Karisma Aksha - AnnaJo's Indian Name

Most people know that I work for Rose International. We are a woman & minority owned business. We have an office in New Delhi, India where a lot of our recruiters work. I send instant messages back and forth with one of them frequently...Rishi. Over the last few years, we have become friends. Before I left for bedrest, he was trying to teach me to say a few words in Hindi. I must say...I was not a good student. Anyway...he always asks me how AnnaJo is doing. Today he decided that he would give her an Indian name. He first gave her Aksha which means "light". He said it was because in her pictures, her skin shines like light. I asked him the Hindu word for "miracle" since she is such a miracle baby and he said it was "Karisma". So....her name means Miracle of Light...Karisma Aksha. Interesting, huh? Here is Rishi....I told him that I'd give him props.

Tata for now....did you know that they say Tata in India? Yes, they do.

She keeps getting cuter!!

16 weeks old on Saturday....she is getting cuter and cuter every day! Here is a picture that I took on Sunday. It's her new outfit from Aunt Deb...one of the few things that aren't pink!

TGIF!

Thank God it's Friday!! Wish it were a bit warmer, but I'd rather be freezing my butt off at home than at work! AnnaJo has had a good week...getting cuter every day. It's 4:30 and I can't wait to pick her up in half an hour! Technically, I won't be picking her up because I imagine that I'll stay at the in-laws for dinner since Cliff is working till 8. Those are some perks about Grammie and Nana watching her. Would your babysitter set a place at the table for you?!

My sister is coming to visit with the boys this weekend...should be fun. Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Busy, busy, busy

Oh my goodness. I never would have believed that adding a baby to my world would effect my schedule so greatly. I can't remember a time that I've gone days on end without checking my favorite websites or responding to my email. And now I'm doing just that - as you can see, I haven't updated my blog since before Christmas.

The Hill household has their hands full. AnnaJo is growing like a weed and keeping us entertained and quite busy. And then we've still got all four 4-paws. If you've talked to me in the past month, you know how I feel about that issue. Speaking of, know anyone who would like a new pet? :-) I know I'd be sad to see them go, but I'm so tired of stepping over them and moving around them. Not to mention the hair! Yuck, yuck, yuck.

I feel like a dairy cow these days. I saw the dr yesterday and she told me that I was made for lactation. (the faint of heart and those embarassed by breastfeeding should probably skip this part). AnnaJo is a great eater. She has been from day 1. Lately she has been spitting up a ton though. I finally decided that it must be the volume that she is eating. Let me explain what led me to that conclusion...I am sharing this personal info because I think it's hilarious! I get in the shower a few days ago and after a few minutes of standing under the hot water, I notice that I'm leaking all over the place. And it's not just a dripping leak - I was spraying milk to the front of the tub. I found great humor in this, so I wrote my name on the shower curtain! Now I understand the fascination that boys get out of peeing in the snow!

I'm trying to pump at least twice a day at work. Yes, I've returned to work full-time now. Every time I step into the bathroom (that's where I pump) I remind myself that the most important thing I do everyday is provide good nourishment to my daughter. I swear that since I've been repeating this to myself, my milk supply has increased by 30% at least. The only hiccup I get from pumping at work is one of the louder voices walking by the bathroom...It's pretty hard to concentrate on the task at hand when the bossman is bellowing outside the door. I think I"m going to start taking my headphones and ipod with me!

Enough for now...keep checking out AnnaJo's photo website - www.annajohill.shutterfly.com.

Happy New Year!
k

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas 2008...if you would have told me a year ago that I'd be celebrating Christmas this year with my very own baby, I'd have told you to keep dreaming. I am still amazed every day that she is mine and I'm so proud of her and proud to be her mommy.

Merry Christmas!

kate, cliff and annajo (aka Princess Toots-a-lot)

AnnaJo had her 2 month appt...shots, ouch!

My baby girl is growing so big! Her 2 month appt was last week and she is already 13 lbs / 23 inches long! She had her first round of shots and did so good! I was very proud of her, although I think I was far more anxious and nervous than she was. She screamed louder than I have ever heard her scream before - it was a little rough. Nana went along too for the visit and she had to cover her ears. Here's a few of her latest pics...

This is a headband that my aunt Kaye bought for her. Isn't she adorable!?

9 weeks old here....happy girl!

And this is proof that she does kind of look like me. I was 3 months old in this picture! Can you see the resemblance between my Mom and I too? :-)

Where has the time gone??

It cannot already be December, can it? It seems like yesterday that I was packing my bags to head to the hospital to have my beautiful baby girl. Time has flown by! She is already 10 1/2 weeks old! She is getting so big too. Such a big girl and super strong! She is always trying to sit up.

I'm back at work now - part time for December and then full time in January. It was very hard to go back too...it's so hard to leave her. She's in good hands though. Her Nana, Grammie and Daddy all watch her one day per week. That leaves me with the two other days and I cherish them both! And then weekends too, of course! With the holidays quickly approaching, I can't claim all the weekends though! Speaking of holidays...I have pictures from Thanksgiving posted on her Shutterfly picture page (www.annajohill.shutterfly.com). She was such a cutie...wore her first dress that day!

She had another first on Monday night (12/8) - she laughed really hard for the first time. she was laughing at Jersey. Jersey was supposed to be talking dirty, but she sneezed instead. AnnaJo thought it was hilarious and actually belly laughed. It was too cute!

Hope all is well with everyone!