Kelsey's Smiling

I finally got our a memory card for our video camera. Here's her new trick. In this video, she had just woken up from a nap in our bed. Hopefully now I'll catch some good Kelsey moments so you guys can get a feel for her little personality.

The Birth Story

Many people have requested to hear the birth story, so if you don't want to know, stop reading now. But for the girls out there and for journaling purposes, here's how it all went down. Literally.

Friday, September 14th, 10:00pm
Did 100 jumping jacks and ate salami pizza. Did it help? I really think the 50 jumping jacks the day before did. That's when I lost my "show." Contractions started becoming regular, every 10 minutes for about 30-45 seconds. I was getting excited. I didn't sleep much and looked at the clock every time a contraction started.

Saturday, September 15th
The contractions kept me up all night, but weren't too painful and I didn't tell Tally because I wanted to surprise him when he woke up. At about 5 or 6am, I woke him up because they were getting more severe and told him I wanted to go for a walk when the sun came up in order to keep them coming. When the sun came up, the contractions started to die down. We went walking. Up stairs, down stairs, running, jumping jacks. Everything except contractions. I was frustrated. Keep in mind, I was planning to have the baby before my September 13th due date. Apparently you can't plan these things.

Around noon, the contractions came on more regularly and once again, I did everything in my power to keep them coming. The church was doing a Space Derby (like a Pinewood Derby only with rockets on a string) at 2pm and I told Tally to go without me, I was going to take a nap. By 4pm, the contractions were a lot stronger and every 7-10 minutes so I called Tally and told him to come home. By 5pm, I called the hospital and went in around 6pm. They gave me some "cervix softening" medicine because I was only dialated 2cm. Two hours later, I was only at 3cm and exhausted. The midwife (or nurse), Sandra, told me she thought an epidural would help me relax and allow my cervix to open. I had wanted to do it naturally if I could, but after getting little sleep Friday night and it being well into Saturday night, I decided it was a good idea. Oh, and did I forget to mention contractions are PAINFUL? Well, they are. And they were about every 5 minutes at this point. Tal was watching Zoolander and holding my hand. I didn't like that movie before but seeing as it was my only alternative to thinking about the pain, it was quite enjoyable.

I opted for what they call a walking epidural. They said I wouldn't feel the contractions, I would still be able to walk around while laboring, and I would feel what it was like to deliver. I decided that was a good inbetween. After two very painful attempts to get the epidural in, I was freaked out and told them no epidural for me. They tried one more time (this time I sat up which I recommend) and it worked...mostly. There was a window in my right lower quadrant of my belly that I could feel. It was very painful but I'm glad I didn't have to feel the full contractions. Tally helped me remember to breathe correctly and was very encouraging. I don't think I could have done it without him there. Here's a Tally took (and I swore I'd never show anyone but it doesn't show anything too revealing). Even with the pain, I couldn't wait to see my little girl!



We wanted to have her on the 15th because our birthdays are the 10th & 25th and our anniversary is the 25th. Also, it would have been the same day in the states as it was here.

Sunday, September 16th
We got close, however, my body needed more time.
At about 1:00am, the contractions were strong enough that I couldn't resist the urge to push. I asked if it was okay to push because I didn't think I could hold back. The doctor wasn't there yet, but the nurse told me to go ahead. The doctor came shortly thereafter. After a half hour of pushing (I could feel the whole thing and at one point I almost passed out. It's the most pain I've ever felt), Kelsey Marie was born! The first thing I said when I saw her was, "She has my chin!" She didn't cry when she came out, which made me nervous, but then she cried a little bit just trying to breathe. They didn't suction her out right away either which also put me on edge, but they like to do things a little more naturally here. She eventually got all the fluid out. I always thought I would cry upon seeing her, but I was just in shock. I kept saying, "Oh my gosh..." Her poor little face was all smooshed and she still has remanents of the bruise she got over her left eye. She's mostly all healed up now that she's six weeks old. I've never felt so much joy and relief as I did after she was born.

She looks so different now!

Kelsey's First Doctor's Appointment

In honor of Halloween, for Kelsey's first appointment I dressed her up in her pink scrubs. Even though she looked adorable, the doctor and the nurse just gave me a pity smile and breezed right over the fact that she was dressed up like a doctor or nurse. So much for that idea. Oh well, at least I got a kick out of it. I guess I would have needed to put socks with Birkenstocks on her. Then they would have gotten the point (I haven't seen a doctor here without that combo).

Here she is with her doctor (yes, I'm a nerd, I know). Although he didn't dote on her as I would have imagined, he is a great doctor and seems very personable & knowledgeable. He humored me enough to let me take this pic. As of Monday, Kelsey weighs 4.94 kilos or 10.87 lbs, which is only slightly more than Tally weighed when he was born. I don't know how you did it, Brent. Thank you. Kelsey has grown 3 centimeters now totaling 54 centimeters or 21.25 inches. She's about average height and in about the 80th percentile for head and weight. Sounds about right for a Price baby.

Here are some of Kelsey's likes and dislikes right now:
Loves taking a bath, getting her diaper changed, and cuddling with mom, the car, her bouncer, Bibi binkis, watching other kids, being held.
Hates getting her clothes put on, waiting to eat, sleeping in her crib, evenings anywhere from 9-11, letting mom get things done.

Milestones
She is starting to social smile! For example, when Tally came home from work today, he said hello and when she saw him, she gave him this huge smile. I think we both melted. Also, I could swear she recognized me today. She stopped crying when I entered the room - not just when I picked her up. Then she smiled at me. I almost cried. Also, she came close to laughing at me today. Since I couldn't get her to repeat it, I'm not sure but once she really starts laughing, I'll let you know if that was a laugh. Oh, she just started getting baby acne this week too! I'm so sad but the doctor said it would go away on it's own. She also got a bug bite on her chin which only makes her face more red. Poor thing! She doesn't seem to notice. She is very strong and likes to sit up and stand up (with help of course). She has a killer grip which usually finds itself ripping my hair out.

Temperatures Dropping

The weather here in Switzerland has been cold and rainy (snowy in areas but not by us) so I only go on short walks with Kels. Luckily, we have a car to get where we need to go. Kels looks so cute all bundled up. Here's one of my favorite knitted outfits that she's almost grown out of. Tally says it makes her look like a boy but I just think she looks sweet. I put pink on her too!

My friend Erin just gave me this little hooded jacket for Kels that her 1-year-old had outgrown. Although it's big on Kels, it works and it wont be too long until she grows into it. This is her mad about being bundled before one of our walks.


Tally went to Europa Park with the Young Men on Saturday. Besides the cold weather and having to wait in line, he had a great time and got to know the kids better. Looks like we'll have to take Kelsey when she gets a little older...okay maybe a lot older. Disneyland works too.

As for me, I'm staying busy with Kelsey and taking care of the house. Somehow with one, little new person, our laundry load has tripled. I'm quickly learning how to do everything one-handed. I am starting to venture out more and hang out with friends and do playdates. Here is one of Kelsey's friends, Abram. She seems to like watching other kids.

Birth Announcement

Finally, after a month in the making, here is Kelsey's birth announcement. I want to get photoshop now!

Kelsey is 4 Weeks Old

Kelsey is almost a month old and I can hardly believe it! She started cooing and smiling more. We love watching her try to wake up - she's as much of a morning person as her dad! She's starting to smile more and what we'd like think is on purpose. We get a kick out of her facial expressions too. We had another photoshoot inspired by Peekaboo Photos, but this one didn't last very long due to a tired little model. I love the one with Tally and her - it's precious!



When the photoshoot ended

A happy baby after a good nap


A cute outfit my mom's friends at the hospital gave Kels

And I'll end this post with her pooping face. Or shall I say POO face (In honor of Dan).

Kelsey's Photoshoot

So all week I've been trying to get a good pic for her announcements. Shouldn't be too hard, right? Well, it's proven to be more than challenging. Our first attempt, we thought it would be cute to have her naked. I got out one of my new, never been used white Restoration Hardware towels. We set her on it and started taking pics. This is picture number five.


And this is picture number six. I'm sure you can guess what happened after photo five. BLOWOUT!

Amazingly, the Shout got it out! Thanks mom!

My little girl is already starting to look less like a newborn and more like a baby! Here's the pics from the many "photoshoots." I have a lot to learn about my camera and I wish I had a studio! I'll have my friend Jenny take some real professional shots when we get a chance.

Here are some other shots from the past week or so...





My Daddy is in LOVE with me!
Watching Conference

Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder

I have always loved this song but never knew the meaning behind it. After hearing it in a restaurant called Papa Joe's when we first came to Switzerland, I decided to look up the words. Keep in mind this was just after we found out I was having a girl. I downloaded the song and started bawling. I never knew this song had so much meaning. I especially love that Stevie Wonder is blind yet he knows of his daughter's beauty. Anyway, so as you look at pics of our little babe, this song will be playing in the background. Sorry if it gets annoying, I wont keep it up forever. Thanks for letting me be sentimental...

Isn't she lovely
Isn't she wonderful
Isn't she precious
Less than one minute old
I never thought through love we'd be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love

Isn't she pretty
Truly the angel's best
Boy, I'm so happy
We have been heaven blessed
I can't believe what God has done
Through us he's given life to one
But isn't she lovely made from love

Isn't she lovely
Life and love are the same
Our little Kelsey
Her daddy picked out her name
Jessie, it could have not been done
Without you who conceived the one
That's so very lovely made from love

(Okay, yes, we changed the ending!)

Big thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Lang

It was so fun to meet my Grammie and Grampy Lang! They came to visit me all the way from California for 2 weeks. They helped my mommy, daddy & me out so much.

G&G Lang, Mom & Dad still talk about what a huge help you were and how much they wish you were still here. Thanks for bringing me a whole suitcase full of presents! I love all the outfits you brought. My mommy loves dressing me up - no matter how many times a day I need an outfit change. I love you and think about you every day. I can't wait to see you at Christmas & meet the rest of the family.
Love,

Kelsey aka Little Swiss Miss

Trip to Lake Como, Italy

We decided to make the 3 hour drive to Lake Como on the last day my parents were in town. We absolutely love southern Switzerland and northern Italy and we wanted to let them see why.

If you have to wake up early for a road trip it's nice to wake up to a beautiful sunrise





Walking through the streets of Bellagio












Tal holding Kels during one of the few moments she was actually awake. She must have liked the movement of the car and boats because she slept alomost the entire day.

Thanks to Aunt Tiffany, Brooklyn, Ellie & Sadie, I have this cute little dress (and other very cute items)!

Few pics of from our boat ride from Como to Bellagio












Talk about a great place to wake board!












Here are a few pics of the house used in the closing scene of 007 Casino Royale














Here's another of the hundreds of beautiful villas on the shore of Lake Como.

Pic from the boat with the Swiss Alps in the background














All three girls were tuckered out by the end of our Lake Como adventure

Kelsey in the Zurich Newspaper

This picture was taken in the hospital not long after she was born and put in the Tages Anzeiger (at our approval) the following week. She is at the bottom left with both hands in her mouth, as usual. She's already making headlines!