushing the button for more drugs more drugs more drugs:

All of a sudden, I thought I had crapped myself and I got super embarrassed and begged Zach not to look, but he assured me I did NOT crap myself, so it was a relief when the nurse came in to check me and said "you're complete. time to start pushing." Ahhhhhhhhh. With Zach supporting me on one side and some encouraging texts from sissies, friends, and family, I pushed for just over an hour and out came THIS: 

Georgia Paige Winger

7 lbs 5 oz

19.5 inches

12.23.12 @ 4:55 pm

To which Zach immediately exclaimed "YES, babe she has my nose! Sistrunk genes came through!" Because pretty much all the grandkids on his side has the famous Sistrunk button nose. 

I was shocked to see this little fair skinned pinky with RED hair and a button nose. Oh and one thing she got from me: long skinny finger toes. 

She is alllll Zach and left me with her feet. 

But I seriously didn't care even for a second after I saw her!! Loooooove this girl to pieces...

The only thing that ruins this picture: my BEAR CLAW. No wonder she was crying. She probably thought I was going to paw her to death.

 Aaaaaaand 24 hours later:

I hated my life and fell asleep instead of asking for MORE DRUGS and had to wait a couple hours since my nurse's shift had ended. I desperately needed a shower, a face wash, a tooth brush, etc... but all I could do was sit extremely still and pretend like I hadn't pushed a boulder out my rear end. I was terrified to do anything that involved moving the lower half of my body.
But then Christmas morning came and I WIN because I got to bring home the best present in the whole entire world.

Came home and finally decided to open Christmas presents which seem so lame next to our little G that we were so obsessed with already. Another favorite moment: watching Zach look at Georgia and say "Gosh I love her so much, I could just hold her forever."

First night in the cradle:

Which lasted about 12 seconds. After one night of ZERO sleep, not one wink, and 57 unsuccessful attempts of putting her to down to sleep, I turned to the experts! Who basically threw The Baby Book out the window and advised me to do everything the book says not to do: cushion them with blankets, prop the mattress up, let her sleep in her carrier, etc... so glad I listened!! Experienced moms give the best advice, thanks Kell and Mom, xoxo! 

I survived the first night and have spent every day after that trying to figure this all out.... thank goodness for the good stuff... which includes pain killers, sleeping pills, ice packs, Brookstone robes, hot baths, ice cream, etc.....

The Blog Nazi

This is for my sister who is the BEST blogger ever, so naturally I am shrinking into a dark corner because I just can't live up to hers... wait... can I also use this as a reason why I am so untalented, narrow-minded, and lazy??? Yes. Yes, I blame all my shortcomings on her! She is the reason my blog is lacking and my hair is frizzy and I never have enough sunglasses and the list goes on and on... she has it all! Why try?? Oh yeah, because I have just given birth this AMAZING BABE:

and I need to record all her cuteness before she turns into a little devil and I want to inadvertently drive her off a cliff :) hopefully that day doesn't come any time soon because I am honestly enjoying every day with her!!!
Anyway, the Blog Nazi is always on me for never ever updating this thing, so here goes round 2 with a little more dedication....