5 weeks more grandparent fun!

Ada,

I finally get to sit down at my computer to catch up. I'm so fortunate to have so many willing hands to hold you! This week has been somewhat eventful, from your grandparents coming to visit to your one month check up.

  

First, your check up.  You're a healthy kid. It's official.  Also, you know you have a big baby when the nurse walks in and says, "So, you're here for your two month check up?" Uhhh...nope. 

Stats:

Weight: 10lbs 9.5oz

Height: 22.25 inches

You're in the 90th percentile for both height and weight. 

I adore this picture. I haven't managed to get one of your smile yet, but you were so happy here! 

Your Grandparents arrived on Thursday night, and we've had fun with them.  They've both enjoyed getting lots of snuggles in with you. Last night we tag teamed going out to dinner so that grandma and I went first, and then grandpa and dad went.  It worked well (for us) because you apparently cried for dad for a bit.  You were great for us, and Aishah put you to sleep.  After dinner, we were sitting around reading from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, which is one of your father's favorite books.

Here is a picture of your grandfather reading you the section On Children. 

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

What a beautiful way to finish the night. I promise to post more pictures, but here is naptime with Santa, and snuggles with Grandma.

Grandma and I went through the nursery and tidied, and rearranged it. You never fit into newborn clothing, so now we have to decide what we want to keep for potential future babies, or give away.  Henry has been using your crib as a very expensive cat bed, so we put down a washable blanket for him to lay on,  (although today Newton was laying in there), and actually made the bed. Maybe you'll lay in there one day soon.  Since you still wake up every time I put you down when you're sleeping (except if you're in your swing), you're not really ready for naptime in your crib yet.   I managed to get a picture of the majority of awesome books that we've been given.  I bought the Roald Dahl collection for Christmas, because they were my favorite as a child, and our wonderful family and friends have given us the rest. I wonder what your favorite book will be!  

We've introduced you to more geeky wonderful things, watching both the new Star Trek movie, and Star Trek 2.  We're still watching Star Trek New Generation, because I love it, and Patrick Stewart.  I started watching House of Cards while you're nursing, and I apologize in advance if you grow up and have this urge to be a cut throat politician. I'll try to squelch it.  

Maybe it's all the baby huffing I do, but things going on that would normally make me extremely stressed and anxious, just aren't.  I am so blessed you're in my life little girl.  Thank you for being such a wonderful and good tempered baby.  You're a joy to be around, and everyone just wants to kiss your cheeks.  

Love,

Mom

4 weeks old, Grandparent visit

My love,

We had a fun week, as my parents came to visit. I have to admit...you slept most of the visit, but you were game for some photo ops and sundry. Next time we'll get more photos. You seemed to enjoy all the attention and laps, and generally (except for that hour at night that you always seem to get mad) were in good spirits. You're still nursing really well, and sleeping more and longer at night.  

Our first outing outside of doctor's visits was to Costco. You slept the entire time, which was a relief to me. I will eventually be comfortable taking you out in public, but I feel bad taking you somewhere, having you wake up screaming and not being able to readily comfort you. Luckily we've gotten the hang of the moby wrap and you really seem to enjoy it (once again, I gauge enjoyment based on how unconscious you are) and I have been taking walks in it every day.  I'm enjoying this time to build up my core muscles, and the muscle memory involved in using the Moby will help me with other woven wraps.   

I've been talking to you, thinking of these deep meaningful blog posts before I go to sleep at night, to awaken in the morning remembering that you rarely let me put you down, and I don't have the ability to type all of this on my phone. I can't complain though, you are so wonderful to snuggle, you smell so good and I only have this time in my life once. Already I can see you growing and a part of me is sad. Those days right after you were born were blissful, and we'll never get them back.  

Yes, I'm aware that my mother looks *just like me!* 

He drove all day, and was so happy to see you!!

Love, 

Mom

Happy Valentine's Day!

You're my little Valentine!
I adore this outfit your grandmother bought, and I believe it will gets lots of use.

Three weeks old!

Baby girl,
Last night/today we've gotten around 12-15 inches of snow.  It started with snow, the moved to sleet, then hail, and now we're back to snow.  It's been an interesting day for weather!  I am happy that your dad and grandparents are here and we've had a fun snow day.  Right now you're on your grandfather's lap. You took a nice long nap on grandma earlier and I'm sorta excited to dress you up in the adorable clothing that she brought.    

I pulled out my baby picture so you can figure out if you look like me or your dad. What do you think? Sorry about the obnoxious formatting. Maybe one day I'll figure it out.  

Me! See that little bow? Apparently they had to
 use vasaline to get it to stay on.

Ada at 2 weeks...2-3lbs larger than I was in the picture above

Now I need to find a picture of your dad.  Well...here are some of your many expressions this week...

I loooove this adorable outfit! 

This is her fightin' face! 

We're having a fun time getting stuck in the snow, and I promise lots of grandparent pictures then!

Love you babe!

-Mom

Two weeks old

My lovable squish ball,
Two weeks. Really?  No way. It is going by too quickly already.  We've had a great time getting to know each other and you seem to be enjoy being 'on the outside' more, although you still sleep 20 hours a day. We're sort of settling into a routine, although that's going to straight to hell when dad goes back to work next week.  

This week we got to try out more babywearing. This morning your dad needed to make a bagel, so he put you in the ring sling, and you stopped fussing and immediately fell asleep. I was so happy for a couple more hours of sleep.  Then later I made my goal to put you in the moby wrap and walk to the mailbox.  As soon as I put you in it...you fell asleep.  I love it! 

Now Mary Jo is holding you. You went to her wedding back in November. You decided to kick like crazy during Ave Maria, and I think you had fun when we danced at the wedding reception.  She's very reluctant to put you down, but seeing how you've been asleep the entire time, I can see why.  

Love you sweetie...thank you for being so fabulous,

-Mom

Pictures since our last entry:

The first time I wore her in the ring sling.
Well...at least well enough to want to take a picture! 

You share our hatred of laundry night...
or are just angry that I wasn't holding you

morning nap with Dad. 

First time in the moby wrap, and she passed out. The hat was a gift from my aunt Cathy. She used a pattern of my grandmother's.  I bawled my eyes out when I found this out, and couldn't wait to put it on her. 

My face is so squishy!!!

Mary Jo may never let me have her back! 

Ada wrapped in the baby blanket I crocheted.

It's a beautiful life

Dear Ada,

Today you are 10 days old.  You are still spending 99% of your life in one of our arms.  We only get this time once, and I don't want to let you go!  It seems if I'm not hugging and kissing you, I'm taking pictures. I really should use a real camera, but my phone is generally more handy.

We had a busy weekend of visitors, all of whom were so happy to meet and snuggle you. A look of peace settles over people's faces when they hold you. It's amazing...you are addictive! On Sunday you had your professional pictures taken.  It was going pretty well until you woke up...and then were much more interested in nursing for the next 90 minutes instead of falling back asleep.  I know that there will be some excellent pictures of you though, and we're going to try to do more pictures each month to see you grow.

You had your first bath, and you absolutely loved it. Dad held you and you floated around happily. You would occasionally attempt to drink the water. Afterwards, I was able to dress you in a ridiculously cute owl towel and get some snuggle time in.

Is this owl towel ridiculously cute? 

Life is quiet. We're just spending our time snuggling you, feeding you (and me), watching Star Trek and sleeping. This time has been blissful and amazing. I'm going to miss it. It feels like we're living in this idyllic little bubble that will burst eventually.

Obligatory selfie with sleeping baby (2/3)

Our motto:)

Ada's first board game!