Guest Blogger: What Ashley Knows

Hi,

I'm Ashley, Jak's sister.  You may have noticed her lack of blog posts lately.  Yeah, me too.  She has a newborn.  So, I figured I would help her out and give everyone an update. 

Here’s what I know:

Rockin' the Moby

Baby Olive is doing wonderfully well.  I don't have children, so my point of reference is based on my college nannying experience.  But, from what I can tell, she's pretty mellow and a "typical" infant.  Maybe I'm just a proud aunt gushing- but, she is really beautiful and great at cuddling- at such a young age too!  She also looks really fabulous in pink, which goes well with her complexion. 

I know that Jak and Nick have the most amazing friends and network of support.  Seriously, it's been mind-blowing to watch God use folks who have generously poured their love onto Little Bird and Baby Olive.  From the bottom of my heart- thank you for loving them and helping them!  Seriously, you guys rock!   

Another thing I've noticed, fostering has changed my family.  Not just Jak and Nick, but my entire family.  First, Jak and Nick are real parents, not just kind hearted folks who foster.  Watching this all unfold is an odd experience really.  There wasn't a pregnancy or baby showers for me to attend and I didn't get to see my sis pregnant, swollen and miserable.  But, I saw her holding her foster daughter and there it was--- a mother and a child. 

These showed up on our front door shortly after O arrived 

I know that my 22 year old brother graduated from college in December without the ability to feed or burp a baby.  Nick and I quickly remedied this over the Christmas holiday.  Keith has always been the thoughtful type. So on a recent trip to Dallas, when O woke up at 4 a.m. for a feeding, Keith, now confident in his skills, bounded out of bed and up the stairs to assist Jak.  I, on the other hand, slept right through it. 

Yes, he is in an adult onesie. 

I know that I don't have to become a single foster parent at 27 to help the orphan.  After watching Jak and Nick go through caring for Foster Baby No. 1- Little Bird, I decided to become a CASA, or a Court Appointed Special Advocate.  If you aren't fostering, and you have a heart for the orphan, YOU SHOULD DO IT.  Basically, you volunteer to see a child through the process of being taken away from their family and being placed in foster care.  It requires about 20-30 hours a month of your time. Go here to find out about it in your area:  http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.5301295/k.BE9A/Home.htm.  But, seriously, DO IT. 

What I don't know:

I don't know what's going to happen to Baby O.  I don't know if she will be reunified with her parents.  I don't know if I will get to spend more Christmases with her.  I do not know how to help my sister and brother-in-law heal after what could be the loss of their 2nd child.  I don't know if I will ever feel convinced that reunifying her with her biological parents is what is best for Olive….if that happens.      

Proud aunt Ash, in  a toga......it's a long story

But, when confronted with that overwhelming sense of "Oh crap.  Is my sister a sadist?  Why would she intentionally put herself into situations that could be very painful in the near future?" It hits me: That is exactly what Christ did for me.  

How humbling.  

How To Make Cleaning Bottoms Swanky in 6 Simple Steps!

Here's a tutorial that will change your life (Or just make use of extra material cluttering up your closet & make you the envy of all parents).

How To Make Cleaning Bottoms Swanky in 6 Simple Steps!

Step 1: Rifle through your closets, drawers, hampers and find some material not being properly utilized. I chose an old, terry cloth hand towel (that may or may not have been accidentally boosted from a hotel)  and a laminated cotton, houndstooth material I had previously purchased for another project. 

Note: I would not use oilcloth for this project as you need something that bends very easily and oilcloth can be very stiff.

I do not condone stealing from your hotel stays. But it is what it is.

Step 2: Trim off the bulk. I cut off the hems on all 4 sides of the towel.

 Step 3: With right sides facing together, sew waterproof cloth to towel, leaving an opening roughly 4 inches wide. Then turn right side out and sew the remaining, 4 inch hole.

Step 4: Find some spare ribbon lying around along with 1.5" of hook & loop tape. (aka: Velcro) Fold over the ends and run it through your sewing machine real quick to tack over the ends. Then sew the soft side of the hook and loop tape to one end of the ribbon.

Step 5: Decide how you want to fold your diaper changing pad to fit into your diaper bag. This part is clutch. You want to make sure it will fit into the designated pocket in your specific bag. I chose to fold my pad into thirds. Once you have chosen a way to fold the pad, attach the rough side of the hook and loop tape in the spot you will need to secure the pad closed when folded.

Step 6: Determine where to attach the ribbon so when folded, the hook and loop tape aligns. Then sew the ribbon to the changing pad.

VIOLA! There you have it. Cleaning tiny hineys has never looked so good. You'll almost look forward to changing your baby...I said almost.

Finished product

All packed up and ready to roll!

Little Olive needs a mobile

Little Olive has been requesting visually appealing art for her crib since her vision is now stronger and she can see the objects a few feet away. Up until now, the poor child was only starring at the ceiling.  That would not do at all.

It was time to make her a mobile. Well, my version of a mobile.

Before: Boring ceiling

Step 1: Buy interesting, light weight objects at local craft store

I chose Martha Stewart Crafts Ornament Balls

Step 2: Piece 5 ornament balls together with brads included in the kit.

I bought the white set and a spool of yellow ribbon with white polka dots

Step 3: Get hubby and friend to entertain baby downstairs while you go to work upstairs.
Step 4: Attach ribbon to ball and then hang ornament balls on ceiling in a random pattern. I chose to vary the length of the ribbon.

After:  Exciting ceiling art

Little Olive's view from the crib

Step 5: Place baby in crib for endless hours (aka: fleeting minutes) of visual stimuli.  

The Curl Report

Curly hair is serious business. I should know.  In order to properly chronicle the lovely head of hair on Little Olive, I'm creating The Curl Report.  I'll be using the most scientific of measurements to track and document the lovely little locks on her tiny head.

The Curl Report: Volume 1

Lone Rider Curl

Lone Rider 2.0. The lone curl has created a following of curls.

Feather Curls - they flock together.

Aqua Curls. When water is applied to the curls, they miniaturize into tiny aqua curls

The 1st Week

We've shared our home for one week with Little Olive.  It gives me goose bumps to think about God's  perfect timing. There have been people praying for her little life even before she was born. She's already found her way into our hearts and we just adore her.

Plus, she has the cutest piggies in the whole galaxy!  O.M.G. look at them. Scrumptious.

Being our first newborn, we've jotted down some new learnings.

Little Olive Toes

1) Too much milk consumption can result in a "milk coma"

2) Newborns squeak

3) Swaddling is the bomb

4) 4:00am seems different than I remember

5) Like my brother, newborns can fall asleep anywhere

6) They are portable

7) They fit in a Christmas stocking (don't worry, we did not hang said stocking above the fireplace with her in it)

8) Babies make even strangers smile

9) They also grunt

10) Newborn diapers are as big an an iPhone

11) Baby hiccups look violent

12) We never thought we'd be happy to see someone poop

13) Bottles remind me of Cheerios

14) People are generous. Within a week, this little girl who had nothing, has a full wardrobe, toys, blankets, baby carriers, diapers and lots people rooting for her.

15) My husband still makes me swoon (especially when he coos over a baby)

Nickname

We have a nickname for our newest! As you know, for their protection, we can't share too many details about the children in our home. That means we get to think of creative nicknames for our "Littles" in order to write about them on the blog.

We wanted a Thanksgiving themed name because she came to us just after Thanksgiving. And we are so thankful she's with us!
So we tried Pumpkin, Sweetie Pie, Turkey Leg, Cornucopia, but alas, no name stuck until.......

For as long as I can remember, one of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is my mom's annual appetizers. Every year she makes an olive tray that I attack like there is no tomorrow. I LOVE the annual olive tray. It makes me so happy.

So we now have a  Little Olive.
The nickname stuck.

The Call: Round 2

Yup. It's a car seat carrier in a pack n play crib.

We've been waiting for the call exactly 2 weeks to the day, when my phone rang at 3:00pm today. By 4:15pm I was picking up a newborn little girl at the hospital.
We might have mentioned this before - but we have no idea what we are doing. We are novice parents, to say the least.  But God knew this and put very competent friends in our lives.

As I'm flying out the door to drive across town to the hospital, my amazing friend Amy K. calls and offers to run to the store for me.  Amy is a mother of 3 little girls and well versed in the ways of child rearing.  It then occurs to me that I will need a infant car seat in order to bring the little child home. Swift thinking Amy offers to run to Target, purchase the reputable infant car seat for me, and meet me across town in the hospital parking garage (Did we ever mention God has blessed us with the most amazing friends ever).

I pull up at the hospital and we rendezvous in the parking lot. Amy skillfully, and with great ease, installs the car seat into my car and then shows me the other items she purchased at the store for the new baby.  "You're going to need this," and she pulls out a sweet, warm little outfit for her. It never would have occurred to me that I needed to dress the child before we left the hospital. Then Amy pulls out a new swaddling blanket and fleece throw to cover her up with... Then I was off to the NICU to meet this new baby with infant carrier, outfit and appropriate blankets in tow.

Amy made me look good. All the nurses gave me compliments on bringing her a proper outfit and blankets for her first ride home. I smugly smiled as if I knew exactly what a newborn needs. After filling out a mountain of paperwork and getting a quick "how to care for a newborn" lesson from the RN, I drove home with a precious baby girl in my back seat. Nick met us in the driveway and carried the sleeping baby into the house. And for safety's sake, put the car seat in the pack n play. That's a good idea, right?
Again - we have no idea what we are doing. Other shout outs to go Saryn, Rachel, Sarah, Holly & TJ for dropping by tonight with baby wisdom and essential supplies. What would we do without this very generous and loving community in our lives?

Not a name for a baby... or an adult for that matter

We still don't have a pseudonym for her yet. We are still trying some out on her - but nothing has stuck yet. Nick keeps attempting to tell me that B-list celebrity names are great pseudonyms. I don't think any baby should be called Snooki or Joan Rivers... ever. No doubt her little personality will come out soon and a perfect name will emerge.

She's perfectly healthy and a great snuggler. She's currently sleeping and making those adorable little baby squeaks next to me in the living room (no worries, we eventually did take her out of the car carrier). She's pretty great and we are thankful to be the one's caring for her.

I think a baby sling or carrier is going to be key.
Parents, any brand suggestions?