Daddy's Little Bear Cub

Look at those cheeks and lips!!

Maizlyn chillin' with her godmother.

Maizie has changed her tune with regards to bathtime. She now enjoys her baths and is so darn cute in her birthday suit!

As I mentioned earlier, I love the expressions Maizlyn makes during REM sleep. Pictured here, I managed to capture one of her priceless smiles while she slept in my lap on 2.1.08. So cute!

Maizlyn's Baptism

Maizlyn was baptized after Mass Saturday, 2.9.08. She did so well -- didn't even cry when Father poured the Holy Water over her head with a seashell. She wore the baptismal gown that her mom wore when she was baptized one month shy of 28 years ago, and the last one to wear it was her Godmother on her baptism.

Maizie Reese with her Godparents Bonnie & Paul Radjenovich; Grandma & Grandpa Felling; & Grandma & Grandpa Jennissen.

Here is a Fourth Generation picture. Great-grandpa Felling, Grandpa Felling, mommy and Maizlyn.

Mommy & Daddy's Princess

Look at my long fingers! Daddy says they will be good for setting volleyballs and mommy hopes I'll play piano with them.

Here I am doing some "tummy time." I'm getting stronger and stronger. At my 2 week appointment I weighed 8 lb 3 oz and measured 21.25 inches...I think they had my measurement wrong when I was born! Do you think I could grow 2.25 inches in 2 weeks?

Here I am napping in my crib. Can you guess my favorite color? Daddy says sometimes I sound like a bear cub when I'm waking up from my naps and mommy likes the expressions I make when I'm napping.

Family of Three

We are having so much fun with our newborn girl! Saturday night we captured her foot and hand prints for her baby book via a method that did not require putting her feet & hands in the ink itself. Her footprints turned out pretty well but she was not as cooperative with her hands. We had more fun than she did! Above, she is hanging out with daddy.

Here our munchkin is posing for yet another picture for daddy. She's sleeping really well at night; giving mommy 3 & 4-hour stretches. Whoo-hoo!

Maizie does not like her sponge baths! Pictured above, she is traumatized by the experience.

Happy Birthday Maizlyn Reese Jennissen

Well here we are....

Maizlyn (Maizie) Reese Jennissen was born on Jan. 2nd - 9:52am at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Specs:

7lb 3oz (Mommy had it pegged perfectly)

19 in long

Long Skinny fingers (just like Mommy) - perfect for setting and blocking volleyballs

Bright blue eyes

blond hair

She is really strong already, moving her head quite a bit

Brenda and baby are doing very well.

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers!

Love, Pat & Brenda

We Know our Baby's Birthdate

Well it was an early morning. I woke up around 4:15 and could not fall back asleep. I finally got out of bed at 5:00, had breakfast & got ready for the hospital. Pat and I arrived at admissions at 7:00 AM. The lady said, "so you're here for your induction, right?" I was like huh?! No, that would be a version. She changed the error in the computer and we proceeded to the Birthing Floor. I got into the wonderful hospital gown, got weighed and hooked up to the baby heart rate monitor and contraction monitor (version can trigger them). My ob/gyn did the ultrasound to confirm her position. We were hopeful baby turned on her own but that she did not. Poor little girl has her head up by her feet yet. Doc said she's in a good position for the version but that there isn't much amniotic fluid left -- just pockets of it. He said typically the odds of a version being successful are 50/50. However, given the small amount of fluid and that this is my first pregnancy he said my odds of it working were 1 in 3. Thus, we decided not to proceed with the version and do a scheduled c-section.
Last week my doc told me via phone we would wait with the c-section if necessary until closer to the due date. This morning he said, "How does early next week sound? Would you like a New Year's baby?" He had his nurse check the schedule/staffing and called me late morning with the date. The schedule is full for 12.31.07 (I wonder why...) and they do not allow anything to be scheduled on New Year's Day due to staffing. Our baby's birthdate will be 01.02.08 unless God decides otherwise. If I go into labor before the scheduled time, my ob will be called and we'll do the c-section then. If baby flips on her own by the morning of scheduled c-section, I will be induced rather than proceeding with a c-section. I would rather have a c-section than be induced so I'm hopeful that all goes well!
We're really excited to meet her!!

Version is Scheduled but...

My doctor's office has scheduled a version for next Thursday, 12.27.07 at the hospital. I've been told the procedure is very uncomfortable for moms and it does not always work. They basically smear a bunch of goo on my belly and try to get baby to get turned around. They only proceed if baby's knees are not crossed and the cord is not around its head. The success rate is about 50% and is higher for non first-time pregnancies b/c the uterus is more apt to be manipulated, etc. There really are not any risks to the baby but there is a risk to injuring the placenta. Thus, they monitor mom afterwards for 1/2 hour to make sure all is well regardless of whether or not the version was successful. If we choose not to try the version, we are looking at a scheduled c-section just prior to my due date (1.11). I have never been "set" on having to have our baby vaginally or via c-section. I have nothing to prove. Our baby's health is of utmost importance; how she arrives into this world is trivial. Patrick & I have been discussing our options. I'm nervous that the version could injure the placenta & thus put our baby in harm's way; I'm nervous about complications & recovery with a c-section. If you have ever been in the same situation, please e-mail or call with any advice tonight. Patrick & I are to discuss it tonight and make a decision tomorrow. Please pray that we make the right decision and all goes well.