4 months of Rosie

One year ago we found out you were on your way! We were told miscarriage seemed likely based on ultrasound images and here you are, our perfect little bundle. Phoebe Rose, you are just what we needed!

At 4 months you’re 24” (40th percentile and the longest Alpert baby!) 12 lbs and 12 oz (14th percentile).

You’re one happy, chatty baby and you only cry if you need something. You still hate tummy time, but you LOVE playing on the floor with Beckett and Ellia. You can scoot yourself across a room and you love sitting up in your bumbo to see what’s going on around you. 

Beckett is responsible for your deep belly laughs, he can have you giggling for a solid 10 minutes! Ellia loves holding your hands and I know she’ll be a big help when we try cereal this month since she tried to feed you Chipotle just a few nights ago! 

It’s hard to believe you’ve been here just 4 months and at the same time, hard to imagine life before you. We love you so much sweet Rosie.

Phoebe Rose 2 and 3 month update

2 months old! You’re in size 2 diapers, weighing in around 10 lbs and are solidly in 0-3m clothing. We celebrated your first holiday this month and you completed our Ninja Turtle ensemble as a piece of pizza!




3 months! You’re 11.5 lbs and busting out of your 0-3 month clothing (you have some string bean legs!) You will be in 3-6 month in no time!
We went on our first family trip this month and we drove. Much to our surprise, you did an amazing job sitting in your car seat for so many hours (40 in all) on end! You saw the Grand Canyon, Legoland, San Diego Zoo, Palm Springs and you met your great Aunt Julie in Albuquerque, NM! We drove through Utah, Arizona, California and New Mexico. You’re practically a seasoned travelor.
You are the dream baby we never knew we needed and we love you so much, Phoebe Rose!

Holiday Outfits Inspiration

It's that time of year!  Picking out coordinating outfits for the whole family can be a *bit* overwhelming.  I love choosing neutrals and topping the outfit off with a hint of color, generally from an accessory! Our festive, unique bows are the perfect addition!

     

Baby Girl:

Baby Boy:

           

Little Lady:

Little Mister:

Accessorize!

These bows are my holiday picks for these outfits.  You can find them in my shop, here!  Phoebe bows are a shop favorite for little heads and the perfect statement piece for your babies under 1 this holiday season!  They're also great for pig tail sets.  The larger Ellia Bow is ideal for babes 1 year plus!  & Did you know you can clip any of our bows into a button down shirt?  Little guys need pizzaz too!


Until next time, Molly

             

1 month of Phoebe

How have we already met this milestone?! It feels like time speeds by just a little faster with each baby and I don't like it one bit.  That said, I'm so so thankful for the amount of help and support from friends and family we've had this go around.  It's let me soak in all the sweet parts of having a newborn so much more than I would have been able to otherwise!  Learning to juggle 3 kids is a circus all its own ;)

Phoebe has gained a full 2 pounds since birth and currently weighs 8 lbs 9 oz.  Girlfriend is a great eater.  She also grew 2 full inches (making her the tallest alpert baby yet) and is a whopping 21".

Phoebe's first party, a London themed going away party for Aunt Elise!

She loves snuggling, being swaddled tighter than a chipotle burrito (but only if her hands are by her face), any musical toy (Beckett and Ellia love showing Phoebe how they work) and she loves traveling around in our solly baby wrap.  She's very strong and has been trying to hold her head up since the day we brought her home!
  

As far as her dislikes, there aren't many beyond the carseat.  Thankfully we don't have any long car trips in the near future ;) 

Phoebe Rose, you are one happy little girl and a stellar sleeper. You love to be held, but don't mind occasionally being put down so you can study the mobile in your crib.  Beckett and Ellia love you more than anything else, the highlight of their day is getting to hold and kiss your fuzzy head.  In fact, who gets to hold you remains the biggest household conflict since we brought you home!

Just like Beckett and Ellia, the dogs don't phase you a bit!  & because you're so used to the barking, pretty much any noise that would disrupt infant sleep doesn't disrupt you.. You're super baby ;)

Rosie, we love you far more than you could ever imagine and we can't wait for the months to come!

Phoebe's newborn pictures

Phoebe Rose, our Rosie girl, our little caboose.  

The newborn days are slim and I'm grateful to have captured this wonderful time!

All of the girls' headbands/clips are made by me and are available at Beck and Belle!
dot bedding // postpartum leggings
My blush blouse sold out, similar : one // two // three
Ellie's dress is sold out, similar here.
Beckett's shirt.

Lora of Swinson Studios is always a pleasure to work with and her pictures never disappoint! 

Birth Story: Phoebe Rose

Its hard to believe we've had our sweet Phoebe with us for nearly a month!

Our OB brought up the topic of induction around 37 weeks.  Both Beckett and Ellia were quick labors and our Dr thought this one would follow on a similar path.  Ultimately, we decided it was best for our family.

We were 39 weeks and I had been having some seriously intense braxton hicks the nights prior.  The kind that keep you on your toes and have you ready to head to the hospital any minute!  The last few nights like these are such an exciting time, maybe the most so of the entire pregnancy.  The anticipation is so overwhelming, in the very best way!

The morning of our induction, we got up around 7 and had our last breakfast as a family of 4!  I've said it before and I'll say it again, getting to share the excitement of meeting Phoebe with Beckett and Ellia made this pregnancy SO special.  Both kids took a huge interest in their sister to be, singing to her, giving her kisses and they LOVED feeling her kicks and movements! Before Michael and I left, we took our last belly picture and gave Beckett and Ellia their Big Brother, Big Sister gifts to hold them over until P's arrival.  Waiting to meet your sister for 9 whole months is the ultimate test of patience ;)

I was SO nervous heading into the hospital.  Would our delivery go smoothly, was an induction the right choice, how would the kids do once the baby was actually here?

We were met with the kindest nurse, she led us to our room.  It was important to me to have an oily delivery (and I honestly believe it's what kept the mood so relaxed in our room) so I set up my diffuser, applied gentle baby to my chest, feet and behind my ears and used my beloved claraderm one more time before delivery.

Before the induction we were nearly 5 cm and 70% effaced, a significant progression for our appointment 2 days prior. For whatever reason, it was very reassuring to know that my body was already preparing for labor on its own.

We opted to get the epidural before starting the pitocin (because of our previous induction experience with Ellia).  I wanted to be as comfortable as possible during labor, but still had enough feeling to productively push.  Pushing took far longer than I would ever hope for with both Beckett and Ellia.  The anesthesiologist agreed and said he was happy to come back if I was in too much pain.

We started the pitocin around 10:15 am and just relaxed.  Michael left and came back with some fun gift shop goodies (always have to hit up the hospital gift shop haha) including what are now my favorite slippers and then opted to take a nap before we were actively in labor.

I couldn't sleep, so I sent out a few snaps ;)

At about 11 30 I called our nurse in.  Contractions were getting pretty strong and I felt like the epidural could use a touch up.  Labor was moving more quickly than Michael or I anticipated and there were a few women receiving their epidurals before we would see the anesthesiologist again.

The next 30 minutes are a complete blur.  I remember trying to focus on breaths, fighting through each contraction as they came.  By noon, contractions were borderline unbearable and pelvic pressure was immense.  I called our nurse back in and sure enough, it was time to push.  Panic set it when I realized I'd be feeling as much as I was and our nurse did an amazing job of talking me through the fear and focusing all my energy on getting our baby girl out.  Michael was a pretty stellar cheerleader himself!

With just 20 minutes of pushing, Phoebe Rose was born at 12:19 PM.  6 lbs 7 oz and 18" of perfection!

She didn't immediately cry out and as soon as our nurse brought her to me, she nuzzled into my chest.  That moment, right after your baby is born and you hold them for the first time.. It's unlike any other experience.  It's so beautiful and your heart grows in ways you never knew possible!

I don't know if it is because P is number 3, but this was the smoothest delivery we had.  Quick, not painless, but perfect.  The room was quiet and unlike Beck and Ellia's births, it was just Michael and I, our Dr. and a nurse.  & hey, maybe labor just gets
a little easier with each baby, because you know what to expect AND that you have to expect the unexpected ;) We're so thankful for our 3 babies and we couldn't wait for Beckett and Ellia to meet their baby sister.

Just a few hours after she was born, the big kids came to meet sweet Phoebe! Beckett's comprehension and excitement for P, left me feeling pretty confident he would rock being a big brother all over again! That said, I've worried since day 1 how Ellia would handle the transition to middle child.  She may not be a baby anymore, but she's been my baby and the baby of our family for almost 4 years.  Needless to say, I can't believe I spent even a second worrying about her transition.  She loves Phoebe SO much and refers to P as "HER" baby!

Its been such a seamless transition and even though Phoebe has been with us for just a month, its hard to imagine life without her!

39 weeks!

39 weeks.  It's about time I share our 35 week maternity photos, isn't it? 

Part of me can't believe we're almost there, the other part is so ready for this pregnancy to be over.  It's been such a roller coaster!  

Phoebe has been pretty stubborn during ultrasounds and because of our high risk pregnancy with Ellia, our OB has kept a close eye.  We've had an abundance of ultrasounds, none of which have revealed our sweet babes face!  She's either turned away or has her hands covering most her face, little stinker!  We do know she has an oval head, unlike her brother and sister.  Babe might be a cone head just like her mama ;)

Our best ultrasound image.  Profile and she's sucking her thumb

Despite of my lack of mobility, I actually feel pretty good!  Phoebe was burrowed down in my pelvis for the majority of our pregnancy, causing severe discomfort, but as soon as we hit 37 weeks she decided to bounce on up.  Clearly she likes to do things her own way ;) 

While I'm definitely feeling better physically, hormones are giving me a run for my money.  I've been far more emotional this pregnancy than I was with either Beckett or Ellia.  Tears over e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.  I cannot even listen to the end of the movie, "Storks," I immediately start bawling!  

Beckett and Ellia are both due to start school next week, coincidently, on our due date.  Ellia's starting her second year of Pre-k and Beckett's headed into Kindergarten!  The amount of change headed our way is so exciting, but also enough to send my head into a spin.  These next few weeks are going to be full of chaos, but the most wonderful kind! 

Both kids are beyond excited to meet their baby sister.  They smother my belly in hugs and kisses and absolutely LOVE feeling her movements!  For the past month, Beckett has asked every day if today is the day we get to meet Phoebe.  Being able to share these sweet moments and excitement with the kids has made this pregnancy so so special! 

It's only fitting that my birks made it into this photo haha they've been my shoe of choice all pregnancy!