Illinois!

Well, it's not a secret anymore...we are moving back to Illinois! Adam got a job offer in Champaign, IL! I would have never thought I would live in Champaign again (where I went to college), but it is absolutely perfect for us! Gwen and I were so proud of Adam.

Before I knew we were moving, I had planned an 11 day trip to Illinois so decided to still go. We had so much fun! We spent a few days in Chicago staying at my cousin Emily's apartment. Gwen got to meet her Godmother Em, lots of my college friends, got to shop on Michigan Ave, eat out at restaurants, etc. Aunt Kristie came for Saturday and then drove us back to Morton

Our week in Morton was very busy. My grandparents were here Sunday-Tuesday so we hung out with them and the Bates, we went over to play with Kristen and Mara, we visited Darah and Evan's apartment, we hung out with the Boeker cousins every day, we went to the apple orchard, Grandma and Grandpa Erwin spent a lot of time snuggling Gwennie and helping me out, I got to go for a mani/pedi with Kristen, we had a girls night out to La Fiesta, etc.

Saturday my mom's whole family came! Of course there was tons of talking (LOUD :), laughing, food, and fun. There is never a dull moment when the Filloon family gets together! It was fun to see my grandma, aunts, and cousins!

Saturday night Adam came! Since we are moving back, he came to look for houses. We went to Robin's house in Mahomet to hang out with the Ralph family for the day on Sunday, then looked for houses Sunday afternoon and Monday! We found one we really like but are waiting until we move back to look more and really make a good decision. We are looking in the neighborhoods West of campus where all the old houses are. Hopefully we find something with lots of character that can use some renovating! Until we buy something, we are staying in a hotel/my parents until Dec 1, then renting Robin's mother in laws house (who goes to FL for the winter) until we have a place of our own.

We left to come back to CA on Tuesday. We now are focused on getting organized and enjoying all that we love about San Diego before we move. It is sooner than we had planned...our flights are booked for October 16! I am a little nervous and a little sad to end our time here, but so excited to get back to our roots and raise Gwenna and Diggy where the green grass grows :)

6 Weeks Old

Today is Gwen's 6 week birthday! We are on our trip to Illinois and having a lot of fun. She has made the past month and a half so fun. Here are all of my pictures from September.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AbM3DRi0cuWXw

Gwen's First Roadtrip

This past weekend we decided to take Gwen to visit my sister's family in Tucson. I want her to get very used to being on the go, and to our surprise she was so good. Her and I spent most of Thursday and Friday getting ready for the trip. I had to pack a lot of stuff for a little trip. Luckily, she is very well behaved and can entertain herself for a good 15-30 minutes while I get stuff done. She entertains herself by laying naked on her lamb playmat. It's her favorite thing to do; she just kicks and squeals, it is so cute!

We got to Katie's Friday night in time to let Gwen be snuggled and be awake since she slept the whole way there (we only had to stop 1 time to feed/change her on a 7 hour trip). Saturday we had a lazy day and just took Gwen for a walk, cooked, went to Subway, and to the pool.

Saturday night Katie and her friends had their monthly themed dinner parties and it happened to be Katie's turn to host. The theme this week was Italian and there was tons of good Italian food to be eaten. She had almost 50 people at her house (lots of kids!). Diggy had fun playing! Lexie went to a Youth Group party, but got home in time to talk with Katie and I for a bit and hold Gwennie. She's so good with her!

Sunday morning we left pretty early before Katie and her family went to church. Tate and Ells played with Gwen for a little in their PJ's before we had to go.

When we got home Sunday night we gave Gwen her first real non-sponge bath. Her belly button finally healed, so she got to take a bath in the tub. She loved it and was so good!

I hope she is as good this coming Friday as she was for last weekend's travels. This time we head to Illinois! A lot further, but the flight is shorter than the drive we had to make. Wish me luck! I'm just praying she is good on the plane!

Gwen's First Pictures

We took Gwen to get her newborn pictures when she was 10 days old. It was so fun to watch the photographer pretty much mold her into poses like clay while she was fast asleep. I was really happy with them. There were TONS but here is one I have the rights to and the link to a few the photographer posted on her blog.

http://www.bellagracelynnphotographyblog.com/?p=1391

Our Week Without Visitors

Gwenna and I have had a lot of bonding time this week, now that it's just the two of us during the day! I love love love every minute we spend together! We spend our days going to get coffee, going for walks, rocking in the chair, etc. She had a doctor appointment on Friday and weighs 9 lbs. 9 oz. now.

This weekend we took her on two fun outings. Friday night we went to Prado for dinner and Saturday we went out for brunch/mimosas. She is so easy to take anywhere!

We also are very well rested! The doctor told me that I do not need to wake her up to feed her in the night anymore, so the past two nights she has slept 6 hours straight! Only having to get up once in the night to feed her has made such a difference!

We feel so lucky! Gwen's just the best thing that's happened to us!

Aunts/Cousin Weekend for Gwen

After extending her trip an extra two days, my mom finally had to go back to Illinois. We had so much fun having her here and she was so much help, so it was sad for her to leave. Thankfully, my two sisters and their kids (minus Cal and Scarlett) came to San Diego for Labor Day Weekend. Kristie and Sylvie flew in from Illinois and Katie and her kids drove here from Arizona.
Kristie and Sylvie got here Friday afternoon. They got to meet Gwen and we went out for lunch.

Saturday we went to their hotel pool most of the afternoon. Adam and Gwen stayed in the hotel room for part of the time, but Gwen got to put her suit on and come to the pool area with us for a little bit. She looked cute and was so good!

Saturday night we went to Tin Fish and ate dinner outside. Then we went back and sat in the hot tub.

Sunday we went to Coronado out for lunch. They stayed and went to the beach, but I think Gwen's still a little too small to take, so we went home and just hung out with her. That night everyone came over to our condo for dinner and a mini birthday party for Sylvie.

Kristie and Sylvie had to leave very early Monday morning. Katie and her kids came over for breakfast but then had to head home. It was a short weekend, but so much fun and good to have them here! Thanks for coming Katie and Kristie!

Gwen's First Week

Gwen is 9 days old today and every day has been wonderful! Here are a few highlights of her first week.

My mom's visiting, so we have been taking her on at least one outing every day to make sure she is used to noise and being out and about. Adam, my mom, and I took her out to dinner and she was perfect. She sat in her carseat and slept the whole time!

This may be TMI, but the only problem I have had as a mother so far is with milk production. Gwen has latched on and is so good at nursing and really likes it, but the problem is with me :( I am making barely any milk so at each feeding I have to nurse her, then we give her a bottle, then I pump. If I do a feeding by myself it takes a good hour and a half, so thank God for Adam and my mom. They have been taking shifts with bottles while I pump. The doctor says I still could start producing a sufficient amount of milk for her, but chances are that I have to give her formula on top of breast milk to make sure she is getting enough. I was pretty stressed and sad about this but am trying to stay positive because the doctor says being stressed about it will only make things worse. I am taking fenugreek and drinking non alcoholic beer throughout the day, both of which are supposed to help with milk stimulation and may take a week. I guess I should be happy that I can still nurse her at all, she loves it!

Gwenna got to take her first trip to the mall! She loves her stroller!

Diggy's doing pretty good with her. He is very curious about her and wants to sniff and lick her. We are still being cautious about how close he gets, but I think he is getting more and more used to her being around.

Robbie came over to visit!

This is one of my favorite gifts she has received. My mom got her a vintage lolly doll. Anyone who knew me as a little girl knows that I had my own lolly doll and it was my FAVORITE. It even was the theme of my first birthday party. I love that she has one of her own now :)

Most of all, her first week has been spent snuggling. I love her so much and am having such a great time being a mom.