Huff Happenings

Sleeping?

2010-06-27T12:14:00.003-05:00

I've been really frustrated lately with not getting any sleep at night. All my friends with new little ones pass me right on by as their babies are sleeping all night. Molly is a week shy of 6 months, and we weren't even close!

On Thursday night, I was up every hour and a half and decided that was the last straw! She wasn't hungary, she just didn't know how to get back to sleep after one of the million sirens went by, or Darcy shook her chains, etc...

Friday for naptime I decided to try out the Ferber method (5, 10, then finally 15 minute increments). AFter 45 minutes, she finally fell asleep. It wasn't as terrible as I thought it would be-I could tell she wasn't really desperate, she just wanted me to comfort her.

For bedtime that night at 10pm, we did it again, laying her in the crib awake but when she was clearly tired...this time, only 30 min.

She woke up at 1am and Charles went in after 5 min of her crying, patted her, fixed her blanket and left again. She cried for 10 minutes, then fell asleep

Saturday night she cried 5 minutes and then fell asleep!

Today , nap #1, she gave one boisterious cry-out and put herself to sleep after 5 minutes of looking around.

I hope this success continues! I got 9 hours of sleep last night which hasn't happened since I have had her!

Happy mommy, signing off...

Charles graduates with his Masters!

2010-06-12T19:55:00.001-05:00

5 months young!

2010-06-12T19:52:00.004-05:00

Up close & Personal!

2010-05-19T15:37:00.001-05:00

Make a digital collage

Some new Molly videos...

2010-05-02T17:26:00.002-05:00

2010-04-06T09:31:00.001-05:00

"Way too much Molly junk, not enough Darcy junk."

Who does Molly look like?

2010-04-03T11:34:00.003-05:00

Here's a baby picture of Charles, Chaia & Molly...who do you think she looks like?

Charles

Molly

Chaia

A little of this, a little of that.

2010-04-03T11:06:00.007-05:00

We had such a great time over spring break visiting BOTH our families in Dallas. We miss them so much. Molly got to meet the last two of her aunties, meet her only cousin, meet her Great-Grandma, and hang with both grandparents! We're hoping to spend most of the summer down there, can't wait!Cousin Calvin is not sure what to think of Molly!

Grandma and Auntie!

Great-Grandma Evelyn "Nana"
Wearing the sweater that Great-Grandma Jean knitted me! Can't wait to meet you!

Whew! Spring break is tiring.

I'm kinda in love with this little face!

I love this picture! Grandpa aka "G-Daddy"

New Molly pics!

2010-03-31T09:38:00.006-05:00

Playing with her awesome new floor mat!

She's learning to grab things!

Our 2nd cousins, Mary & Alyssa Rettke

Molly loves Grandpa best.

A couple fun videos of our new little family...

2010-03-18T16:46:00.002-05:00

Birth Story

2010-03-16T16:21:00.004-05:00

Gosh, it's been so long! I keep meaning to post this and forgetting...

Molly was due January 8, 2010. I was 3 cm dialated and 80% effaced 2 weeks before my due date. In retrospect, I really regret knowing that because it made me so impatient! My doctor kept telling me that she thought I'd go any day.

On Thursday night, January 7, I was watching the BCS championship game with my students (we live in a dorm). I had felt normal all day-like every other day for the past month! At halftime, I went into our apartment where my mom was watching and was chilling with her for a minute. Darcy, my boxer, kept bringing me her toy for me to throw. I threw it and it hit my bottle of TUMS and knocked them unto the floor. I panicked and jumped up immediately (Darcy likes to eat said TUMS) to run over and get them. Just as I did that I felt an aching pain in my belly and had to grip the side of the chair for support. I backed myself up and sat in the chair.

I said to my mom, "woah, that was weird." She said, I bet that was a contraction. I said "I don't know, I doubt it...' About 1 minute later, my water broke everywhere. It was 9:30 p.m. when that happened.

My mom had to run to the lounge in the dorm to get Charles and he came running in. I was a complete disaster-I did not want it to happen this way, I just knew I'd never get my epidural if it went really fast (like my mom's!). Charles was running everywhere stuffing things into our hospital bag and putting Darcy away and letting our students know we were going (they took care of Darcy for us).

We were in the car and headed downtown in about 1/2 an hour. I called my doctor right before getting in the car and she told me, "Ok, don't worry, I'll leave home now. It will probably be a while, so just take your time."

My contractions started pretty hot and heavy about 5 minutes after my water broke. We got in the car, as I'm screaming through them, and my mom started timing them. They were 2 1/2 minutes apart as we pulled out of the parking lot. It hurts, just FYI. During the car ride, I was really starting to panic because I already felt a small urge to push. It had only been about 1/2 hour since this whole thing started!

We got to the hospital in about 15 minutes and I headed for Triage with my mom. Charles went to park the car. It was around 10:20 p.m. when we arrived at Northwestern. I couldn't believe how long it took them to check me and stuff downstairs. My contractions were less than 2 minutes at this point and they were debating whether I was 7 or 8 cm dialted. Who cares! All I wanted in life was an epidural.

Charles told me later that I screamed "I am going to die." about 50 times.

They wheeled me upstairs to the delivery room. When I got up there, they had to page my Dr who had just bought some tea at Argo downstairs and tell her she had to get up there stat. At 10:45 I was in the delivery room and Dr. Norlin walked in. She told me that she would check me right after the anesthesiologist prepped me and gave me my epidural. My contractions were hurting so much I could hardly breathe. The labor nurse that I had was really great-I loved her. She helped me breathe and stay "still" for the epidural which I really did not think was going to be possible. It took a little while to sign the papers and for him to prep me-in retrospect it really wasn't much time at all but it felt like eternity right then.

I had that epidural in for about 30 seconds and I could already feel it start to work. I love medicine! Dr. Norlin checked me right then and said , "Wow, we are ready to go right now. You are 10 cm." Right around 11:10 p.m. I started pushing.

I had them bring a mirror out for me, which I didn't expect to want, but it was really helpful. I pushed off and on for about half an hour....it was about 7 or 8 times and she was here!

Molly was born at 11:47 p.m. Only 2 hours and 15 minutes. So crazy!

I was so amazed and exhausted at the same time right afterward. I couldn't believe the fatigue I felt and found myself wondering how people can go for hours and hours!

There's the story!

Auntie Leah and the hospital room view...

2010-02-10T12:48:00.002-06:00

Molly is one month old!

2010-02-07T16:31:00.002-06:00

Molly, 3 weeks old...

2010-01-30T20:17:00.002-06:00

Molly's first 2 weeks

2010-01-19T15:50:00.012-06:00

Here are a few pictures of Molly's first 2 weeks with us. Many of these were taken by our good friend Christine Otte (www.christineotte.com) who does amazing photography.

We are loving every minute and I am getting used to the waking up all night fun & games. I admit I don't really care for it, ha!

She is just so precious and what a gift!

Footprints

2010-01-08T19:37:00.003-06:00

Welcome to Molly Paige Huff

2010-01-08T19:29:00.005-06:00

Margaret "Molly" Paige Huff was born January 7, 2010. She's already taken our deepest affections by storm.

Guess our Baby's Name, Weight, & Birthdate!

2009-12-29T11:14:00.005-06:00

Here's the online form to make a guess!

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEIxWmQtdTRxX0RUUGNXS3UyRmJvTVE6MA

Fun Times

2009-12-10T17:30:00.000-06:00

A few photos from the last few weeks...

Coaching my first game.

Our Thanksgiving crew...

Leah & Joel @ Thanksgiving
Bethie doing what she does best...
Looking enormous at the Packer game @ Lambeau at 36 weeks pregnant!

My beautiful crib all put together!
My sweet puppy getting comfy.
I love her!

Baby Nursery

2009-10-31T19:23:00.012-05:00

A little peak at the start of the nursery...

Here's some "along the way" pictures...

Me and Susan, my mother-in-law.

2009-10-17T16:43:00.000-05:00

28 weeks pregnant

BABY Shower @ EWO

2009-10-08T11:18:00.009-05:00

My momma and Jan Lyden threw Sarah & I a baby shower back home at EWO. It was so great to see everyone and the shower was adorable in every way. It's so crazy that Sar & I are pregnant at the same exact time.Me & Mom

Sar & IMy sisters who really really love baby showers.

The SpreadThe cute plates & napkins
Yum.
My Bests.This is my favorite thing. Really.

Woah.

All I need now is the baby.

2009-09-10T09:46:00.002-05:00

I miss my sisters today. Christmastime seems to be the only time that we are all together, stuck with each other, without any other plans. And that only happens once a year. Boo. They always make me laugh, one of the joys in life.

Folding Chair Project

2009-09-04T14:25:00.005-05:00

We need some more seating for our undergrad "house meetings", which occur once a week. Our students are moving into the dorm in a couple of weeks. I got this idea online, bought some fabric and some spray paint and WAH-LA! new chairs, with a funky twist.

Here are the first 2 of 4 (2 are yet to be finished)...

BEFORE:
AFTER:

It's a GIRL!!!

2009-08-21T16:55:00.005-05:00

She's absolutely normal and healthy and in the 75% for height (amen).

If you're interested, a cool video from the ultrasound (technology is amazing)....

A few more pics they took today at the ultrasound...

St. Thomas

2009-07-30T13:03:00.009-05:00

A few pictures from our beautiful trip to St. Thomas.

Just another day in paradise! It was such an amazing trip and we hated to come home. Our hotel was amazing and the food was delicious.

We are back home now and I have 1 more day of work left! Wahoo! Then it's on to packing up our apartment, moving and a trip to Texas. I'm really looking forward to the next month. 22 days until I find out baby Huff's gender!!! :)

2009-07-17T14:48:00.002-05:00

A routine check-up turned into another ultrasound today when the handheld heartbeat-finder couldn't locate our little baby's (definetly not complaining... Thanks for moving around so much baby!)

Wow, what a change from 8 weeks ago. (s)he actually looks like a baby now. We are totally amazed by this little life that God has created. We feel so blessed.

I love that cute little foot sticking out!

Already practicing, "TOUCHDOWN!"

Minnesota for the 4th!

2009-07-07T09:33:00.012-05:00

A few snapshots of our long weekend with Charles' aunt & uncle in Minnesota!

Paper Back Swap

2009-07-01T08:51:00.004-05:00

Charles and I recently signed up for this awesome website service. Basically you list all the books you dont want anymore like novels, or whatever books you want and people can browse and select your book. Once they choose a book, you mail it to them (usually about $2.50) and WA-LA! you get a "credit" which equals 1 free book.

It's amazing. We've found all kinds of great novels, brand new baby books that were $20 at barnes and noble, etc etc. All for free!

If you get interested and sign up, put our email in the referer list: charlesandchaia@gmail.com.

Here's the link! http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php?r_by=charlesandchaia@gmail.com

Before & After

2009-06-23T12:04:00.003-05:00

My very delightful friend Christine introducted me to this website today and I've spent the last 2 hours devouring it. Maybe I'll actually have time for such things once I quit my job in a month!

Thought I'd share...

http://www.designspongeonline.com/category/before-and-after

Celebrating 5 Great Years Together...

2009-06-19T08:16:00.003-05:00

June is here.

2009-06-01T08:55:00.005-05:00

We met with our new house last Thursday night and had such a great time. We are really excited about the students and the house, in general. It seems to be a really close and fun community. The current Resident Heads are being so welcoming to us and very willing to answer any and all of our questions. We are meeting with the house twice more in the coming week and we feel that we will really get to know some of the students before summer comes, something we really didn't expect!

The pregnancy is going along ok. I'm not feeling great-actually I feel pretty crappy most days. Everyone tells me that this period will pass, hopefully quickly! Our baby one inch, in size at the moment....sooo hard to believe he/she will grow to be 7-9 pounds!

We are excited about the summer and starting to finalize our plans. We are hoping to visit our good friends, John & Lucia, in Scotland in August and we are so excited about that! We're also planning a trip to St. Thomas Island as one of our friends is having a destination wedding there. So fun!

Charles has 1.5 weeks left of school-Spring Quarter has felt SO long. We both are anxious for him to be done and have a little bit of free time.

Baby Huff!

2009-05-23T13:38:00.003-05:00

We are expecting our first baby, due January 8th, 2010!

I am about 2 months along and feeling pretty good, not too much sickness. We had our first ultrasound yesterday, what a cool experience, and the baby is healthy, has a strong heartbeat and is doing great!

Resident Head

2009-05-14T15:12:00.004-05:00

After two years of interviews, prayers & waiting...we just learned that we got a position at the University of Chicago (where Charles goes to school) as Resident Heads.

We are SO excited! We will be in Thompson House, working about 65 undergrads, planning events, hanging out, welcoming freshmen to college, taking them various places in the city, and working in the thick of college dorm life. It comes with an apartment, health insurance, and a meal plan. We will love our life!

The Second Year Review

2009-05-09T21:14:00.004-05:00

A happy day in our house.

Introducing Darcy (a little late)

2009-05-07T10:55:00.003-05:00

The day we picked her up at 8 weeks old.

Darcy at home at about 3 months.

Darcy at 5 months.

Darcy and her weird sitting position.

Outside is better.

Hiding.