Even on her worst day...

she can make you smile and laugh ~ oh the joy she brings to my life!

My poor, sweet baby girl had a terrible TERRIBLE day at daycare yesterday :(  Of course this just HAD to happen on my first full day back at work.  So yes, I felt like a HORRIBLE mother that she was there all day unhappy, not to mention SCREAMING! Poor baby was red-faced, screaming, and had huge tears flowing from those oh so swollen eyes.  Not the happy baby I was hoping to find :(  (Did that paint a vivid enough picture to make you feel sorry for her?  Because it was supposed to!  It was the most pitiful thing I have ever seen ~ and totally broke my heart.)

Today was a little better ~ though I did leave work early to go and sit with her for a while (aka monitoring to figure out what was going on).  Turns out it was a simple fix for which I am very grateful, if not slightly annoyed at the same time.  She just needed to be burped and elevated longer after her feeds.  Acid reflux, oh how I dislike you!  Oh, and just so I am completely fair, teething I dislike you too!

Anyway, here's hoping tomorrow is a better day than the last two!  If not, Lord help us all...

But back to the topic of the post, oh how I digress.

Even on her worst day of daycare (thus far at least), this is what my sweet baby shared with her Mommy!  What a beautiful smile ~ I tell you, she is something else (um...and also very LOUD)!!!

August 30, 2010

Fight the Good Fight

I love how the Lord gives you encouragement when you need it.  I heard this song last week and loved it, and today I went back and listened to it again.  And not only was I blessed beyond measure by the words, but by the story behind the words.  If you care to listen to the story, be warned it is sad but oh so joyful!

Before the Morning (Click here for background story!)

Blessed, Sad, and Maybe Even a Little Ironic...

Yes, it may not seem that those emotions could all be felt at the same time...but they can!  Trust me ~ I have been in the midst of them all day :)

I am blessed to have an amazing, beautiful, capture your heart in an instant little girl!  A girl who lights up my life every single day, who wrinkles her little button nose while being spoon fed (even though she seems to actually like the apples), who wakes up with a smile on her face, who brings a sense of joy to our house that I've never known before, who seems to love anyone, and is certainly loved even more in return.

A year ago today, my world changed forever. In what was a single minute in my life, everything that had once seemed so very important became completely inconsequential. In that one moment, I learned I was pregnant ~ I squealed, I cried, I panicked, I laughed. It is certainly a moment in my life that I will never forget and one that I will never for one second take for granted.

That moment is still so vivid in my mind that it seems like it was yesterday ~ and yet, an entire year has passed.  I'm sorry but let me just make sure you got that ~ an ENTIRE YEAR!!!!!

And the ironic part of all of this ~ on a day when I could have been incredibly sad about returning to work, the Lord reminded me of what He blessed us with a year ago to the day. So maybe it isn't ironic at all.  Maybe this is His way of letting me know that He has a greater plan for me than what my feeble mind is capable of understanding ~ because really what are the odds these two experiences, BIG experiences, would land on the exact day one year apart??  Maybe this is His gentle reminder of the joy that is in my life, in the beautiful form of my perfect, blue-eyed angel.  Maybe this is His way of saying, it's ok to be a little sad about returning to work and hence, not being able to spend most of my day with my sweet girl ~ but also, and more importantly, to remember that I get to go home to a wonderful, super active, healthy, and happy baby!

And for that, I will always, always, always be grateful beyond measure!  What a year it has been ~ and I wouldn't trade one second of it for the entire world!!!

Sophie Grace,

I have loved you from that very moment a year ago.  And each and every day, even when I don't know how it could be possible, I love you more than the day before.  You truly are my angel!

Always and forever,
Mommy

Beware ~ You are about to be bombarded!!!

WITH VIDEOS!

Yes, some of these are a little old but it amazes me to look at these videos and see how much she has changed in such a short time! Enjoy :)

Playtime with Daddy

June 3, 2010

Chatting with Mom

June 3, 2010

Playtime with Mommy

June 12, 2010

Just Hanging Out
June 12, 2010


July 8, 2010

Cartoons!!!

Swinging (Three Month Birthday)!

July 13, 2010

Exersaucer Fun

July 31, 2010

Makes You Wanna Jump, Jump!

August 1, 2010

Just a Swingin' 

August 1, 2010 

Daddy is Funny!

August 8, 2010

What a Day I've Had (Warning: Spit up involved!)
August 9, 2010

Abby Caddaby

August 11, 2010


Jumperoo Jabbering
August 11, 2010


A is for Apples!
August 21, 2010

Revote!

Ok, so in all fairness ladybug is blowing everything else out of the water!  However, since I'm having a hard time finding a ladybug costume I love, I am invoking my motherly right to have a revote ~ this time with pictures!!!  (Side Note:  I did provide TWO ladybug options just to satisfy our voting public!)


So here we go again...

The poll options correspond with the pictures above...

Once again...what should Sophie be for Halloween?!
	Baby Blossom
	Lamb
	Lion
	Teddy Bear
	Fairy
	Rabbit
	Cow
	Monkey
	Ladybug 1
	Ladybug 2
	Elmo
	Puppy
	Butterfly
pollcode.com free polls

Four Months!

This post is a little late, but I wanted to wait until I had weight and measurements before I posted.

I cannot believe that Sophie is 1/3 of a year old (as one of my dear friends pointed out)! Where on earth does the time go? I seriously feel like I just entered the OR, that we just brought her home, that we were running on straight adrenaline and no sleep. And yet, those days are in the past. In some ways I am glad because I do so very much enjoy my sleep :) In others, I am sad at how big she is :(

Our sweet Sophie is the light of my life, my greatest joy. I love her smiles, her laughter, her talking and cooing. I am so proud of her every milestone. It won't be long before her first Halloween, first Thanksgiving, first Christmas, first birthday party. Cooing will have manifested into words, her rolling over will have become crawling and walking, and eventually she will no longer be my "baby" (though, in my eyes she will never ever be anything less than my baby girl). It's like I blink and another month has literally flown by. That being said, here is my attempt to keep up with my growing girl :)

At four months, Sophie, you:

• Weigh 11 lbs 12 oz and are 25" long and have a head circumference of 16 (10th and 75th percentiles respectfully; she did not give me the percentile for the head circumference but since she said you are perfect, I assume that this is a-ok too).
• Did ok with this round of shots. One was VERY painful ~ apparently the medicine burns/stings for a little while afterwards. It was a good 5-6 minutes before you were completely calm again. Can we say RED-FACED and LOUD?! If it makes you feel any better, this was awful for Mommy too ~ you know, it actually probably doesn't make it any better but at least it's on record ;)
• Still in love with Sesame Street, particularly Elmo, and are now the proud owner of two Elmos of your very own.

• Have accidentally pulled out some of your brother's fur :( Poor Georgie! Thankfully, besides a minor yelp, he didn't do anything other than give you kisses...such a good boy!!! (George, Mommy is TERRIBLY sorry, but SO proud!)
• Eat 6 oz five times a day and a tablespoon of rice cereal in your nighttime bottle.
• Sleep in your big girl crib ~ and wildly I might add :) You are never in the same spot for long!
• Go to sleep sometime between 7:30 and 8:30 and wake up around 6:30. I think you'd actually sleep longer but we have to wake you up to get ready for daycare.
• Started daycare on August 16th :( This I do not like at all! However, I am grateful that you actually love it ~ you have great teachers, are fascinated by the other babies, and are going to learn soooo much. Such a big girl you are!
• Like to be on your tummy and are learning how to pull your knees underneath you.
• Adore the exersaucer.
• Like the jumperoo but do more spinning than jumping.
• Smile and laugh more than you cry ~ a personal Mommy favorite!
• Are infatuated with your hands and often have them in your mouth ~ sucking fingers but not thumb...not sure about this one...
• Very interested in toys ~ especially the playmat, Elmo, and your O-Ball.
• Have found your voice and make excellent use of it ;)
• Are a bubble making machine!
• Still wear Size 1 diapers and 3 month clothes. You can wear 6-month shirts though they are a little big; 3-month bottoms are still HUGE so you'll be in these for a while longer.
• Really like Stroller Strides and walking/jogging in the jogging stroller. The faster the better!
• No longer have a bassinet or bouncy seat as Mommy and Daddy put these away in storage. Not that you've even noticed...
• Are learning to sit unassisted with your hands out in front of you. Once you get the balance factor down, there won't be any stopping you!
• Like to watch yourself in mirrors ~ such a pretty girl to talk to :)
• Still LOVE car rides (thank you, thank you, thank you)
• Have tried rice cereal from a spoon but are not quite sold on the whole slow-eating process. Dr. McGrann suggested we practice more in a couple of weeks with some fruits and veggies if we wanted to. However, it's not a necessary thing since your nutrient requirements are fulfilled in your formula.
• Not so much into your paci unless it's naptime or bedtime. Yea! Here's to hoping for an easy weening process.
• Really don't understand the point of a pack and play. Maybe when you can sit up better this one will interest you a little more.
• Sleep better with your sound machine.
• Enjoy playdates with Julian ~ so glad you have friends around your age!
• Take well to new people.
• Are beyond perfect, absolutely precious, and my sweet amazing angel!

I love you Peanut!!!

Always and forever,

Mommy

P.S. With a guess of 12 lbs 2 oz and 25" long, Mimi is the winner :) In second place, Aunt Jaime, with a guess of 12 lbs 2 oz and 24" long. If you didn't win, no worries! There are no prizes, just fun times and bragging rights :) Thanks for playing!

August 13, 2010

Four Months

Love this big grin! Happy baby when she wakes up :)

August 18, 2010

On Our Way to Four Month Check-Up

My fingers are soooooo YUMMY!

Today was THE day :(

I just got home from dropping my sweet baby off at daycare ;(  Her Daddy is at work.  The dogs are outside playing.  Our house is strangely silent ~ no exersaucer, no swing, no playmat, no wonderful cooing or squealing, no crying.  Oh how I would welcome that crying right now just to know that she was with me.  Our house has been so filled with love and joy since Sophie came into this world.  Even when she is sleeping so soundly, her spirit fills this house in ways that I can't explain.  She just belongs here ~ and sitting here without her feels as if I have lost part of myself.  There is an empty place right now that I know won't be filled until I pick her up in my arms and have my baby back.  My heart is broken and yet, I know that this is going be ok.  That I will get through the tears, worry and fear eventually ~ day by day.  I'm sure today will be mostly crying and worrying ~ perhaps even a half-hearted attempt to stay busy.  There are a million things I could be doing and yet, I just don't care to do them right now.  Maybe a little later I'll pick myself up and get busy.  For now, I'm just being.  I miss my baby and I am sad.  And for now that's ok.