Oh my

I love being your mommy. I love that you're mine.

NFL Draft

Daddy went down to Grandma and Grandpa's house to watch the NFL draft. Mommy planned on hanging out upstairs while you slept and just come down for dinner. You woke up at 5:00 on the dot, quite upset that you were going to miss it, (or maybe you were hungry). When you were in mommy's tummy you would kick and move a lot when we watched football, and especially when the "Are You Ready for Some Football?" song came on. You seemed quite interested in who got picked for the different teams. You flailed your arms and was very animated watching the program.

Take Your Daughter To Work Day

Daddy works from home, so taking you to work was kinda silly, but we took you down to the carburetor room and you watched him find the ones people bought and put them in the shipping room. It's kinda cold down there so you only helped for a little bit.

Mommy's work is taking care of you, daddy and our home, I "take you" to work with me everyday!

Daddy is still sick...

He was laying in his couch-bed and was cold, so here you are warming up his head. You actually quite liked sitting like that, you fussed when we moved you.

Arianna's 1!

We went to Arianna and Cadee's great grandparents' house for Anna's very first birthday today, they loved touching you and tickling you. You didn't like it when Anna's head pats turned into slaps. Cadee gave you lots of kisses. You met their grandparents for the first time, they all said you look lots like your daddy. I'm sure we will spend lots more time with them as you grow bigger and can play with them.

Heaven

I love you.

E is for Easter

Today was a fun busy day.

We woke up and snuggled in bed for just a little bit you didn't sleep too well last night, I think you missed sharing the bed with Daddy, he is still sleeping on the couch because he is sick, and I knew today would be full, so I swaddled you and laid you to try to rest while mommy made goodies for Easter. All swaddled, you were too excited for Easter to sleep long and woke up grinning!

After we were all dressed up in Easter clothes

we went down to Grandma and Grandpa's house to see what the Easter Bunny brought you. You got a super cute "Hunny Bunny" baby doll.

You also got a book: "The Grouchy Ladybug". A bumble bouncy bunny toy, a toy juke box, a shape sorting toy, some socks. a plush Pooh, and some empty plastic eggs that look like bugs. They were empty because you cannot have candy yet.

We went to great aunt Jody and great uncle Steves house for an egg hunt. Everyone wanted to hold you.

Grandpa JJ held you for a long time. You didn't fuss or cry.

After the bigger kids were done finding and opening their eggs, we went to Great grandma Dorothy's house for lunch and another egg hunt. It was raining off and on all day and pretty cold outside, so you stayed inside. Great uncle Rex held you and you even cried when he gave you back to mommy. You were tired after such a busy day and it wasn't over yet.
Before our last trip, to Grammie and Grandpa JJ's house, we went home for a break.

At Grammie's house your cousins, Sophia and Aurora gushed over how cute you are. Everyone got a chance to hold you or play with you. It was lots of fun.

Your Aunts Rachels sure love you!

You sure enjoyed smiling at Sophia!

When we got home we went back to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Grandpa got you a very special gift, this super soft little bunny.

It makes Mommy so happy that you have such wonderful loving grandparents.

When we were all snuggled in bed, Daddy read us a book the Easter Bunny put in his basket "If you give a mouse a cookie" and you fell asleep snuggling with mommy.

You are so wonderful and I look forward to every Easter to come. I love you.

Poor Daddy.

You had a hard time falling back to sleep after your midnight feeding. I think it's because we had the big bed to ourselves. Daddy was sleeping on the couch. He has a cold and didn't want to get you sick, so no snuggles or kisses until he is all better.

Meeting the Easter Bunny

We went to meet the Easter Bunny at the Lancaster Mall today. You didn't even seem to notice that you were sitting with a big bunny. I imagine you thought you were sitting on a big stuffed animal. Mommy and daddy were glad you didn't cry like you do sometimes when mommy puts you down.
This evening we went to meet Uncle Steve and Aunt Jody and Aunt Dolly for the first time. They all love you so much and are so happy you are part of our family. They can't wait to see you again on Easter Sunday.

Morning Love

You love your daddy. He loves you.

Photo Card

Easter Bands Collage Easter

Find unique birthday and Valentine's cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

American Idol

Watching American Idol, season 10 with Grandma.

We enjoy spending some evenings down at grandma and grandpa's house. Lately, Wednesdays and Thursdays we watch American Idol. Tonight, your favorite was Casey Abrams. You were real colicy and calmed down when it was his turn.

I wonder if you will enjoy singing when you're bigger.

Pretty Pictures

Brown is a bear.

Tonight we went to Aunt Sarah and Uncle Ed's house for dinner. Presten asked to hold you. He loved comparing your tiny fingers to his big, 5 year old fingers. He noticed you have the same knuckles like he has, just smaller. After dinner, you got fussy and he sang to you, you cheered up.

Orange is an orange, yellow is the sun, brown is a bear and purple is a plum...
We love spending time with Sarah, Ed, and Presten. He can't wait for you to be big enough to play with, he didn't believe you didn't even play with stuffed animals yet.
Aunt Sarah loves to make you smile and Ed thinks of you as another grandbaby, even though you're a great-niece to him.
They love you very very much.

Thumbs Up

Sometimes, you suck on your knuckles, tonight, I noticed you actually sucking on just your thumb. You look pretty silly.
I wonder if you're going to start sucking your thumb more?

Today Rocked!

We went to a rock and gem show at the Polk county fairgrounds today. You liked looking at the pretty rocks.

Grandma told you about all the rocks.

They had a raffle and you won this grab bag of rocks.

Then we went to another booth and you won this ring, its made from a rock. It's much to big for you . Mommy will save it for when you are bigger.

every day with you rocks!

Hopping

We had a very fun day, mommy and daddy took grandma to breakfast at IHOP, it's her favorite. You were happy to just sit and watch us eat, you were very calm and happy, never fussing. We didn't have to take you out of your chair until it was time to feed you. A nice lady at the next table commended mommy for breastfeeding, she is a lactation specialist and said "good for you for breastfeeding" I appreciated the comment, I'm very proud to do what is best for my punkin.

After IHOP we went to the movie theater to see Hop, a new, very silly movie about the Easter Bunny. I'm sure we will probably watch it every spring for Easter. You enjoyed watching it until mommy had to change your diaper, and you were hungry. After the movie mommy and grandma took you shopping, we all had a very good day.

No more dairy for momma

We learned today that it isn't the lactose that bothers you, but the proteins in milk. Mommy started drinking special lactose free milk, (and yogurt and aged cheese, which don't usually bother people with lactose intolerance.) and you still got colicy. I am going to just stay away from all dairy until youre about 5 months old and see if you've grown out of it. I'm very happy to learn this, and hopefully protect you from feeling so much discomfort.

You were pretty upset for awhile last night, but then you started feeling better and smiled and made some adorable faces. I was very lucky to get the tongue-out picture.

Zoey

We got to meet your cousin, Zoey, today. She is so tiny! She was born on your 2 month old birthday. You were about a pound bigger than her when you were born, all babies are different. You started getting fussy while mommy was holding Zoey and Daddy was holding you. Uncle Meeum said you were being jealous but I think you were just tired.

2 months old!

Today, you had your 2 month check up and some shots. You were very calm and happy letting your nurse measure you and your dr check you out.
You are now 11 pounds 1 oz and 24 1/2 inches long.

You did not like it when the nurse poked you though. We talked about how it would hurt but it would keep you from getting sick. Daddy held your hand and talked to you while the nurse poked you 3 times. I sure wish there was a way to give you those vaccines that didn't hurt. You did get one vaccine in drops form in your mouth.

The dr said they could make you sleepy, and they did, I had to wake you to get you to eat. After one nap, you had a low grade fever and you were really upset, so daddy got some medicine for you and you slept some more. When you woke up the next time you were a happy lady though and enjoyed sitting with daddy. Earlier you were very picky and needed to be held, which is fine by me, I love snuggling you. I was happy you let daddy hold you.

You give me the cold shoulder.

I love having you sleeping on my chest. I usually sleep in just my nursing bra, so it's easier to nurse you.
Sometimes, I get cold shoulders, because I don't pull the blankets up over your head. I bunch them up around you, but they don't usually stay. Sometimes, I sleep in a cardigan or zip up hoodie. I love you though, and those cold shoulders.

Silly Daddy

Usually your daddy drives, and mommy sits in the back seat, next to you, but on our trip to the coast, grandma drove so mommy and daddy both got to sit by you.

You're learning how to stick out your tongue, and make faces when people talk to you. You're mimicking the way our mouths move when we talk. Daddy had fun making faces at you.

better than ice cream

Breastfeeding you means so much to me, i am giving you exactly what you need nutritionally, and bonding with you, making you feel safe and secure and taken care of.

You used to get very bad tummy aches and you would scream and fuss and I could tell you were extremely uncomfortable, I researched it and learned that a lot of babies' tummies cannot process cows milk, the lactose goes through mommy's milky, so I stopped drinking and eating dairy and you stopped getting such terrible tummy aches.

Today, we went to the Tillamook Factory. Your mommy sure loves ice cream, it used to be so hard to choose, Oregon Strawberry. Marionberry Pie, Moose Tracks, Rocky Road, Cherry Garcia. I love ice cream. But...

Your love is better than ice cream Better than anything else that I've tried And your love is better than ice cream Everyone here know how to fight And it's a long way down It's a long way down It's a long way down to the place Where we started from Your love is better than chocolate Better than anything else that I've tried Oh love is better than chocolate Everyone here knows how to cry It's a long way down It's a long way down It's a long way down to the place Where we started from...

Thank you Sarah McLachlan for putting to music how I feel.

I will do anything for you. You're worth more than all the ice cream, nachos, pizza, whipped cream, sour cream, cheesecake, chocolate milk, in the world.

Long day at the coast

We had a long day today, for breakfast, we went to Mo's then did some shopping. We spent a lot of time in the car, which puts you to sleep easily. We drove to Pacific City and we took you on the beach for the first time. You weren't happy, mommy should have fed you first you didn't like being woken up or the wind in your face.

We stopped at the Blue Heron French Cheese Factory to get some snacks, daddy wanted to pretend he was a donkey, and you were a cow.

Next, we went to the Tillamook cheese factory. This big boat sits out front. We look very small under it, Annie saw another dog and went nuts just a moment after daddy took this picture, or we would have gotten more pictures.

You were getting tired of being cooped up in the carseat all day, so when we stopped at our hotel for a minute, we took you out and grandma held you. You're not old enough to know how to pretend drive yet, but you're so stinking cute sitting in the steering wheel.

There was lots to look at at the Mexican restaurant.

When we got settled at the hotel, you did not seem to want to sleep and really fought the sandman.

Now, you are sleeping sound on my shoulder. I love this time, feeling your breath on my chest, seeing your little body rise and fall as you breath. Smelling your baby shampoo and feeling your sweaty hair stick to my cheek, you get very warm when you sleep.

I love you. Sweet dreams punkin.

First trip to the Oregon Coast

Last night, after a nice dinner with Russ and Chris, at the Cedar Plank buffet, we came to the coast and we spent the night. You woke up this morning like usual, happy and ready for the day. I sure hope you don't outgrow that attitude. Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, and Grandpa enjoy yard sales, thrift shops, and antique malls. We bought you lots of clothes and books today. You were a happy baby most of the day, only cried when you were hungry, had to spit up, or needed a clean diaper. At dinner, we had a view of the Ocean at Fogerty creek, you spent lots of time staring out the big windows.

When I look at you looking at the ocean, I was so happy. The ocean reminds me how big the world is, it connects so many far away places and people. In this huge world and billions of people, I have the most perfect baby and husband right here next to me.

I also thought of something sad when we drove past Depot Bay. On March 11 something big and scary and very sad happened on the other side of the ocean. An earthquake shook up Japan and caused a huge tsunami, lots of people died, were separated from their families, and lost their homes. I got sad because lots of mommies and daddies don't have their babies and lots of babies don't have their mommies and daddies. I can't imagine how sad those people are. I would cry forever if I lost you or your daddy. My heart would be broken, like the buildings that fell down.

The ocean is a big beautiful thing, and we don't need to be afraid of it. We need to think about all the animals who live in the ocean. The earth is mostly water, we need to take care of the ocean and the land so we will have a nice home for many lifetimes to come.

Tomorrow, we are going to take you onto to beach so you can feel the sand. You will be able to hear the waves crashing, and smell the fish in the ocean, taste the salty air. I grew up loving the coast, admiring the ocean. I look forward to bringing you here lots more times as you grow up.

Shopping

You started today as you often do, in a happy mood, excited about the adventures we would have and things we would learn.
You're leaning up against Daddy, he's under the football blanket.

After hanging out in bed for awhile we went to town, picked up aunt Rachel and spent the afternoon shopping.

Everyone said how cute you were and I was just so happy to have you, proud that you're mine.

You were very well behaved, just looked around and cooed to talk to us, or slept.

After shopping, grandma and grandpa picked us up to go out to eat. Once you woke up, you spent the entire time bright eyed, looking at the chinese decorations, the other families eating and our silly waiter who was very interested in you.

We watched American Idol and you did not like Pia but seemed to like James Durbin and Scotty Mcreary. (it will be interesting to look back in 10 years to see if any of them win, and if people still remember who they are.)

You sat with daddy for awhile tonight, up on his belly when he was laying in bed. I love watching you two together, it makes me happy to be part of a very happy, perfect family.

Sometimes, you prefer for mommy to hold you. I know your daddy wants to calm you down when your upset but usually mommy has to. I love taking care of you when you need something, but daddy wants to also. You do enjoy sitting with daddy a lot, but when your unhappy, he just doesn't do the trick to cheer you up yet. This is because you lived inside my tummy for 9 months. I nurse you when you're hungry, and you got used to my smell, heartbeat and breathing, soon, you will be more comfortable with daddy . I'm sure this will happen soon.

Waffles

Everyday is wonderful with you in our lives, but I really enjoy Sundays because we usually spend them at grandma and grandpa's house. Today mommy decided to make waffles for a special treat for daddy. You sat up on the counter and helped, supervised rather, mommy making the batter.

Relaxing and enjoying time together as a family is important to us and its a weekend tradition I hope to continue for a long time. Sometimes we will have dinner together or watch movies or just listen to grandpa tell stories, again. Today, you sat with grandpa for a long time looking at him and the Mikey Mouse we got him when he was in the hospital before you were born. Eventually you fell asleep, he enjoyed watching you sleep on his lap while mommy and grandma cooked the waffles and eggs. After breakfast, you and I took a nice long nap while daddy and grandpa watched NASCAR and grandma worked crossword puzzles. I look forward to spending time in the kitchen with you as you grow up teaching you how to fold in the egg whites, how much "a pinch" of salt is, and how to read recipes. We're going to have such a great life together. I'm so happy you are ours. And we are yours. I love you do very much punkin.