Welcome to our little space of the web.
After buying a cute little mill house in Five Points, renovating it and thinking we would never live anywhere else we decided to move. To a rancher. A pink rancher. So not us. But, it will be, with time, elbow grease and good contractors! From the first time we walked in the front door we knew we were home. The new house is right around the corner from my parent's house where I grew up. We are so excited for Matthew and Charlotte to grow up here, riding bikes, going to the pool, playing in the woods... my childhood was filled with freedom and wonder allowed by a safe neighborhood that I could explore and make my place in the world. I am thrilled we can give that to our children.
These days our blog is filled with the adventures of Mateo and Charlotte...mixed in with a few home projects and recipes. But mostly the kids take front and center. Join us on the adventure!
28.7.13
4.7.13
3.7.13
28.6.13
18.6.13
Newborn Photoshoot
A few of my favorites from Charlotte's newborn photo shoot with Olivia Reed
Here is a photostream of all of the images:
Here is a photostream of all of the images:
28.5.13
Welcome Sweet Baby Charlotte
She's here!
While Paul and I were waiting, we took some time to pray and remember Ruthie. Throughout each step of the day, I could feel Ruthie's presence, watching over us, interceding for Charlotte to our Lord Jesus.
I love this about my faith. That those who have gone ahead of us, are in Heaven, and praying to God for us. As a sweet nun in Spain explained to me once, that if we ask our friends here on earth to pray for us and expect God to hear those prayers, how much more are those already in Heaven with God, able to pray for us? I have certainly experienced this truth with loved ones who have passed away to be with the Lord, and now again know it is true with Ruthie.
Finally they took me back to my room up on the fifth floor with a nice green view. So much better than the room we had with Matthew (a nice rooftop view of the mechanical equipment)
Finally they brought her too me...
...and we started the process of learning to eat. What ensued was 36 hours of fear and frustration. Matthew was such a stellar eater that it never occurred to me that Charlotte would have any problems in this area. She apparently still had a bunch of gunk in her stomach and kept gagging. They suctioned her out and that helped with the gagging but she still wouldn't eat. Or even suck. On anything. Not me, not a bottle, not a finger. No interest whatsover. This started to scare me as I had to wonder how in the world she would ever eat if she couldn't suck. Lots of different tips and tricks ensued in trying to solve this most basic of problems. On her second night we had a breakthrough and I knew she was going to be ok. It might still take a while to get the hang of things, but by Thursday morning, I knew she'd figure it out and sooner rather than later.
Finally!
After months of waiting...we had one more morning to wait. My bags were packed. The house was clean. All we needed was for Matthew to wake up and get going!
While Paul and I were waiting, we took some time to pray and remember Ruthie. Throughout each step of the day, I could feel Ruthie's presence, watching over us, interceding for Charlotte to our Lord Jesus.
I love this about my faith. That those who have gone ahead of us, are in Heaven, and praying to God for us. As a sweet nun in Spain explained to me once, that if we ask our friends here on earth to pray for us and expect God to hear those prayers, how much more are those already in Heaven with God, able to pray for us? I have certainly experienced this truth with loved ones who have passed away to be with the Lord, and now again know it is true with Ruthie.
So, Matthew FINALLY woke up and we got him packed up and in the car. I ended up driving. I knew I would have little control over the coming events and days to come so I wanted to at least control the drive to the hospital.
We arrived around 10am. And parked in the same spot as the day before for Matthew's trip to the ER.
Our friend Jane Hampton met us again to pray for Charlotte right before we were called back to pre-op.
Our friend Jane Hampton met us again to pray for Charlotte right before we were called back to pre-op.
Again, more waiting.
Finally, the time had come to head to the OR and for whatever reason I was able to take more of it in than with Matthew. It was a different OR this time, smaller. I asked about the different stations and where they would take Charlotte after she was born. They administered the spinal and within seconds I was numb and they called Paul in. My doctor spent quite a bit of time cleaning up the scar tissue from the Matthew's c-section. I honestly had no idea, since I haven't been able to see that part of my belly in MONTHS!!!! Then finally she got to the task at hand and I hear her say "We have a full head of hair!" After that it all went very quickly, she seemed to come out with less tugging and pulling than Matthew.
During all of the waiting, I could feel Ruthie with us, watching over Charlotte.
During all of the waiting, I could feel Ruthie with us, watching over Charlotte.
Next thing I hear her cry. Such a wonderful thing! I had been warned during pre-op that sometimes c-section babies don't cry because their lungs are still filled with amniotic fluid and they have to be taken to the NICU to get things cleared up. I was so relieved to hear her cry, I knew her lungs were clear. Praise God!
After a brief kiss they took her away and started sewing me up. This took f.o.r.e.v.e.r. Then their was recovery. This took forever too. I just kept watching the clock wondering when I was going to get to go and meet my baby girl.
Again, as I waited I found myself thinking of Ruthie and at peace knowing that she is watching over Charlotte while I waited.
Finally they took me back to my room up on the fifth floor with a nice green view. So much better than the room we had with Matthew (a nice rooftop view of the mechanical equipment)
Finally they brought her too me...
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| Charlotte Anne Baird Lindgren |
...and we started the process of learning to eat. What ensued was 36 hours of fear and frustration. Matthew was such a stellar eater that it never occurred to me that Charlotte would have any problems in this area. She apparently still had a bunch of gunk in her stomach and kept gagging. They suctioned her out and that helped with the gagging but she still wouldn't eat. Or even suck. On anything. Not me, not a bottle, not a finger. No interest whatsover. This started to scare me as I had to wonder how in the world she would ever eat if she couldn't suck. Lots of different tips and tricks ensued in trying to solve this most basic of problems. On her second night we had a breakthrough and I knew she was going to be ok. It might still take a while to get the hang of things, but by Thursday morning, I knew she'd figure it out and sooner rather than later.
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| This is how we spent the better part of her first week. |
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| Yes, I never changed my name on my insurance card...it says "Baird". Remind me to do that soon! |
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| Happy Birthday Cupcake from our dear friend Courtney! |
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| Headed Home! |
Ruthie Anne
After nine months of waiting she is finally here. But her story is inextricably intertwined with that of sweet Ruthie Anne.
You see, late last summer my best friend and I found out about the same time that we were pregnant. Our due dates were within weeks of each other. We dreamed and planned of the picture perfect pregnancy followed by picture perfect babies growing up together. We even joked that we could "share a room" at the hospital.
When we found out that Charlotte was in fact a girl, we hoped and dreamed that my friend's baby too was a girl so they would grow up best friends and our husbands could take them on daddy daughter dates together.
Then came the 20 week appointment for my friend. Mine was still a few weeks away. The night before we shared our fears about this appointment. We shared our fears that something could be wrong with our precious babies growing in our bodies. Best we could, we dismissed these fears as nothing but fear. Surely, this was NOT to be our reality.
The next day, I got a call from my friend in tears. Everything was in fact NOT OK. Her baby, a little girl, had severe developmental problems and my friend was referred to a specialist hours away. The diagnosis was fatal. Her little girl would not survive. Our little girls would never know each other this side of Heaven.
Our hearts were torn apart. How could I fully participate in her grief? How could she fully participate in my joy? How could we ever move forward, with all of our hopes and dreams ripped apart. And my pain is nothing compared to my friends loss of her baby. Ruthie Anne.
One month later, at 24 weeks gestation, her sweet baby girl passed away. Ruthie Anne.
My friends strength during this time has been amazing. Her determination to share in the joy of Charlotte has been so full of grace and courage.
As I write, the prayer "Hail Mary" comes to mind:
Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
So before I can tell Charlotte's story, I had to tell Ruthie's story. We all agree that she is a sweet angel in heaven watching over us, but I especially feel her presence in Charlotte's life. She is remembered.
When we found out that Charlotte was in fact a girl, we hoped and dreamed that my friend's baby too was a girl so they would grow up best friends and our husbands could take them on daddy daughter dates together.
Then came the 20 week appointment for my friend. Mine was still a few weeks away. The night before we shared our fears about this appointment. We shared our fears that something could be wrong with our precious babies growing in our bodies. Best we could, we dismissed these fears as nothing but fear. Surely, this was NOT to be our reality.
The next day, I got a call from my friend in tears. Everything was in fact NOT OK. Her baby, a little girl, had severe developmental problems and my friend was referred to a specialist hours away. The diagnosis was fatal. Her little girl would not survive. Our little girls would never know each other this side of Heaven.
Our hearts were torn apart. How could I fully participate in her grief? How could she fully participate in my joy? How could we ever move forward, with all of our hopes and dreams ripped apart. And my pain is nothing compared to my friends loss of her baby. Ruthie Anne.
One month later, at 24 weeks gestation, her sweet baby girl passed away. Ruthie Anne.
My friends strength during this time has been amazing. Her determination to share in the joy of Charlotte has been so full of grace and courage.
As I write, the prayer "Hail Mary" comes to mind:
Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
So before I can tell Charlotte's story, I had to tell Ruthie's story. We all agree that she is a sweet angel in heaven watching over us, but I especially feel her presence in Charlotte's life. She is remembered.
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