Maddy/Hannah - Photo Shoot

Here is the link to our photo slideshow from Hannah's Newborn/Maddy's Big Sister Photo Shoot on March 15th. The link will only be active for a few more days so I wanted to share. I still cry everytime I watch it - I can't believe this is my life! So blessed and grateful.

I need to buy stock in baby carriers!

Well, they say you get what you ask for so I guess that's the issue. My little snuggle bunny Hannah wants nothing on Earth but for someone to hold her. Maddy was never like this. I remember specific conversations where Matt and I would sit and talk about how we wish Maddy wanted to love on us as a newborn. We just wanted to hold her but she was SO happy sitting in her bouncer just observing the world around her. An independent little girl and not much has changed over the past three years. Hannah - NOT SO MUCH! I wanted a baby to love on and that's just what I got. Unfortunately, it makes things like brushing your teeth and taking a shower a little challenging. Of course we have to let her cry a little but she's still young so you can't just lay her there and say you'll be ok Hannah. She is definitely going to be our little lover. She actually puts her little head in either your armpit or the place between your neck and chest. It's very sweet for about an hour and then it gets a little old :) So, it's a good thing I have a baby carrier because occasionally I need to do something that requires both arms. Definitely feeling good about our decision to use child care at this point. A few weeks from now she will have to adjust to NOT being held all day. I'm thinking the sweet teachers in her room will have other things to do! In the meantime, we will keep working on giving our snuggle bunny a little independence :)

Hannah - 1 month

Today is Hannah Dean's 1 month birthday! I can't believe it's already been a month. My how time flies! We went to the doctor this morning for her check up and she's doing great! Her acid reflux issue seems to be under control as of now. I do find it interesting that an itty bitty baby has to take acid reflux medicine but hopefully not for long. Hannah is very strong! She is holding her head up and the doctor believes she will roll over before too long. Needless to say she doesn't just lay still like most newborn babies. It is fascinating to me that her activity in the womb is identical to her activity level now. She will probably not be a basketball player and appears to be a petite little thing, like her sister. :)


Below are her 1 month stats:


Weight: 9lbs 4 ounces (50%)
Height: 20 1/4 inches (25%)
Head: 14 1/4 inches (25%)


We are blessed beyond words!

Picture taken before they gave her the shot!

Staples and Stickers

So I knew this toddler and newborn thing would be interesting but good Lord! Thursday night was not what I had in mind. For some reason I was having a stressful evening and really needed Maddy to have a distraction so I could breathe and accomplish something. So, Matt offered to trick her into folding laundry (she still thinks that's a fun game). They went into our bedroom to fold laundry, listen to music and dance a little. I proceeded to clean the kitchen. 15 minutes into to this blissful distraction and I heard the THUD! An awful noise that immediately made me sick to my stomach because I new it meant bad news. Apparently laundry and dancing turned into playing on the bed which resulted in a fall into the corner of the nightstand. Matt ran into the kitchen with Maddy and began applying pressure to her head. I'm definitely not a medical expert but it appeared she would probably need stitches, if not, at least a proper cleaning and bandage to keep it from getting infected. So, I called Grandma while Matt got things together. It ended up that Urgent Care was able to take care of her which saved Matt from spending hours in the ER waiting room while singing his ABCs. Here I am though, at home while my "baby" goes to the doctor with her head bleeding. This will be the first of many times that Daddy steps up and Mommy has to stay behind but it was rough.

Anyway, the doctor recommended STAPLES as opposed to stitches due to her young age and the fact that the cut was back in her hair and we would never see the scar. Maddy was a ROCK STAR! Matt and I were much more traumatized by the event than she was. He said she sat in the office so quiet while they waited 2 hours! When it came time for the staples, he said she barely made a peep. Not sure if that was fear or the fact that is was 2 hours past bedtime. Regardless, she did great. They returned home around 10:15pm with three Dora stickers and a sugar free lollipop! It amazes me what a 3 year old will tolerate when stickers and lollipops are promised. It's a good thing she didn't know that Mommy and Daddy felt so guilty we probably would've purchased a car if she'd asked for one :)

Maddy's eyes while in the waiting room

Picture of the boo-boo before the staples

Welcome Hannah Dean!

We are officially a family of FOUR! I have to keep saying that to myself so it will sink in. What a blessing we are experiencing. So, here is the abbreviated version of Hannah's arrival.

Last Wednesday (2/23) we went for our 40 week appointment only to find out that I had not progressed and we were scheduled to be induced at 7am on Friday (2/25) morning. Induction was certainly not my first choice but given the smooth labor experience I had with Maddy, I was hoping for the best. Many friends and family gave encouragement and were praying Hannah would decide to come on her own time. Well, it worked!

I woke up Thursday morning and actually told Matt that I didn't really feel that well and "IT" might happen that day. We were still speaking in code so as not to make a big fuss in front of Maddy but I definitely felt that some different was going on that day. I cleaned all morning like a mad woman and then went to lunch with Heather. We decided to up the game so I ate a little Mexican food :) All through lunch I was having contractions. They were uncomfortable but not consistent. I had plans to run errands after lunch but by the time I left I was uncomfortable enough that I decided I should head home. From there more cleaning happened - stupid things like the sliding glass door. It was crazy, I would vacuum and then stop to have a contraction.

Matt came home at 5:30pm and got Maddy's bag because she was planning to stay the night with Grandpa due to the induction scheduled for the following morning. By the time he returned home at 6:10pm, I could no longer carry on a conversation. Within 30 minutes the contractions were 3 minutes apart. We left for the hospital at 7pm, had an epidural by 8pm and Hannah Dean Hecht was born at 9:30pm. It was fast, dramatic and unbelievable! She is doing great and I will try to do better with my posting! Big sister Maddy is handling it very well, at least for now. She loves her baby sister and needs a little extra attention from Daddy every now and then.

Hannah Dean Hecht

February 24, 2011

9:30 pm

7lbs. 9 oz

20 inches