Friday, September 7, 2012
Friday, August 31, 2012
6 Months
Dear Mila,
Today you are 6 months and 1 week old and the product of being the easy going second child. Gah. I’m sorry I’m a week late on your 6 month birthday post. I really, truly am.
The entire time I was pregnant with you I fretted over how Tyson would suffer with the addition of a baby into the family. I worried that you would be demanding. A baby requires so much time and energy, right? I assumed you would take away from the time we spent with Tyson and I was scared he would feel left out, neglected even.
Then you were born. And you were easy going and content. And Tyson was a two year old.
I’m beginning to realize that the tables are definitely reversed.
There are nights when I’m rocking you to sleep that I pray you know just how much I love you. You aren’t as needy, so, am I telling you enough? Hugging you enough? Spending enough time with you?
Clearly being late with your 6 month old letter is not helping this Mommy guilt.
I thought a lot about what I wanted to write to you this month. I could give you an update on what you’re up to (eating two meals a day, still not sleeping through the night, almost sitting up, just about done spitting up, starting to exhibit some stranger danger behaviors and still being happy) or I could write about how you have completed our family, taught me how to enjoy being a Mommy, and made me smile every day.
Take that Mommy guilt.
As a newborn, you LOVED to nurse for hours before drifting off to sleep. I obliged your milkaholic tendencies by snuggling you in my arms and rocking in your room with the lights dimmed and the book “Bloom” by Kelle Hampton opened night after night. I have read and re-read her book at least fifty times since you were born. I’d emerge nearly every night after I laid you down with red puffy eyes and a burning desire to let everyone know how much I loved them, how happy they made me, and how I was LOVING finding beauty in the unexpected. Honestly? Daddy probably thought I was nuts.
Maybe I was, but I like to think I finally realized just how awesome this Mommy gig was. I made three amazing little beings-two of which live with us and make us smile every day-one of which will be waiting for me in heaven. I have a supportive husband and a pretty cool little family of four here to have fun with. I have the life I always dreamed of.
I will always associate the book, “Bloom” with your birthday and I can pretty much guarantee you’ll get a dog-eared copy from me when you have your first child.
The book and you (in 6 wwaaaayyy too fast months) have changed the way I want to live my life. I hope I am showing you every day just how much love and happiness you bring me. I hope you know that I adore you and your brother. I hope I show you a passion for life, learning and new experiences. I hope I smile as big as you do each day.
For the record, a few of my favorite quotes from, “Bloom” :
“Pain has a way of pulling you forward to a surprising place of “I didn’t know I had it in me,” and while you think there is no way you will ever make it through in the beginning, you do.”
“Confidence doesn’t always come in surges. Sometimes – lots of times – it brews unbeknownst to us, building during the times we feel the least confident – through the tears, the questioning, the self-doubt, the begging God to make it better. Confidence, like contentment, is earned, paved stone by stone until you finally turn back and realize it has been pieced together to create something strong. Confidence is a process.”
“It’s knowing that life is short, and the moments we choose to fill our cup with should be purposeful and rich. That we should be present for life, that we should drink deeply. And that’s perfection.”
Mimi, in the entirely too fast six months you have been in my life, you (with a little help from the inspiring passages and quotes in Kelle’s book) have taught me more than I knew in my prior 30 plus years.
I know, right?
Happy 6 Months, little girl.
Thank you,
Mommy
Friday, August 10, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Date Night
Dear Tyson,
Last weekend you went on your first movie date ever.
With your mother. Hide your disappointment.
Daddy made us take pictures before to commemorate the occasion. He kept telling us to hold hands, you wanted to run away, and I couldn’t stop hugging you. I had visions of your prom pictures dancing before my eyes.
The movie-Ice Age 4-was cute and managed to hold your attention through most of the 90 minutes. There were a few scary parts, you had to pee twice-probably because you consumed a GIANT soda-(call me a bad parent all you want-you can’t have movie popcorn without a soda-it’s sacrilegious), and you said you wanted Ellie Boo twice. In all, a good first movie experience.
I’m sure it won’t be long before you will cringe at the idea of attending a movie with your mother. Until then, I’ll happily be your date to any movie you request.
Love,
Mommy
Friday, August 3, 2012
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby, Confused Mommy
See that? That is the face of a sad mommy (who needs a hair cut.) (and a facial.) Also, you're welcome for making this picture small.
Let's start by saying that Mila only waking up once with no food was a total anomaly.You win. I'm going to start shopping for 2T clothes today.
Yesterday, we had decided to try and implement the sleep training techniques written about in, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby"
At 3 AM, destiny called. Daddy stayed asleep.
I entered her room, peeked over her crib and watched as her soft cries turned to laughter as I tried to calm her down. No joke, she LAUGHED.
I left the room. She cried.
5 minutes later, I went back in. She laughed again as she tried to eat her PJs and her arm.
I left the room. She cried.
Rinse and repeat for over an hour.
Somewhere around 4:30 I gave up and fed her two ounces (JUST TWO OUNCES) in less than two minutes, laid her back down in the crib, and left the room. She didn't make a peep the rest of the night.
WHAT THE?
I thought men weren't supposed to understand how the female brain works. I'm currently just as perplexed.
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