Week 19: Precious Moments

Our little baby is still cute and tiny - and I know these moments are fleeting.  It is so wonderful to be able to share in her days and enjoy her as we do.  She's quite the miracle in our eyes. 

My guilty pleasure of La Farm daily coffee continues...

Getting into these "loveys" lately :)

She is so eager to sit up these days. As she reclines on a boppy pillow, she flares her nostrils and opens her mouth - looking as though she's trying to do a sit-up.  When she is held in the upright seated position - she almost continues trying to lean forward.  Not quite as eager to figure out crawling yet.  Tummy time is still just a laying on the floor venture.  She does have strong head and neck mobility these days.  She likes being in the Lille baby carrier and looking around as we shop.  

Got a bath one morning

At school today!

Fell asleep in my car seat

The daycare workers love Kylie - and especially when she dresses up.  The other day I put her in a cute pink dress and they just swooned over it.  Today she wore her "Future Miss America" onesie and they thought that was a trip also.  It is fun how they engage with her and that she connects with so many different women.  I am thankful to have several individuals already helping to raise her. 

We are excited for some trips coming up - to see friends in Virginia, and to visit family up in Chicago.  Kylie is going to meet both of her great-grandmothers in the next couple months. What an incredible experience for both.  It is fun that Kylie is a bit more settled in her personality as well.  She is generally more alert, more easy going, and less fussy in the evenings.  She still will have a hard time going down when she gets too tired - but its way easier to get her to sleep than it used to be.  I'd have to hold her tight as she screamed -  not usually for too long - but its been a while since that was necessary. 

Along for the ride!

The other night was "Cow Appreciation Night" at Chick Fil A - and I was able to quickly fashion together a cow costume using some felt I bought at Joanne Fabrics on a very lucky whim.  Kylie even got a free kids meal!  It was fun to participate. 

Moo!

Kylie is still doing well in her crib these days.  She generally gets up about midnight and again around 3AM - which Mike takes that feeding.  More often than not she finishes her bottle and goes back to sleep.  I generally pass out like a rock and have these intense dreams - even if I only sleep for an hour before she wakes me up. 

Today I received the set of pictures I ordered of her very first days in the hospital, and the few months afterwards.  I look at them often on my phone, and I've wanted to have them tangibly sitting on our coffee table to look at as the mood strikes.  It was fun to put them into the album and recall the memories that go with them.  I still cherish those first four days in the hospital as the best moments together - bonding as mother and child.  And its amazing all she is becoming as each day progresses. What a gift she is that I cherish deep in my heart.

Daycare boppy chilling.

I love my "lovey"

"I wear my sunglasses at night."

Tonight was such a fun and mundane evening.  I picked her up from daycare - and we went to buy chips and cheese for dad's nacho fix on the weekends.  We also got mom's honey roasted peanut butter TUB! (must quit that bad habit!!)

When we got home, we all piled back in the car and headed to Target.  There was a terrible thunderstorm that passed through - and you could hear the rain pelting the roof.  We stayed longer to shop - me in the housewares department, Mike in the electronics department with Kylie.  When we were done, the rain had passed and we got home.   After a bottle, Kylie was happy and content on the couch.  She smiled and was making gurgling noises with her throat.  Mike went upstairs while she and I watched Chopped on TV.  She smiled and watched the fan and wiggled around, and eventually she fell asleep.  I carried her up and laid her in her crib - and asleep she stayed.

It occurred to me that when people say "enjoy every minute, it goes so fast," that these are the moments they are referring to. Even sitting together and enjoying a Friday evening date is the most special of times we'll ever share.  I'm so thankful for our little Kylie bear - more than words can say!

That face <3

Week 18: Smiley, smiley these days

Kylie is still coming into her own these days and offering up lots of coos and smiles.  She seems to have such a positive attitude most of the time - its a true joy to be around her.  She is also much more self-sustaining -- we can leave her for a time in her pack-n-play and she'll just lay there and coo at the sky.  She is, however, starting to roll more to her side - and it may not be long before she's rolling over and really needing us to stay on our toes. 

For the 4th of July we took it easy.  Kylie and I went shopping at Charming Charlie's where I got a new top and some shoes for work.  I thought it may not be long before I'm out helping her pick out some clothes.  She did well and actually slept through the whole event.  We had a fun time at our friends Brian and Meredith's annual 4th of July fiesta. When we went for Brian's birthday a few weeks before Kylie was very fussy and we only stayed a little while.  This time she was in a happy mood and just sat and enjoyed the view for most of the time.  Brian grilled some pretty awesome slider burgers - and a friend made a taco salad.  It was SO good.  I inhaled my food as always and threw back a few brownies.  Its amazing my appetite these days.  She did get fussy a couple hours into the party - so we headed home and missed the fireworks.  

For some reason - this was the first time Kylie was up nearly every hour.  Mike and I couldn't believe it each time she started crying and downing bottles.  The next day was the first of my new job - and while I was excited - I hit a wall about 2PM where I could no longer think! This past week Mike had time to be at home, which worked great as I was heading to work.  I was envious of his time to rest - but also excited to be starting a new role.  I still got to pick Kylie up, which is one of my favorite times of the day.  Sadly I picked her up on Tuesday afternoon and one of the women in her room said "today's my last day!"  Apparently there was an email we didn't receive. I was SO disappointed. She bonded with Kylie right away and was so sweet.  She gave Mike and I lots of tips to help us - both to help Kylie acclimate - and things at home. She was very gentle and reassuring for Kylie, and I know she worked to help her get to sleep there at daycare.  While the partner is still there in the room - I am sad that the one woman left.  It is still a great place and there are so many sweet folks who work there. They were especially enjoying her the other day as she was laughing and laughing.  Even across the room on the other side the workers there could hear her.  She does have a very sweet little laugh!

Friday Kylie had her four month check up.  We met with one of the doctors who first checked on Kylie when she was born.  It was a great visit and she sat and spoke with us for about 45 minutes - asking lots of questions and listening attentively.  I observed that as we spoke - she was entering notes into Kylie's record.  I felt glad that we had such a good visit.  Kylie is now up to 11 lbs 5.4 oz - and still relatively low on the height/length/weight charts.  But she's growing proportionately for her size.  Her physical exam went smoothly, as did her vaccinations.  Unfortunately Mike and I forgot to give her tylenol before the visit - and didn't think of it until around 8PM when she woke up crying and sick.  When we gave her medicine then, she knocked out and sleep until 3AM.  The weekend we couldn't tell how she felt - she was a little off her game.  But she takes the shots quite well as they happen - she must have her dad's high pain tolerance. 

Saturday was a day of mostly hanging around and enjoying not having any plans.  We went grocery shopping and got errands done, and we went to church on Saturday evening.  Sunday was another free day - which turns out the baby still needs lots of attention.  I had the pleasure of taking her around to different stores and simply enjoying time together.  I tried out her baby carriers again - and she's more inclined to enjoy them than she has previously - I think because she has greater neck control now. She likes to be up and able to see what's going on around her.  Everyone always comments how observant she is. 

Midday Sunday, Mike and I took Kylie to the pool.  At first we sat on the edge and just splashed water on her.  Mike took her more in and slowly dipped her in and out.  She had her watermelon suit on - which has long sleeves and a little baby bottom.  I didn't have a diaper suit that fit her so we tried just a regular one :(  But after we left I ordered a reusable cloth swim diaper for her on Amazon (what isn't on amazon?!)  All in all she seemed unphased by the experience.  She neither cried nor seemed to super enjoy being in the water.  More than anything she was very curious about the entire adventure.  She had a serious stare on her face and even as we were leaving kept the same contemplative gaze.  I hope we can go again soon - Mike and I hadn't been for so long.  The doc said that sunscreen would be OK as its topical and doesn't sink into her skin.  

Last night was another of constantly awake and wanting food/to be held.  I'm super tired - but glad to know we can hand her off to daycare today.  We're always thankful for Mondays to come around again!!

Week 17: Lots of lasts and firsts

This week began with the last Sunday for us at Sunrise UMC.  Unfortunately Mike got sick and wasn't able to come, but Kylie and I were there for the warm reception held between services with cake and a sweet card.

Before we left

I thought "wow I look old"

Slept through 8:30AM service!

We will miss the loving congregation of Sunrise - especially all the young families and moms to show me the ropes.  I am hopeful we'll get to visit often and still share in some great meals together as there are some top chefs there in Holly Springs. I'm still blown away by the generosity and hospitality of the congregation with the large shower they held for us in February and the amazing care we received while away on maternity leave.

The next day, Kylie came down with a cold.  We decided to keep her home from daycare, even though children can go as long as there's no fever.  We didn't actually take her temp, but she didn't feel too warm. She probably would have been fine, but we thought it best to let her rest at home.  She was coughing and sneezing, and it got worse throughout the day.  She didn't sleep too well that night, and Tuesday morning she actually looked sick.  It was a rainy day, so I embraced it and enjoyed some time at home with her to just do laundry and sit on the couch together.  Because she couldn't breathe too well, I was up a lot at night helping her to eat and clear her head.  We had her sleep on her boppy - though its strictly verboten - and that helped some.  I had a hard time sleeping making sure she was OK. 

I love fans!

We decided later in the week that - because she's really outgrowing her bassinet - that we'd shift her to the crib upstairs and have her start sleeping in the nursery.  Though it seemed it'd be difficult sentimentally - its actually worked well for all of us.  She has more room in the crib to sleep - and we don't feel quite so nervous to slip into bed while she's in there with us.  I like being able to rock her while feeding in the nursery - and then popping her back down.  We're getting the hang of the baby monitor - especially enjoying how you can turn the viewfinder and see where Kylie happens to be at any point in time. 

Resting well - mom, not so much...

She did eventually get over the cold - it wasn't too bad.  I got it some as well - but by Friday we were all doing much better.  

So adorable

Kylie is still growing - and I'm sorting through her clothes to make sure she's not too tight in the little onesies. I'm finding adorable outfits while rummaging - and fortunately she still fits some of them.  Kylie is loving toys these days - she likes to grasp them and find a connection btw her hands and her mouth.  She is even louder than she's been with the cooing- we feel she's already trying to express herself verbally.  We've been lax on tummy time lately - and need to do better.  But she's trying to sit up more - and seems to have better neck control than she has before. 

Love this toy!

I popped her into the onesie we bought to take her home from the hospital in - and were impressed how well she's growing as compared with March.

Big girl!

I'm still ever so thankful for our day care friends who watch Kylie so diligently each week.  It's great to know she gets held and some intentional loving while Mike and I are off doing different things. She always seems so relaxed when I set her down on a boppy before leaving - and when I pick her up, she's always smiling (well most of the time).  Friday Kylie wanted to get fixed up, so we put her in a lemon outfit.  The girls really liked that and they took extra pictures of how cute she looked. This weekend Kylie went to her first birthday party - and attended her first baptismal service - in the same day!  She was so well behaved for both.

What a princess

"Pucker Up"

Kylie still has the "cradle cap" gunk on her scalp, so I've been trying to rub it off using oil and a bristle brush. It is helping some.  I know she doesn't have much hair still, but it makes her head look all yellow.

Always so snuggly after a bath

Today I did not go to Sunrise, and in fact stayed home all together.  I've been SO wiped from who knows when - and it was nice to have a day just to be at home and be.  Got some cleaning done, but mostly just rested.  Mike and I went out to get groceries and such - even did a samples run to Costco - Mmmmm.  I am excited for this new chapter and how we'll get to bond as a family :)

Trader Joe's