Random Amy

No, Amy's not random, but this blog entry is random things of Amy... could also be called "Gloating Parent"!

I got very excited a few days ago, because Amy nearly rolled over (tummy to back). My excitement then mounted when Vaughn told me last night that she actually achieved the roll over! I missed it, but am so very proud of her. She has very strong neck muscles as well... she can hold her head up and support herself very well. And I am very sure that she smiled at me the other day and has randomly since. "If your baby's smile is in response to yours, and she is looking at you, it is not 'wind', however young she is." (quote from a parenting magazine published by Children's & Youth Health Services), so I'm convinced! Apparently my younger brother smiled when he was quite young as well, so more evidence that I did witness a smile!

If you click on the first picture below, it will take you to some more photos of Amy uploaded to our web album, but following that, there are some other pictures with explanation:

Amy Ellen - Random

My little darling is losing her hair. She was born with a full head of dark hair, just like me. However, unlike me, she is not keeping her hair. She doesn't have 'cradle cap', but instead lost a lot of the hair on the front of her head, after Vaughn bathed her a couple nights back. I was quite shocked when I saw how much she had lost! I now affectionately call her my little "Ron Howard"! She still has all her hair at the back of her head - it hasn't been rubbing off as she sleeps in her bassinet, hence why she looks like Ron Howard (she doesn't really, but that's the first thing I thought of when I saw her after she lost her first bit of hair!).


Sorry that this photo is sideways... the computer randomly decides which photos to put portrait and landscape, no matter how I save it! Anyway, I could take a million pictures of her when she sleeps. She is just so beautiful and peaceful and adorable and... so many other adjectives! I have to use all my will power not to pick her up and cuddle her and smother her with kisses when she looks like this! Vaughn has the same problem! I love that this particular photo captured her with a slight smile on her lips... I know this isn't actually a smile, like I was talking about above, but it's cute all the same!


Okay, well I guess that's enough gloating for the moment... I'm sorry that I've turned into one of those parents who think that everything their child does is just amazing and feels they have to share it with everyone... I hope it doesn't bother you too much and you can find some enjoyment in my gloating of my wonderful, amazing, angelic daugher, Amy! :o)

3 Weeks Old Today!

It's hard to believe that we now have a 3 week old daughter! The time has passed so quickly and we have had our ups and downs over that time. It has obviously been a learning curve for Vaughn and me and of course, it will continue to be so. No matter what, however, she will remain our little angel!

I neglected to mention in an earlier post, the origin of her name, so here it is:

Amy: Doesn't have a special significance. It was just a pretty name that Vaughn and I both liked. I think it fits her very well, as she is a pretty little girl (we aren't bias in any way, of course!)

Ellen: Named after my mum's sister in the states, as well as their mom. I liked the idea of Ellen being a family name, but it skipped my generation. I was going to be named Ellen, but after deliberations, Ellen was dropped for Janelle Renay (there's a story behind it, but that's for another day!). However, I like to think that Amy Ellen is a fourth generation Ellen as "Nelle", a common nickname for me, is actually "Ellen" spelt backwards! How's that for spooky!

Almost 2 Weeks Old

Last Monday when Amy was almost 2 weeks old, a good friend who was a photograher in a previous life (now studying at the sem), took some beautiful shots of us as our new family. They turned out wonderfully and I am so excited to share some of my favourite shots with you... there are a few as it was hard just picking a couple!

Amy Ellen - almost 2 weeks old

Welcome to the World, Amy Ellen Spring

Very important update, indeed! Our beautiful, gorgeous daughter, Amy Ellen Spring was born at 7:27pm on Tuesday 18th August 2009. If you click on the album below, you can have a look at some photos taken in her first few days of life:

Amy Ellen Spring

Other information:
Weight: 7lb, 7oz (3.37kg)
Length: 49.5cm
Labor: 9.5 hours - natural (was using gas at one point, but the midwife turned it down/off after I started hallucinating (!)
Colourings: Deep blue eyes, full head of very dark hair, skin tone was pink from the moment she came out

Vicarage

I obviously haven't updated the blog for a while... sorry! There are a few things to update you on, so I thought I should do separate headings instead of lumping it all in together.

First update... Vaughn is now on his "Vicarage". This is like a church placement for 9 months, where he will be working full time in a church setting and won't be attending any classes. He has been assigned to Mount Barker, which is a beautiful spot in the Adelaide Hills. Unfortunately it's a fair drive each day for him (about 35 or so minutes), but he loves his Vicar Father (the pastor of the church) and he really enjoys the hands on experience as opposed to studying books/theory, so the drive doesn't seem as bad. It's against all the peak hour traffic as well, or else that would have added so much more time to the drive.

The congregation are so lovely and have welcomed us with open arms. We both feel very loved there.

Vaughn started his placement on 24 August, was installed on 30 August and will be there until May 2010.

It is still under construction, but here is the link to their website, so you can see a little bit more about the church: http://www.stmarksmtbarker.org.au/.