Time

Where does time go?  Before I was a parent, you always hear parents say things like, "oh! They grow up so fast! Before you know it he will be 5 years old!"  And that always seemed a little odd to me.  But, I totally get it.  Edie has grown like a weed these last couple of months.  She's doing all kinds of new things!  It's so amazing!

So, first things first.  Edie is 100% out of her Pavlik Harness now.  She is so happy kicking her legs and not having to have that stinking thing on!  We go back to Dr. K the 2nd week in December. She will get X-rays which hopefully will show good bone growth, and then we will be "all clear."  If not, we are looking at having to have more braces on her legs when she is a bit older.  Pray for good results!

Halloween has come and gone.  She was the cutest Cinderella ever.  I did go a bit overboard, but it was for my own amusement.  Who sees a 3 month old in a wig?  It was hilarious. 

I went back to work the beginning of October.  It was the most dreaded day I can remember.  Not that I don't like my job, because I do, but because I had to leave Edie.  So very sad.  She always has the biggest smile on her face when I go to pick her up!  But,  I have put in my resignation at work. My last day will be December 3rd.  And from then on, I will be a stay-at-home mommy!  I know it will be difficult to transition from 2 incomes down to 1, but I have to think being home is what is best for Edie.  The Lord will provide!  

If you are looking for a new job and are skilled in SQL and/or have banking/CU experience... Let me know! :) 

Edie had her 4 month checkup on Tuesday! 4 whole months!!!! She was 11lbs, 10oz and 25 1/4 inches long!  She is growing so fast!  The Dr said he usually let's formula babies start "food" at 4 months, but Edie is still small....he said most babies weigh 13 lbs by 4 months.  Who knew I would have a small child!?!  But, she is healthy!  So, we will probably start rice cereal in December or January.  Again, she's going to start eating FOOD...craziness.

A few weeks ago, she was playing on some blankets on the floor...and rolled over. Just like that.  Boom.  Of course I missed the actual roll...but, I took pics of her anyway.  She has only rolled over that 1 time, but she tries so hard to do it all the time.  You can see her frustration!  She will get it down soon...

She is also teething.  Who knew a human could drool THAT MUCH!?!? She goes through multiple bibs a day.  She chews on EVERYThING!  Her new favorite is Sophie the Giraffe.  The French really know how to make a toy...I fear she will eat Sophie to bits.  So,  we are trying all kinds of teethers to see what she likes best.  My child will have TEETH soon.  What in the world!?

So, she's so sweet and growing so much! It's hard to believe I carried her around for nearly 9 months...and now she's rolling and almost has teeth!  God is good!

My post wouldn't be complete without a shoutout to my dearest friend, Haleybug! Colorodo sure is a long way away.  You should just move back home!  Happy birthday!!!!

Niblet News

First off, I'm sick.  That's right.  I go back to work for 3 whole days and already have to take a day off due to nausea, headache, and a slight fever.  I really wanted to vomit yesterday....and tried.... But, I never could.  I haven't eaten anything in nearly 24 hours.  I'm trying to keep fluids in me.  

I'd like to publicly denounce everyone who works with me.  You people are riddled with germs!!! 

Ok, enough of that.  I have exciting news! 

Edie had her orthopedic appointment last week.  She cried through the whole ultrasound, which she has never done before!  But, they were able to get everything they needed.

In Dr. killians office, he immediately told us  that she looked so much better. We are now in a step down time frame with her brace!! 

This past week, she has been be out of her brace for four hours per day. Today, she starts being out of the brace for eight hours a day. And the two weeks following that she only has to wear it when she sleeps at night. So she will be completely out of the brace by Halloween! I'm excited about that as I'm planning on her being Cinderella for Halloween! Ha ha! (If anyone has a stuffed Gus Gus or Jacques... PLEASE let me borrow it!)

We will go back to see Dr. Killian on December 11. She does not have to have any more ultrasounds. However she will have to start having x-rays.

The main concern at this point is that the bone forms into the joint correctly.  So they will be looking for, I believe he said, calcium deposits on her bones to make sure that they're strong and growing the right way.  If they are, that's wonderful news and she should not have to have any additional treatment.

However if the bone is not growing the right way, there is a chance that she would have to have braces on her legs around the time that she begins to walk. Obviously this is not something that makes me very happy.  But if it is something that we have to do, it isn't the end of the world. All we want is for her to be able to walk correctly.

So, that's my exciting news!  Starting today, out of the brace for 8 hours a day! Yippee!  

Also, thanks to everyone for your kind words about my previous posts.  Happy Wednesday! 

A day in the life...

Today, I'm going to chronicle our day.  

5:02am:  wake up, crying....

-- this is an hour earlier than her normal wake up time, so I was taken a little off guard.  I guess I can't be too upset, as it means she still slept roughly 8 hours straight.

5:05am: take a bit of a bottle while mommy rocks me a little.  

5:20am: back asleep...

7:15am: wake again and take another small bottle before going back to sleep around 7:30am

8:26am: officially wake up for the day.  I played on my "jungle gym" for a while, until I got fussy and mommy put me in the bouncy seat.  We played there for a while.  I talked to mommy and practiced slobbering and cooing.  

10:00am:  time for my mid-morning bottle!  It was delicious.  

10:30am: I finished my bottle and was sooo tired.  But, I would rather cry about about being sleepy than actually sleep.  Mommy tried and tried and tried to get me to go to sleep. 

11:15am:  I was nearly zonked out, so mom put me in my crib for my nap. Little did she know,  I had a surprise in store!  

11:45am:  hehehhe!  Surprise! I spit up on myself & my sheets! Mommy had to change all my bedding, and I got on a new outfit! 

12:10pm:  ok, that's all over with.  But, now I'm traumatized bc of the "incident," so... I'm refusing sleep again.  Mommy puts me in my favorite place... My bouncy seat.  We hang there for a while and talk about my toys: Jerome the giraffe and Buttons the monkey.  They are my BFFs! 

12:30pm:  ok, I'm tired.... Let me snooze for a few minutes.

1:07pm:  oh my stars! I nearly slept through my next bottle... No worries, my catnap has me refreshed!

1:15pm: Num num num! Bottttllleee!

1:30pm:  So, I'm working on this bottle... But, surprise!  Poooopy diaper! Hehehhe!

1:45pm:  Mommy tried to get me to go to sleep so she can clean the kitchen. pahhhhh! 

2:00pm:  she just keeps rocking me, as if I'm tired. She even put me in my crib, but that isn't going to stop these lungs!

2:15pm:  it seems mommy has given up on the sleep thing.... She put me in my swing to play!

2:30pm: *snoring*

3:06pm: wha? Where am I?  Let me cry to make sure mom is still around. Oh good! She is... And she gave me my paci! I think we should play a game!  It's called, "suck on the paci til it falls out of my mouth and then cry about it until mommy comes and puts it back in."  It's a great game.  Mommy doesn't seem to like it very much....

5:45pm:  ummm...Wow!  That was some nap! I was so sleepy....that wretched woman woke me up!  Now, it's time for my medicine and a bottle, stat! 

6:48pm:  going to church tonight... I don't wanna go.  You can tell that by allll the crying.  But, on a positive note, I'm out of my brace for church!!! And I have on an outfit from my friend, Kristen Dean.

7:25pm:  I've done pretty well at church so far!  But,  I got a little gas and decided crying was appropriate.  For the first time, DADDY took me out of church and walked around with me.  I guess I'm a little tired...

7:35pm: *zzzzzz*

8:15pm:  oh, that cat nap was GREAT! 

9:00pm:  I'm home now, but sadly I had to put my brace back on already....but,  good news! It's BOTTLE TIME! 

9:25pm:  I feel crying is appropriate.  

9:45pm:  ok, that's over with... I'm kinda sleepy...

10:00pm:  I keep dozing on and off while in my bouncy seat.  But, mommy picked me up.  I like sleeping on her shoulder.

 

10:10pm: ahhhh, my bed! Goodnight!     

40th

Today is my parents 40th anniversary. Forty. Four zero.  That's a long time to me, seeing as how I've been married just over 4 years.  

On Tuesday, I took my parents to the airport to go on a trip to the Grand Canyon.  This was a surprise trip from my dad.  Mom has always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon.  So, dad planned this himself (*scary*)!  However, he asked my sister and I to be the ones to tell her back a few weeks ago.  

Mom and I (and Edie) were down visiting my sister & her kids at the time.  My sister and I had a hard time coming up with how to tell her. We finally devised a plan to have my niece, MK, tell her.  Jana went and picked up a book about the Grand Canyon and wrapped it up.  We went to moms favorite restaurant (so she couldn't get mad!) and then had MK give her the present and say "happy anniversary!"  Btw, hearing a 4 year old say "anniversary" is so cute.  

So. Mom opened up the present, saw it was a book about the Grand Canyon...and then had to question us about what this meant.  Oy. 

After we explained everything, she was excited. She's been on cloud 9 ever since.  

I've heard from them everyday they have been gone... Pictures, texts, phone calls, 

So it seems like they are having a great time!  

So, happy 40th anniversary to mom & dad! (Wish I had an awesome 70s wedding photo to post, but they eloped...at the ripe old age of 18 and 19)..... :) 

Perspective...

I talked last post about DDH (developmental dysplasia of the hips).  Edie was "diagnosed" with DDH on her first day of life.  She has been wearing a Pavlik harness since she was less than 24 hours old. She knows nothing other than being in the harness. It doesn't seem to bother her.

However, it bothers me a lot.  The last thing a first time mother wants to see is her sweet, precious, adorable baby girl have to be put into a harness that looks so horrible.  She can't wear dresses, footed pajamas, gowns, shoes, socks, etc. with the brace.  So, to be very straightforward, I hate the thing.  

I cant tell you how many times a week i have to explain to people what it is.  The worst is when someone says, "What's wrong with her?"..... How do you respond nicely to that? For me, I just say something like:  "her hips joints didn't form all the way, so she has to wear this until the dr decides they have." (Nothing is WRONG with her!)

Hopefully, she will be getting the brace off for good at her October appointment.  (Less than 3 weeks). 

But, this post is about perspective.

Edie has a fantastic orthopedic doctor; the best one around.  We've been to see him at his office 2 times since she was born.  Each time we go see him, there are always kids with broken arms sitting in the waiting room.  Broken arms.....  So, there is poor, pitiful me with my baby in this horrible harness.... Feeling sorry for myself over in the corner.

The last visit we had went well.  On our way out of the office, we stopped by the receptionist desk to turn in our file.  That's when it happened.  A little boy came walking through the door from the waiting room.  This little boy was probably 10 years old or so.  When I use the term "walking", I mean with assistance.  This little boy (wearing an Auburn shirt!) had braces on his legs.  He was walking with a walker.  It seemed there might also be mental issues as well.  He saw Edie and got a smile on his face and said, "baby!"  

And that's when it really hit me... How stupid am I?  Who cares if my child can't wear a dress right now? Or stupid footed pajamas??? There are so many parents out there that get horrible news about their babies every day...and I'm worried about a removable harness she hopefully only has to wear for a total of 3 months? 

Without ever knowing it, that sweet 10 year old boy put me RIGHT in my place. I should be thanking God every day for my sweet, precious, adorable, HEALTHY baby girl.  And saying a prayer for the parents in the world that God has deemed worthy to care for His special children. 

Edie in her Pavlik harness (holding Grandaddys hand). 

Niblet News

My dad calls each of his grand kids a "pet name", which happens to be a food.  Examples: Butter Bean, Sweet Pea, Spud.  Edie was given her pet name before she was ever born: Niblet.  Like corn... Get it?  I think it is adorable, and quite fitting given the popcorn business.  

So, each post about Edie will be titled "Niblet News."  

Edie is two months old today!  I can't believe it! These last two months have been crazy...getting used to being a mommy, figuring out how to function with less sleep, etc.  Edie has brought no shortage of drama with her presence in the world.  I will give some examples.

Drama #1

My water broke in the middle of the night.  Get to the hospital and after nearly 4 hours... No progress.  Dr orders pitocin to move things along... But before I get the drug, it is discovered that she is breech! ...drama 

Drama #2

I have a c-section....drama

Drama #3

I had complications with the c-section and had to stay in the hospital for 5 days...and had two blood transfusions...drama

Drama #4

Within 24 hours of her birth, it is determined that she has DDH, developmental dysplasia of the hips.  I had never heard of this... So, that was drama in itself.  The worst part is that she has to wear a Pavlik harness 22 hours a day...it is horrible & I hate it.  She doesn't seem to be bothered by it however....Drama (Ill talk more about the DDH in another post)

Drama #5

She refuses to nurse.  We are talking, blood curdling screams when I would try.  Thus, my child is formula fed. *shock, gasp* The drama here is that when people find this out, they judge you.  Clearly, if she would nurse, then I would be doing that.  But, It just didn't work out for us, you old bitty. Keep your comments to yourself... Or I'll SHOW YOU drama...(that wasnt nice of me...)

Drama #6

She has acid reflux.  If you've known kids with acid reflux, it is horrible! The screaming/crying, the projectile vomits... It's a treat, I tell ya!  Luckily, I think we have finally figured out her meds.  My 2 month old takes Prilosec... And she hates it...drama

So, you see what drama she has caused in my life.  But she is 1000% worth it.  

Happy two months to my little E.  

9lbs, 8oz

21 3/4 inches

25th percentile

Day 1: A new blog...

Here it is.  My first blog post.  I've thought for a long time about starting a blog.  My initial thought was before my daughter, Edie, was born.  I thought it would be an amazing idea to have a blog about our life from the viewpoint of our three cats (Pixie, Mozzie, and Niko).  I pitched this idea to people close to me... I typically just got blank stares... Or the usual "stop being a crazy cat lady" responses.  Thus, this blog will not be all about my cats.  Though, they will make many appearances, no doubt.

I feel the need to explain the address and name of this blog.

1) UnMerrittedFavor.blogspot.com
- being a Christian is the most important part of my life.  I'm not perfect.  Guess what... God knows that.  He's chosen to offer me salvation and blessings beyond belief. Hopefully, you will see that in each of my posts. I also don't want my readers (all 2 of you) to think I can't spell.  I know Merit is usually how it is spelled.  My last name happens to be Merritt.... Play on words. Yada yada. Kudos to my buddy Justin for helping come up with the name,

2) The life and times of a popcorn heiress.
- my husband and his brother own a popcorn company (www.merrittpop.com).  It is the best popcorn you will ever eat.  [Don't just look at that web address, go buy some & help send my daughter to college!] I just so happened to marry into this wonderful business.  No, is the answer to your question. I don't eat popcorn all the time... I did when we first started dating, however. Your second question is probably, "what's your favorite flavor?"  The honest answer is that I don't have a favorite.  Today, I might eat kettle corn, tomorrow I might eat cheese (surprisingly delicious).  As for the heiress part... That's a joke.  Many of my friends refer to me this way.  Heiress couldn't be farther than the truth.  In reality, the company is run by Michael & his brother...and they are the only employees.  They grow the popcorn, harvest the popcorn, clean the popcorn, bag the popcorn (for large quantities), ship the popcorn, process online orders, market the popcorn, do accounting, etc.  It's a two man show, with my sister-in-law and I occasionally taking a few responsibilities.

So, I'm tired now... Since I took about 2 hours to try and determine the layout, background picture, and font of this stinking blog...it's now nearly 11pm and I'm probably looking forward to being up all night with Edie (who turns two months old on Thursday!) More about her in my next post!

-Lacey