Getting Settled-9 days old

We are starting to adjust to our new lives-but that means being very tired most of the time. Suvi wants to eat about every 2 hours- so I am kept quite busy with that. Markku is starting to get more jealous-he has a little tantrum when I feed Suvi on the left side (he thinks that is his side!). But he is a really good big brother the rest of the time and loves to kiss her and pat her head. He is surprisingly gentle with her. When is out of the house, and about to return home, he gets exicted to see me and says: "Mama!" Then he says: "Baby!". So he does expect her to be here with me!

Suvi had her first bath last night-she didn't like it as you can tell from the photo. She had another one tonight because she decided to poop all over her and me! We are doing yet another load of laundry now!

We are planning our first mini trip-down to mummo Frederick's tomorrow night. We'll see how that goes!

Markku's Nimi Paiva

Hey everyone! Today was Suvi's 5th day and Markku's nimi paiva or "name day" in Finland. There names actually have their own birthday so to speak! So we celebrated his name day (with a cake, special presents from his mummo Frederick--after which Heikki tells us they have never celebrated these before!) Well, I guess we can start these traditions! In the attempt to keep Markku from being left out, I think we may be spoiling him. He gets someone there constantly to play with or make him happy and has received so many presents...what are we gonna do, keep this up forever??? What's even crazier is that his 2 year birthday is on May 12-so even more presents and cake. And then the London Laukkanen's and mummo Laukkanen return for a one week visit (with another birthday celebration?!!! Yikes). Well, I guess soon enough he will face reality that it will be him, mom and Suvi most days. No presents, no cake! (Well, not everyday at least. I do need to lose the pregnancy weight).

We had a tough night last night, but I finally realized that Suvi was just not tired yet. At 2 am she decided it was ok to let mom and dad sleep some. Luckily Markku has continued to sleep through the night for the past week. We'll see if that continues. She is starting to open her eyes more (and boy is she beautiful when she does) and she even sat in her bouncy seat through the whole dinner/name day celebration! That was a first.

Heikki is off work until May 8--longer than I thought so I am very relieved. He has heard some stressful rumors about SkyWest trying to buy out his company and Continental saying if that doesn't happen, they will terminate their contract with ExpressJet. That will happen slowly over several years-but still will mean likely furlows for some pilots and Heikki will "never" get off reserve duty. That is bad news for us-his schedule usually means he is home for just real short periods of time and then in California (or flying) for the most part. But, nothing is settled, so I try not to think about it. After all, airlines are shutting down every day and takeovers and buyouts are happening faster than we can keep up these days. So everyone in the field is suffering.

Well- I have posted photos from today and some from his first backyard pool experience with mummo Laukkanen.

4 days old

Hello everyone! Suvi is 4 days old now. We are maybe starting to get used to each other and figure some things out! She was losing weight and jaundiced, but we turned that around real quick (who needs sleep-just keep nursing every 2 hours!). Yesterday she was back up to 7 lbs 5 oz-up from her low of 7 lbs 0.8 oz (of course still less than at birth weight of 7 lbs 10 oz). She is a very beautiful girl and so sweet. She won't let me put her down, even for naps. (Alissa- I may need your advice now!!). Markku is adjusting REALLY well-I am very surprised. That may change when dad goes back to work and visitors stop coming. But so far he is a great big brother. He has 1 meltdown a day but at almost 2 years old that is probably more age related. He is just an amazing boy-Suvi has a great role model. Heikki's mom and Bill just left today, so now we are kind of on our own...we do have Kiri (our nanny) coming by several times a week to help out, but no one cooking and cleaning up after us and all that! Markku had such a great visit with his other mummo (grandma)-it was really great to see them playing. I will post some pics soon of them playing, but too tired tonight and must get some sleep!

She's here!

Suvi finally arrived-still before her actual due date. She came Sunday 4/20 at 9:49 am. She was 7 lb 10 oz and 20 in long. She is very healthy and a good eater so far. Mom is doing well (very happy to not be pregnant!) and we are now officially home! I will post some photos my mom took. In case your wondering-Heikki did not make it home for her actual birth. He missed it by 4 hours. We tried to stall, but even with epidural I was still pretty painful this time, so I gave up waiting. Luckily she waited for my mom to get there (after I finally called my nanny at 7 am to relieve her from babysitting). I drove myself to the hospital-apparently that is a bad idea according to everyone else, but I didn't want to wake anyone else up and Markku was asleep! The hospital is very close to my house and it was like 3 am. At 4 am they decided to admit me as I was in labor, and by 5 I had my epidural. It worked well at first, but then at 7 I was awakened with pretty bad contractions. When it came time to push, it was just 11 minutes and she was there! Markku came to meet her and was quite shy but is starting to warm up-especially once Heikki got there and showed him it was OK. Sorry some pics are sideways-I can only do so much holding a baby and aftre I got them attached is when I noticed! Oh well- I DID just have a baby!

Nope, not yet

In case anyone is checking in-nothing yet. Don't want anyone to think that if I didn't write I MUST be having a baby...I am starting to get bored. I am tired of cleaning everyday, just in case she comes. I wish I could spend more time really playing with Markku, but it is so hard to play with a big uncomfortable belly. Heikki left for work and my mom is now with me. No Suvi though. The 20th sounds like a good day....

Nothing Yet

No Suvi yet. She loves making her mom wait! I am trying to keep real active (opposite of bed rest?) but it is getting harder and harder to do normal things. Heikki Markku and I went on a little (1 hour) hike at Barton Creek today. It was nice to get out, but I don't have really good balance so I had to watch real carefully where every foot went-or I would trip (and it's hard to see my feet these days)! Markku was a lot faster than me! He ran most of the trail. We think he may be a cross country runner some day! Heikki leaves tomorrow around 3 pm-so if she doesn't come by then she has to wait another 5 days! Or, Heikki may just not be here. That is starting to sound like a better option to me. I NEVER even thought she may be late or even born near her due date. I just assumed she would be here by now....

Another day of waiting...

Well today is almost over and we are still waiting. I am having much stronger contractions that do seem painful...maybe she is coming?? Heikki was able to make it home so it would be perfect timing. He has to leave Sat. for another trip, so everyone cross your fingers that she will come before then. We went to dinner with some friends tonight that have a 4 week old baby. Markku was interested in seeing her and kept asking to go look at her. Hopefully that means he won't hate his baby sister! He is very fond of my growing belly-so I am sure he will be disappointed to lose that AND have a little sister taking attention from him! Here is a photo of him loving the belly... I admit I am very torn about all this. I am excited that Suvi is almost here and sad that I will have to share Markku! Will I have enough time for both of them (and not be too cranky with Markku?)? I know mothers do this every day (mine did too) and that your capacity to love just grows, blah, blah, blah. but, I still find it a little unsettling. Of course, maybe I am just reluctant to lose sleep again! It took Markku 14 months to sleep through the night...now what have we done?!

Hooray! I finally got started!

Hello Everyone!

I have decided to finally start a blog so you can keep up with the Laukkanen family (of Texas). We are very excited and ready to add to our family-I (Casey) have been ready for awhile now...Heikki wants me and Suvi to wait until he gets home first! So he is due home tonight for 3 days. So hopefully Suvi will make her appearance soon. I have been very motivated to get things accomplished and really hope that means she is coming sooner rather than later (you know that nesting thing they talk about right before labor begins!). Anyways, I'll try to keep up on this blog so everyone can figure out how things are going and to eventually post photos for everyone as well!

I had my 39 week doctor visit yesterday and she thinks things will happen this week as well-Suvi is very low in the birth canal already and my doctor thinks labor will likely go faster this time (since she is already through my pelvis)! I am having intermittant contractions that get me all excited, but then they stop. Maybe she is waiting for us to finish painting her room-ha!ha! We are almost all done-just need to paint the ladybugs and touch up here and there. My mom is doing all the painting so we have to squeeze it in her visits. Her crib came and we are just waiting for the changing table. The pictures above are her room-I was trying to post them below, but can't figure out how to do that! Hopefully I will get better at this stuff soon. Bear with me in the meantime!

Maybe the next time I post I will have exciting news!