More August Pictures

The Kind Of Mom I Aspire To Be

Good morning, darling!

     I am sorry that it has been a week or so since my last entry. You have been teething and Mommy got hit with a stomach bug so this week wasn't a great one. But no matter how difficult times get, we always have each other.

    Daddy has been working so much this past week and we are grateful that he can work this much; however, it tends to pull the family dynamic a bit. Because of my brain condition, sometimes taking care of you can be difficult when I am feeling poorly and daddy is always such a big help. But when he works all the time, it is a little stressful. I think you know when he isn't home; you stayed awake all night waiting for him when he worked until 5am. Then, I think your gums are hurting you because you are drooling like crazy ( we got through many onesies throughout the day) and you are running tiny fevers (I make sure to give you Tylenol so you aren't in pain.)

     When you get the Tylenol and are feeling good, you are such a happy baby. Man, you love to look at you "dudes" and play in your playpen and crib. This week, Daddy put together the walker Auntie Laura and Uncle Rich got us for your baby shower. Sweetie, you loved it! You are loving being upright and coo at everything. You are trying to fit your hands in your mouth, all the time! Hearing your baby coos and noises throughout the day make me so happy. I can't believe you are over three months old- you have been such an incredibly humbling and loving change for Mommy.
 
      I look at how you have changed in just the last few weeks and I hope I can be the right Mommy for you to grow up into an amazing and wonderful person. Maybe it is a little because of Grammie and her hippie ways, but I am a little old school in my way of thinking when it comes to parenting. I believe that I should teach you things by helping you understand the way things work in the world and I got into a discussion with someone this week on different parent styles. Each family is different and what works for one, might not for another, but Daddy and I are in agreement that we aspire to teach you things with love, care, and grace rather than choose to discipline more harshly. Even now, I talk to you throughout the day, so you know what we are going to do and what is going to happen. Just as I hope to continue to do throughout your childhood and adolescence so you understand why our family does things the way we do. Anyway, sweet girl, you truly have made me see things in a different light now that you are in my world.

     Uncle Jared moved up to South Carolina this week for his third year at college. It is so exciting for him, but very sad for Mommy because Uncle Jared and I have such an awesome brother and sister relationship (like one I hope for you to have with your future siblings!) Anyway, he called and is all settled up there and  I hope he enjoys being up there!

     For now, sweet pea, mommy is going to try to sleep while she can! For tomorrow is another day!
Love you
XOXO
Mommy

Teething??

     How is it possible for you to be teething at 3 months old, princess??! I have my hands full with you these days. You aren't a happy camper right now. You don't want to sleep, but that makes you overtired and fussy. You usually are a wonderful sleeper and I usually brag about you sleeping through the night all the time ( Never Again!). For some reason, maybe because you are growing and every day learning something new, but you seem to be tired more and yet, not wanting to sleep.

      I try my best to meet your needs and honestly, sometimes it feels like I'm not doing my job well enough. I think every mommy feels that way from time to time. Today, you started the day happy, but throughout the day, I think you started to feel worse and worse with your teeth because you are okay when I give you the Tylenol that Dr. Orezzoli encouraged me to give to you. If I don't give you Tylenol you run a slight fever and are a little more cranky. Yet, I don't want to be giving you medicine this early for long. So, hopefully this process won't last long.

     We enjoy seeing daddy for lunch, on Wednesdays, and today you were a good baby. Sometimes, in fact, most of the time, you get hungry there and it is a tad harder to visit when you are fussing and eating etc.  Thankfully, today you were great and got some cuddles with daddy and quality time. We love seeing him because it helps break up the time and we miss him a lot since he has been working so much for our family.

     Your daddy makes me so happy and is such a wonderful guy. He really knows how to make me feel special and always encourages me when I need it. I love him so much and enjoy seeing him take care of you because he does it so well. I am lucky because a lot of husbands I know don't really have much of a relationship or spend as much time with their kids as your daddy does. He loves to take care of you in the morning and have morning cuddles.

 I love you, sweet pea, I am going to go cook some dinner!
 XOXO
Mommy

More Pictures

Weekend and More Baby Developments

Good morning, darling! 

   It has been a couple days since I've written and  think it is because we are always so busy. This past weekend was Auntie Jessica's wedding. Mama had a busy weekend and it made me realize how much I miss you during the day when I don't have you with me! 

  

    You have been having a hard time dealing with your immunizations that you got on Thursday. You ran low-grade temps and had some bad, dark diarrhea a few times. You were extremely fussy for a few parts of the weekend. You did much better on Tylenol and your prescription gas drops Dr. Orrezoli prescribed you. You liked to be held and swaddled like a cocoon when you didn't feel good and cried hard. Thankfully, you seem to be on the mend and only had to have one dose of the Tylenol today! 

     Friday, mommy was extremely busy planning Auntie Jessica's wedding and bachelorette party. We ran around getting errands and then you stayed with Grammie for awhile. You spent the wedding day with daddy while I was gone and, I missed you so much. Auntie Jessica looked beautiful and she had a wonderful party! By the time I got home though, you were asleep so I couldn't get those cuddles before I went to bed. But thank goodness, you woke up with a big smile on Sunday morning. We spent some time at home, cleaning, and doing home things for awhile. 

     Then, we visited Auntie Angela and Uncle Tarik and cousin Raiden. We had fun baby play time and today, mama went there again! We love spending time with them and having quality baby moments. You two babies are so funny, you finally figured out to grab onto the giraffe in your playpen or the toys hanging above you and you giggle so much when you finally grab it. You also learned to hold your neck up when strapped in your car seat or swing. Daddy and I went  to Publix and you wanted so hard to look at things, you are getting strong with that neck and watching your changes is making mommy realize how quickly things are happening. I can't believe, on Friday, you will be 3 months old! Oh, I have to go, you are crying and due for a bottle! 

Oh I am so in love with you, my sweet baby! 

XOXO 

Mommy  

More Changes and Shots

Good morning, sweetheart! 

    Well, let me start by saying we had quite the day. Mama and Daddy finally agreed that it was best for me to try to find a stay-at-home job I can do, so I can be with you. I just can't leave you during this time in your life. It is such a small and yet, pivotal point that we'll never get back. We do need the financial help of Mommy's income, so we're gonna have me try a stay-at-home remote kind of job. We'll see how that goes. For now, it is back to the drawing board and figuring out what I can do from home:) Mommy can now breathe again and sleep at night knowing I won't have to leave you during the day. 

     As far as today, you woke up slightly fussy, an unusual characteristic for you. However, you ate your bottle and we got ready for the morning. Daddy left early for work and we heading to get your 2 month old shots. I have been avoiding it, for a couple weeks now, knowing that you would be in pain and I didn't really want to have you be in pain, but Daddy and I agreed you needed them! So, off we went to the Health Department. 

    You were such a good, happy girl and I was so proud of you. I was nervous,but you were smiling as the nurse gave you the Rotavirus ( which is liquid and goes in your mouth). But as soon as you got the one shot in your let leg, your poor little face turned a bright purple color and you cried so hard. I felt so bad, but you handled the second one a little better and in 2 minutes, you were smiling again. You are such a happy baby; I can't get over it! 

    We went to Auntie Angela's and you were having a good time, playing with cousin Raiden, but about 3 hours after your shots, you started to just cry and cry hard! I am pretty certain I hadn't heard you cry like that ever, so I felt so bad because nothing soothed you. We even went to Grammie and Grampie's house and you wouldn't even calm down for them. We just held you and gave you Tylenol and rocked you all night long. Finally, it looked like you were feeling a little better and I gave you a night time bottle and a second dose of Tylenol and you fell asleep. Let's hope you stay asleep! I love you so much, my sweetheart! You are a trooper! 

Going to go eat dinner and hug Daddy! 

XOXO 

MOMMY 

Changes

Good morning,  my sweet baby!

      Well, chick, you surprised the heck out of me in the last two days! Just like I said, in my last post, I knew you were close to rolling over and you DID it! We were at Auntie Angela'as hanging out with cousin Raiden and you were hanging out in his crib. Auntie Angela and I were talking about you and your strong kicks and arms waving about. She asked if I have put you on your belly to roll and for some reason, I thought it would be easier to have you roll from back to belly. You as soon as I rolled you to your tummy, you in about 2 tries, rolled over! You looked like you surprised yourself; it was one of the best moments of my life, seeing you smile and make a big milestone like that. Each day that passes, I seem to fall more and more in love you.

     So you seemed to wear yourself out with that hard work rolling over and you slept a lot that day. Today on the other hand, I had my first day on the floor in the nursing home and you woke up at 4:30am, hungry and we rocked you to sleep and no sooner than I hit the pillow, my alarm went off at 5:30m. I knew it was going to be a long day and I really didn't have a good day at all. I missed the heck out of you. I thought it was best for me to go back to work part-time and I had convinced myself that you would be okay for the time being.

      But you know what kiddo, I don't think I am cut out to leave you alone. I missed you so much and I fully believe that God is telling me that my main priority is to raise you into the best you can. I think that you should have me at your side, so right now, both Daddy and I are praying that we have some answers on how to handle the situation so we can have  stable environment and loving, warmth home.

 I love you, my princess. Going to go to sleep well I can!
XOXO
Mommy