6AM feeding

It's 6:30 AM on Thursday morning and I just finished feeding Ainsley.  Why do I care to tell you this?...because it's now been the FOURTH night in a row that Ainsley has slept through the night until a 5/6AM feeding!!  Her last feeding at night is usually sometime between 7:00-9:00 and she falls asleep around 8:00.  I am so proud of her!  I've still been getting up two times at night (12:30 and 4:30) to pump so I keep up with my supply, but I am getting WAY more sleep knowing Ainsley can last the night!  She has still been demanding a lot of feedings during the day, especially right before bedtime, but that's ok because maybe that's why she can sleep through the night!  Let's hope she keeps this up!!

Ainsley is there, now I just need my
milk supply to increase so I can get there!!

Ainsley's First Christmas

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."  ~Luke 2:11

Thank you God for sending your Son, Jesus Christ to be born!!  What a Savior He is!  This Christmas we had a wonderful time celebrating Jesus' birth with family and friends.  Ainsley experienced a lot of 'firsts' that she may not remember but Pete and I will never forget!!  Our festivities started Christmas Eve at Pete's Mom's house where it is a tradition to open one present, which are jammies, and then to put them on for a picture.  Here's the gang....

Pete and I both had jammie pants on but you can't see them in this picture

After putting on our new jammies, we got ready for church and dressed Ainsley in her first Christmas dress!  Doesn't she look like a doll??

All smiles!

Not so sure about the bow...

Me and my baby doll!

It was a beautiful Christmas service at our church however, I didn't get to enjoy it nearly as much as I wanted to.  Ainsley was VERY fussy and even after feeding and rocking her she still would not calm down.  So, while we were in the Mother's room listening to the service Pete and Lucas were in the Sanctuary without us.  We're praying next year will be a totally different experience!

We were blessed to have Lucas Christmas Eve and morning and boy what a joy it was!!  He was so excited!

The only picture I got of our munchkins together

Ainsley in her Christmas jammies

After opening gifts at our house, we went to Pete's Mom's to open gifts there. 

Lucas eyeing the MANY gifts!!

We then were able to go home for a bit and just relax until dinner.  

Just finished eating...big stretch and gut out!

This year we did something a little different and went with a Mexican theme calling it Feliz Navi-TACO!!  The food was amazing!!  What a nice change!   My parents celebrated at my grandparents house in the morning and then were able to come down and have dinner with us!  Sadly I didn't get to see my other relatives, but hopefully next year!  

Busy in the Kitchen! 

Playtime at home!

Play-Dough with Grand-mawh

Ainsley got her first Wrangler jean jacket from Grandpa!

Hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas!  Please keep Jared (who's in Afghanistan) and our soldiers in your prayers!  He wasn't able to come home this Christmas and we sure missed him!!

Oh and the morning after Christmas I got one of the best gifts!!  Ainsley slept the WHOLE night through!!  From 8:30 until 6am!!  I still get up 2x/night to pump but that's the least of my worries!!  Let's hope she continues this!!  

Merry Christmas from the Urbowicz Family!!

Where has the time gone??

I never thought time could go by as fast as it has since Ainsley came along!  She is already 3 months old!!  God has blessed us with such an amazing child!  Sure we have our moments (trust me there are many!) but just one smile and touch from Ainsley erases any unruly instance.  Before Ainsley I never really knew how miraculous love really is or can be!
Normally doctors do not schedule a 3 month appointment, but ours wanted to again be sure that Ainsley was gaining weight and doing well.  And sure enough this little munchkin is packing on the pounds!  Ainsley now weighs 11lbs 7oz and is 22 inches long.  The Dr. said she is doing wonderfully!  And, praise God Ainsley has finally been giving me a break and stretching her feedings!!  She still eats after 2 hours occasionally, but for the majority it's every 2 1/2-3 hours!!  So, that also means I'm pumping less!!  Who would have thought going from 9 feedings a day to 7 or 8 would relieve that much stress!!  But it has!  Also it has been about 2 weeks now that I've been producing enough milk so I don't have to supplement with formula!!  I knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel!!  Here are some 3 month pictures....

Her precious pout!

Later, Daddy getting her to smile

3 months!!

I'm THIS big!

Practicing in the bumbo

It looks like she was attacked by a cat huh?  Well we don't give her a pacifier so lately she's been finding her hands and fingers and therefore scratching herself!!  I just can't file those nails low enough without them bleeding!

Kona kisses

She loves to chill with Daddy on the couch!

"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."
~Psalm 126:3

Pete's Favorite Soup - aka Turkey Pazole

For those of you that do not know, I am not a big (or at all) meat eater.  But, like any other guy I know, Pete could eat steak or hamburgers just about every day.  So when it comes to cooking in this house I try to please my hubby and throw in some beef recipes once in awhile.  The first time I made this I fooled Pete into thinking it had ground beef in it instead of ground turkey.  Needless to say, he loved it - even though it didn't have beef!  I found it in a "Cooking for Two" magazine and improvised a little.  Of course you can use ground beef, but why not use turkey (which is healthier!) if you can get away with it?!!
Here's what you need:
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 small diced onion
2 tbsp. minced garlic
1 small tortilla, chopped
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. each ground cumin and dried oregano
3 cups chicken broth
1/2 lb. ground turkey
1/2 tsp. each ground cumin and dried oregano
1 can whole kernel corn
salt and pepper to taste
juice of 1/2 a lime
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and corn muffins (optional)

Here's what you do:

Saute tomatoes, onion, garlic, tortilla pieces, chili powder, 1/2 tsp. cumin & oregano for 5 minutes.

Stir in broth, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.  

Transfer mixture to a blender and puree until smooth.  Transfer to slow cooker set to low.

 Saute turkey and 1/2 tsp. cumin and oregano.  Stir in lime juice.

Transfer turkey to soup base in slow cooker.  Add drained corn and salt and pepper.  Cook on low for at least an hour.  Garnish with cheese, sour cream, cilantro, avocado, etc.

Of course I forgot to get a picture of us eating it - but trust me, it's good!!

Enjoy!!

Dance Party!!

It's now been 3 nights in a row that after I dress Ainsley in her jammies she decides to have a little dance party and rock out with Whinnie and friends on her changing table.  Look at those legs move!!

'Tis the Season!

....to get a Christmas tree, listen to Christmas music, make holiday cookies, sniff evergreen, vanilla and holly berry candles and spread the joy!  Oh how I love this time of year but boy how it always creeps up on us so fast!  With a little one who's been demanding feedings every 2 hours it was a little difficult for us to get out and cut down a tree this year.  However, we went to our local feed store and while sipping hot cocoa and listening to Christmas music we found a precut one for a decent price!  Lucas couldn't wait to come home and decorate it!  Even Ainsley was in awe of the bright lights once it was lit.  Seeing smiles on their faces just warms my heart!  Hope you are enjoying the holiday season so far!

Ainsley slept the whole time  :-)

My home-made door swag

I sent Lucas out to the barn to get the hay for the manger....needless to say, he left the gate open and the horses got out!!  Note the plastic horse - we don't have a horse with this Nativity set so Lucas said he would share his because you can't have farm animals at Jesus' birth and not a horse!!

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ~ LUKE 10-12