Tuesday, July 16, 2013

2 month/60days/1460hours/87658 min

Dear ABJ, 

Today you are 2 months old. You have been with us for 60 whole days. We have loved on you for 1460 hours. We have cherished every minute, all 87658 of them.  

You have been so energetic this month. We loved to watch you play on your play gym that Randy & Judy bought you. We have been practicing our vowels. "O" is your favorite and you use it often. Your appetite has increased dramatically, you eat 6 ounces a feeding now. You hold your head up pretty well, but you're still working on keeping it up all of the time. You will tolerate 5-10 minutes of tummy time here and there, sometimes I think you are just being a trooper for me. You don't like it, but you know I want you to do it. You love your swing, somedays that's the only way you will nap. 

We are loving your little 2 month old chubby cheeks, rolls in your thighs, Buddha belly that hangs over your SIZE 2 diapers, your adorable smile that you flash often, that precious giggle that you do in your sleep, your nighttime grunts, and your sweet little jabbering.

I asked your Daddy a few questions that I thought you might like to know about yourself at this age. Here are his answers.....



1) What's your favorite thing to dowith  AnnaBella?
Snuggle in my chair.

2) What is your favorite body part?
Her nose, we do Eskimo kisses

3) What is your favorite memory this month? 
Today: standing in front of the mirror asking her to stay this age forever.

4) What big thing do you think she accomplished this month? 
She started sleeping better

5) What are you looking forward to for next month? 
For her to start recognizing me more.

Here are my answers...

1) What's your favorite thing to do with AnnaBella?
I have a tie: rocking you at bedtime and sitting you on my lap while I say the vowels and you repeat your own version. 

2) What is your favorite body part?
Your cheeks, without a doubt, if you weren't sleeping right now I would kiss all over them. 

3) What is your favorite memory this month? 
There are tons, but tonight you woke yourself up because you were laughing loudly. That warms my heart for you to have such a happy soul. 

4) What big thing do you think she accomplished this month? 
Your jabbering is by far the most precious accomplishment in the world. 

5) What are you looking forward to for next month? 
I really want you to hold your head up with no assistance, all the time when I'm holding you. Sometimes I let my guard down and you get tired. It scares me every time.
 
You are doing so good little girl, growing too fast and making Daddy and I so very proud. It's been a fun 2 months. You make our lives whole, Baby Girl. 

Hiking and Hon's

Hibdon and I are always trying to find fun dates. 1) We are cheap skates. 2) we appreciate our time so much more when it's unique and memorable. We also like to do things that are outside. 

This weekend fit our date requirements to a "T". Friday after work we loaded Bells up and went West. Right down the pretty old drive to GPa & Hon's. We stayed the night and rose early for a hiking trip. While ABJ stayed to play with GPa, Hon & Nana-Great.

Hibdon & I packed our gear and went to Osage Hills State Park. It was gorgeous, the trails were well kept & even posed a nice challenge. Once we were finished we went back to have lunch and relax with everyone. 

What did we find? The most adorable pictures of our baby. Doesn't surprise me at all. Bella's first overnight trip to Hon's had to be documented. 

After gushing at the adorable pics and chowing on lunch, I came to the realization for the millionth time how precious family time is. How downright spoiled Hibdon & I are and thankful to call them ours. 

1) Nana-Great came over at 5am to rock Bella.
2) There was a delicious meal or snack always waiting on us.
3) I enjoyed, no make that relished in an uninterrupted, not a baby sound heard, nap!!! 


We had fun, she had fun...a trip sure to be repeated. 
Hibdon guiding me to the waterfalls.
Nice cool trail in the shade. 
At the top of Lookout tower.
Not a bad view for a picnic brunch.

Now for the pics that really matter. Hon & ABJ had fun! 





Saturday, July 6, 2013

I'll Love You Forever


Dear Bells,

I can think of all the things that have stretched our limits in parenting these past few weeks. There's the times you woke up every two hours, in a not so pleasant mood, to nurse. There's the week that we determined you had witching hours, you were a real "witch" between 5pm-8pm. There's the times you have projectile pooed all over Daddy, the carpet & everything around. There have been many of nights that you are completely asleep, but Momma & Daddy can't sleep because you are grunting so loud. Lastly, there's the time Daddy slept in the floor of your nursery while you slept as you swung. 

I tell you all of this for a few reasons.
1) it's a little comical. I'm sure most is due to us being new parents, but we still look like we are in the funnies.
2) Someday when you are an extra bratty teenager (Oh Lord help me) I will remind you of how ornery you were as an infant. 
3) no matter how you stretch it, my limits will never be reached with you.

I think about your moments that wore me out, I get a little sad knowing that someday those moments can't be fixed by the simple things. Rocking, walking, singing, diaper change, lamby the paci, or even feeding won't work forever. I could hold you in a tight snuggle & smell your pretty little baby smell forever. When you sleep, I stare. When you smile, I melt.  When you jabber, I talk back. Every new or improved function is broadcaster to anyone who will listen. 

Since I told many stories that don't shed the best light on you as a baby, Ill share a good one.

As we are doing our bedtime routine & I'm reading,

 I'll Love You Forever. I begin the best part of the book. "I'll love you forever, I'll like you always, As long as I'm living my baby you will be". As I read this line I thought you would be sleeping. I look down & you are looking up at me with the biggest smile. I was ready to buy you a pony & a princess castle right then.

You are my world little girl. Those words could never be more true. I will love you forever, the unconditional, over the moon kind. I will like you always, no tantrum, witching hour, or sleepless night will change that. I promise you as long as I am living you will be my baby.



Monday, July 1, 2013

Starting to sweat

After my c-section I honestly thought I would never wear a bikini again, actually I wasn't sure if I would walk upright again. Those first few weeks were terrrrrrrible, turible (Barkely voice). 

My first two weeks after c-section, I couldn't walk upright, my feet were the size of watermelons, my belly looked like a balloon had been stuffed inside & my acne was that of a 13 year old boy. I was slightly depressed, exhausted & not confident. I would change when Hibdon couldn't see, nurse with a blanket so my belly was covered and I showered when there was no chance of a walk-in. (I once was a walk around with little to no clothes kind of girl).

So as I was adjusting to all of this I started to see some of the weight drop. I gained a total of 42, today I am 145 lbs. this weight is 15 lbs over my pregnancy weight. Something else I have to consider is that weight was a toned, runners body as well. I have a long road to get those 15 lbs off, but I am 6 weeks postpartum. I can no work out & begin to push myself. Today I started the couch to 5k app. I'm excited to get busy. Ill be sure to document my progress.