6 months...and then some

INTRODUCING....

My almost crawling, "mama" saying, barrel rolling, giggling, playing, green pea eating, dancing 6 MONTH OLD GIRL!!!!

Annabelle Grace is 6 months and counting and GROWING up SO FAST! How did she go from the 6lb baby to a 14+ lb little girl in 6 little months?!?!

This little one is bound to keep me on my toes, she is always moving, always kicking, turning, rolling and playing.  There is never a still moment, which is probably why I am 2 months behind on getting around to any sort of update.  BUT...Today is the day! I have decided to forgo my shower and blog instead (sorry B-dub) but it had to happen!  Every day I think of something new I need/want to share and as the days turn into weeks my girl grows and grows and I fail to document the little and big milestones that are shaping her into who she is becoming.

The last 2 months Annabelle and I have set up sort of a daily routine that works for us...for the most part.    We eat, play, walk, sleep, crawl, read, sleep, play in some sort of that order.  We fill in the blanks with weekly bursts of spontaneity that keep us both entertained, but for the most part we are a pretty predictable duo.   Of course not today, the day I have taken to writing, our usual hour nap has turned into me going upstairs to resoothe and re-lay down 4 times now...going on 5.  

Fast forward 8 hours...I am back determined to finish my update!  Of course as I am typing that we are in a routine, Annabelle decides that today she is only happy sleeping in my arms so of course I oblige.  I held her until she decided she couldn't be held anymore, I love those moments!  My little independent girl, giving in and letting me know today she would like nothing more than a partner, a little help from her best buddy...mom.

So yes, we have a full spirited 6 month old on our hands, who loves anything out of the ordinary, a quick gasp from an unexpected direction, a sudden burst of song, lulu running around the corner, a dance from dad, these things suit her fancy and tickle her funny bone.  So we do them a lot, as in all the time, and we LOVE it!  We have had many confirmed outbursts of "mama" or "mamamamama" or just plain "Mooom" little one knows just who to call when she wants something.  No doubt this has started a firestorm of Dad and her practicing "dada" at any and every moment they are together, which I can't say that I blame B-dub.  I am looking forward to hearing "dada" too.

So now for a few firsts....

In the past 2 months Annabelle has gone to her first movie "Winnie the Pooh" she loved it (aka slept through it, along with Uncle G and B-dub) but all in all I would say it was a hit!  We had our first solo trip to see Aunt Camille, Caris, G and baby CJ, and made it out with only one diaper change/feeding pit stop and a brief period of crying, but I cant blame her for the crying, we were in construction and I felt like crying too.  Grandpa JJ got to babysit Annabelle & Caris, alone, while we had a girls night!  It was really the first time I had left her for any sort of extended time period, my dad convinced me American Idol was no place for a baby so I left her in good hands!  Came back to a happy sleeping girl, way to go JJ!!!

She had her first bite of real food, sweet potatoes, followed by avocados (which are NOT a favorite), green peas, bananas, apples, oatmeal, pears and prunes! She has done great eating, loves pretty much anything, gets hungry and also lets us know when she is full.  I have been making her baby food, which I am really enjoying.  I love so much cooking for my girl!  

She got to meet one of her Great Grandmas, Big Granny aka Grandma Peggy for the first time!  We had already met her other Great Grandma at Easter, so it was about time we got around to meeting Big Granny.  She is a lucky girl to have so many wonderful Grandmothers, I was blessed to share my grandma with her, it was so fun seeing them together.  

We took her to her first graduation ceremony, to see Aunt Jenn graduate from Texas Tech!  Go Jenn!  And on our trip she got her first fever.  Girl was a trooper going to graduation sick, she really did great, other than being a little fussy and needing an extra nap or two she was her usual smiley happy self.  When we were there, B-dub was able to introduce her to his aunts, uncles and cousins who she hadn't met before.  It was so wonderful having her meet even more of her family!

And in a few weeks she will get her FIRST boy cousin!!!  We are all anxiously awaiting baby CJ and so, so ready for him to teach us all about baby boys.  

Every day I am learning more and more about how to be a mommy, Annabelle is a good teacher :).  She teaches me to love the grocery store, by smiling up at me or giving me a laugh as we wander through the produce isle. She teaches me to love more, laugh more, appreciate the simple things (aka the zipper on her stroller, girl cant get enough of that one), to stop and give thanks for my parents, for all they have done and continue to do.  She teaches me to take my time coming in and going out, taking enough time to stop and stare at the trees and watch their leaves blow in the wind. She teaches me to hug more, smile more, that simple is sometimes so much greater than extravagant, that sometimes the rag and the diaper are just as much fun if not more that the fancy new toy that has just been purchased. She teaches me to count things like the piggys on her toes not the material things we grow so used to counting,  and that to her I am beautiful and no matter the amount of makeup I have on, or if I am dressed up or in sweats, my face is what makes her smile when she wakes up.  Who would have ever thought I could learn such lessons from my baby.  

So to my sleeping 6 month old, you are so loved little one!  We are in awe of every move you make, you  have blessed us all more than I could ever say!!!  We are so glad you are YOU!

Hi! I am 4 months old...

And I don't care who knows it!!

So, I do realize I did miss the 3 month update, its started, I promise, just never completed.  So instead I am combining our 3 month and 4 month update for a combined effort!  We will see how this goes!

Our last 2 months can be summed up in two words, Fingers and Toes!!  Our Annabelle has discovered her 20 new friends and can't get enough.   Luckily I think they are as equally as fond of her as she is them, they spend all day together, playing, grabbing, slobbery and oh so cute!  Truly I can NOT keep her fingers out of her mouth and she can't help but to grab her feet any chance she gets.  I suspect there are a few little teeth involved in this union, but none that are visible to the eye...yet.

We have lots of smiles, lots of laughs, and lots of FUN these days as each day brings some sort of new adventure.  With our Texas summer in full force, Annabelle and I are having to get creative with our daily activities, the stifling heat has pushed our daily walk out of routine and now we go to the mall with lots of other moms and strollers for our morning activity!  Annabelle has loved our "stroller fit" class and refuses to sleep a wink during our morning outing!  She waits until class is completely over, then yawns and falls asleep on our walk to the car!  It is hilarious.

Our April, May and June have been filled with activity after activity, we have made 2 trips to Houston one to Fort Worth, several to Albany/Abilene, complete with one wedding, one bachelorette party, and a graduation party have made our little girl quite the traveling queen.  Truly there have been some big milestones we have been lucky to have our girl be a part of, it is hard to imagine she wasn't always at these big events, but so heartwarming to know at the same time that she will be there from now on.

My best friend Cori was married this May, and our Annabelle was the honorary "Matron of Honor" as my duties increased so did hers, and I must say she handled them quite gracefully.  We whisked her away Mothers Day weekend to Fort Worth so I could have a fun girls night out at Cori's bachelorette party!  She handled her daddy/daughter night like a champ, loving the hotel room, loving her daddy, and playing downtown.  Two weeks later, she was back in party mode, ready for the rehearsal dinner, her first wedding ceremony, dancing, and a late night out.  While I was back and forth for 2 days she stayed relaxed, even helped set up for the big event in the Bjorn in the early morning, snoozing away like nothing phased her.  Not to say we didn't have our meltdown moments, we did....but the girl did fantastic.  Cori was a beautiful bride, I am so glad Annabelle was here to experience her special day!

Here are a few pics of my precious family on Cori's wedding day!

Our adventures continued that very next day, as Bobby and I were set to celebrate his 29th birthday and our second anniversary.  So unbelievable to have our girl there to celebrate such special days in our life.  I cant wait to take her to California and show her where we got married, I know she will fall in love with it just like we did!  We had lots in store for that week, birthday party for daddy, surprise soccer game, Annabelle's first cake baking lesson and our first night out baby-less...What a week!

Much thanks to grandma Susie for pulling babysitting duty for our anniversary, we left the house not in the best of conditions...and came home to a perfectly sleeping baby :) so, so needed!!!! Our friends Nick & Alise helped make Bobby's birthday extra special and joined and even TREATED us to a wonderful birthday dinner!  They are truly the BEST!! Such special friends, always willing no matter what to drop what they are doing and be there, always making things that much better! ( You will remember they were the first to meet our Annabelle Grace, they braved the ice storm and sat in the hospital praying and holding our hands until 4:30 in the morning, leaving only after they knew we were both safe and sound)  We are so lucky and blessed to have such special friends and family that always surround us with love during all of life's ups and downs.

We were able to celebrate B-dub's birthday in true family style.  Just the 3 of us, it was perfect!  Sunday, we all went to the FC Dallas game, soccer is a favorite pastime of my B-dub and with the pro team literally down the street, I figured it was something Annabelle and I could treat the birthday boy to!  Despite the impending thunderstorm, having a mild panic attack that we were going to get struck by lightning and leaving just in the nick of time before getting doused by a huge rain shower (seriously the SECOND we got in the car the monsoon came) we had such a fun time!  The field was beautiful, our seats were great and our Annabelle was in an extra happy mood!  I think she knew it was a special treat for her daddy and let me tell you this girl will do anything for her DAD!

 Annabelle & Daddy at the Game

That next day was Bobby's actual birthday, we had all sorts of plans up our sleeves for that day, but as plans go, none of them actually panned out as we had hoped.  A huge thunderstorm deterred us from a birthday lunch and an extra busy week kept us from a surprise party with all our friends, but as I mentioned before Alise & Nick came and saved our evening with a wonderful dinner at Cantina Laredo.  Annabelle slept the ENTIRE dinner, truly out of character for our little active one.  We had so much fun celebrating the big 29 with our B-dub.  Earlier that day, we attempted a little cake baking for daddy dub, I truly can say I haven't baked anything in a few years.  With an occasion as special as this, I figured it was time.  A few hours, tears and one nap later, we had a cake...or something like that.  I still cant really figure out what happened to my homemade butter cream icing, it was something verging on strange.  Last minute I decided I should scrape it off and try again, round 2 was better, but the combo of #1 icing plus #2 icing left us with an even stranger taste bud sensation.  Oh well, its the thought that counts...right????  Hopefully at Annabelle's next baking lesson, I will be a little more successful. 

Annabelle & Daddy blowing out the candles, icing #1 pic...

The birthday boy & icing #2

Birthday dinner pic with our sleepy girl

Not intentionally making this the most boring/longest post ever, just afraid if I don't get it all out in one swipe it will remain forever in my "edit post section" never seeing the light of the "new post" title!

BUT...our crazy May continued the day after B-dub's 29 celebration, with our 2nd wedding anniversary.  Which really should get its own post, and may, but if not here is the readers digest version.

Tornadoes...Annabelle and I locked in the closet with every pillow in the house surrounding us...Bobby storm chasing outside...and a very well intentioned meal of sea bass and wine served at 10:00 p.m. Thus was our 2 year in a nutshell.  I didn't quite factor in a newborn, working husband, one family income, and a scatter brain new mommy when I thought it would be ok to plan my wedding one day after my husbands birthday.  Somehow I convinced myself, it would never be an issue, 2 celebrations in 2 days...what could be better!  I romanticized always being on a white sand beach or sipping wine in California during this special week.  However our day at home just being real, a real family, a real husband and wife, with real responsibilities, real setbacks, real nap time, real cries and a really real new understanding of love made this day more special than any beach ever could have.

B-dub and I did finally have a night out by ourselves the next evening, Grandma Susie took double duty and handled a very sad and tired baby, handled my anxiousness about leaving, and handled bedtime so we could enjoy a baby free dinner.  I cant tell you how much we needed just a hour to talk.  

So our May ended with a quick trip to Houston, a stay at Annabelle's favorite cousin's house, and a fun time at the butterfly museum, and before I knew it our 3 month old merged into a 4 month old right before my eyes.

How fast it flies...my sleeping baby on my chest, just as I suspected now prefers wiggles to snuggles, wont sit still long enough for me to smell her hair, and is ok with hanging out  ROLLING (did I mention she now ROLLS) on the floor with her toys rather than in my arms singing to sleep.  I knew the moments of us together at night would pass, I just don't think I could have ever grasped how quickly they would leave.  As weepy as I get about my little wee one, I am ever overjoyed at the growth, personality and spirit my baby one has begun to write on my new memories.  Every day brings a new fun discovery a new burst of energy and a new facet to my little precious girl.  So as month 4 ever so suddenly chases down month 5 I am once again, reminding myself how fast these days fly, and striving to remember every ounce of these days together.

So with that I will leave you with a real time glimpse into how our days look now...slobbery, expression filled, and independent....

Happy 4 months little one.

P.S. Any votes on if we can consider this teething?!?

Love to laugh :)

I am working on my 3 month post...which is a good thing, since in about 2 weeks my baby Annabelle will be 4 whole months!  BUT, in lieu of that update, I had to share this!

One of my favorite characteristics to date has begun to emerge in my little one!  I have been seeing signs of "pre-laughter" for quite some time now, but they have been snuffed out by the urge to cough instead of producing a gleeful noise.

Bring on week 14....I should have known my little daddy's girl would wait for week 12, 14, 22, 24  (or any other week ending with a 2 or a 4) to grace us with her joyful sound.  Those two and their numbers....

(In case you have missed previous numerical posts, B-dub loves 2, 4 and any variation, Annabelle was born on 2-2-2011, at 4:22, and come home on 4-4 etc.  My husband takes this to a greater extreme than I would like to admit, so I will spare you any more)

ANYway....we finally had laughter liftoff!  Granted, this girl is no easy sell on a full fledge laugh (B-dub says she gets this from her momma) BUT when she does it does not get any better!!  To see her face light up with glee, her head bob and when you are lucky an excited shriek all combined warms my heart to a degree I did not know possible.

Only provoked when her parents are in the mist of making complete fools of themselves (she is starting early) Annabelle does not disappoint in showing her delight.

The first little laugh was brought on my me, jumping up and down, with a sort of a shock and awe factor she found amusing.  I of course, was near passing out when it was all said and done, as it was the most physical activity I have had in a year, but nonetheless the light headed, dizzy feeling was well worth it to see my girls first giggles.

Then...a few nights later, we shot the video above.  Granted, it is just a short exert of what we were experiencing first-hand, but I think it does her giggle justice.  This bout of hilarity was nonetheless given to her daddy (who will be embarrassed by me actually typing this, but hey in the name of documentation all is fair game, right?).  Annabelle found great amusement in the fact that her daddy was wiggling, twisting, jumping, and turning about all while making a great and I must say life-like TOOT noise!

Annabelle, we can NOT wait to see all the things that bring you joy in this world.  We love our laughing girl!!

Confessions of a "stay at home" mom

SO, ya, I did it!  I took the plunge and quit my job!  I am still kind of in shock.  When my 12 weeks came up, it was a no brainer...I just could not leave my little one.  What also helped was my non-profit salary and 2 hr commute every day, both combined just didn't justify the cost of childcare.  So my life as a stay at home mom began....

To be honest I have never worked so hard in my life and never loved anything so much! However, I have quickly figured out that even though I cant think of how anything else could ever be squeezed into my day, I am nonetheless a bit unproductive... Hence my confessions....

I would like to say this will become a series on the good ole blog, but seeing as one of my confessions is not blogging - I wouldn't hold my breath. :)


I confess...

On Mondays Annabelle and I stay in bed until 11.  Dont judge it works for us!  We usually have very busy weekends, so Monday our "recover" days are spent snuggling and re-bonding with each other.  I must admit they are my favorite days.

I have only been to the grocery store once by myself since giving birth.  WHO do you ask has been doing the shopping, my precious B-dub, along with everything else...see confessions to come.

I have nice sweats, and every day sweats, and thats about it.

I have not lost all my baby weight.  Who knows when/if that day will come.

I cant figure out how to do more than one chore a day, seriously you would think I am home all day, why couldn't I at least clean the house...maybe see confession #1 ;)

I hold my baby when she naps, I know, spare me the lecture.  Its what I do.  I figure one day, she will be at college napping on her own, so I am enjoying my time with her.

Some days I cant remember if I brushed my teeth.

I still have thank you cards to write, not that I am not thankful. I am so thankful, I just haven't sat down and actually done it.

I have only cooked dinner 3 times since having AB, and once B-dub couldn't even eat it, it was so bad.

I let AB watch the real housewives of...(fill in the blank) I am addicted, hopefully it wont sink in to her too much.

I have never loved my husband more than I do now.  He is the perfect dad I always knew he would be, he just loves Annabelle so much, she is a lucky girl!

AB still sleeps in our room, and I sort of tear up to think that wont always be.  There is just something about having my family all together at night that brings peace to my heart

I love the paci and so does AB :)

I thought labor hurt, I have heard so many people say, you know it wasn't so bad...I beg to differ, but I would do it again in a heartbeat...

I check facebook way more than any one person should, but what else do you do when you nurse 8 times a day?

I like that I am the only one that can rock Annabelle to sleep.

I call the Dr for EVERYTHING...or make Bobby call.

I stare at Annabelle when she sleeps, I cant believe she is actually mine.

I will do anything to get a smile out of her, including but not limited to dancing around in my pj's clucking like a chicken, because she thinks its funny

I take drives to sonic on any given day just to get out of the house

Get nostalgic thinking about all the things Annabelle has already grown out of

Have a new appreciation for my mother

LOVE being Annabelle's mommy, love who she is and love that she acts and looks like her daddy

Love that I have no idea what I am doing most of the time, but love that Annabelle loves me anyway.

Happy Birthday Cousin Caris

April 20th!!!  What a day!  Today we celebrate the birth of our favorite and only cousin!  Caris Elizabeth is 2 today and Annabelle and I could not be more excited!

We love our cousin & niece and love how much she has taken to "her baby Elbow" (Caris first attempt trying to say Annabelle).  Growing up with 2 sisters, I know how much fun it is to experience life with another girl in the family, we are so happy Caris is filling that big sister void for Annabelle, like her mommy did for me :)  There is nothing like having a older, cooler girl to play with, test the waters on, and try and copy as much as possible!  Caris, with the little girl you are shaping up to be, I am waiting in wonder at what Annabelle will learn from you!

Will she love your love for the purple hue? Copy your barnyard animal faces?  Love you zest for chores? Inherit your love for anything that resembles a book?  Want to at every waking moment watch Toy Story or Mary Poppins?  Or simply just admire your movie star locks of hair?

Caris & Annabelle's first meeting, AB was in my belly :)

Caris kissing baby Annabelle's toes 

The Cousins meet

The snowman Caris built for Annabelle the day we came home from the hospital

Our girls

Even more of our girls

Whatever your little union has in store for us, no doubt we are all in for a treat!  So cheers to you BIG GIRL CARIS!!!  We are so excited to celebrate your birthday with you and so excited that yours is the first Birthday Party our Annabelle will get to experience!  I couldn't imagine anything better :)

Love,

Auntie TJ & baby Annabelle

Now Annabelles Personal Success....

Also known as NAPS.....

Really I am speaking (or typing) out of turn a little here, but in a slightly failed attempt at an abbreviation for Naps....I am going to chalk our last 2 days as a success and speak into existence their permanence in our life.

Truly Annabelle deserves all the credit for this one, if it were up to me, I would hold her and rock her every moment of every day, but apparently that is not good for either of us, or so everyone tells me :)

At week 10, I am finally trying our hand at the self soothed naps.  No, I am still not letting her sit there and cry, in fact I crouch down below her bassinet and put my hand on her until she falls asleep, but either way she is soothing and technically laying by herself...so there you have it, my definition of self soothing.  BUT, so DOES it!  She for the past two days, at 2 different nap times, has put herself to sleep!  Unbelievable!  Truly Annabelle's Personal Success, because her mommy does not get the credit for this one.  If she wasn't capable or gave me the slightest sense she was uncomfortable, I would no doubt swoop in and start my favorite pastime of rocking.  But no, my girl is already showing me she is growing up and telling me, "hey mom, let me see if I can do this" and by golly...she does!  Way to go AB!  So there she sleeps, ever so peacefully in her little Target bassinet, that she prefers to any other fancy item I have gotten for her to sleep in, dreaming and listening to her personal favorite remix of Nora Jones, Coldplay Rockabye, and Amos Lee.

This is her happy place...

Sleep tight little girl!

Two Whole Months

Annabelle today you are 10 weeks old!!!  Unbelievable.  You are growing in body and spirit every day.  Each day you greet us with a HUGE toothless smile and instantly all tiredness leaves my body and I am up....ready to start the day with my girl.

I would say to sum up your second month, it would be friends and family.  You have been the social butterfly this month, with all your visits to see your family and all your friends.  You already love so much, I love getting to share your love with everyone.

One week before you two month birthday we took you on your second road trip!  What an adventurer you have become.  We headed West to see all your family, you got to see the ranchita, Albany and Abilene for the very first time.  We went you your very first track meet, you, daddy and grandpa JJ got to play in the "man cave" and you got to breathe the nice fresh country air!  You loved the country!  The very first night you were there you slept 7 hours!!!  A record!  We let you experience all that Albany had to  offer, we took you on a driving tour where you saw all of mommy's houses she had growing up, you walked downtown, went shopping a little, got a cherry lime aid at the drug store, took a nap outside and went star gazing. What a weekend!

On our way back home your daddy took you to see his home for the first time!  You got to see your Nana and Poppy and meet your uncle Sonny and Aunt Erlene!  You had so much fun being the center of attention :)

The very next weekend was our very first night away from Daddy, he went to San Antonio and we went to Albany.  Your grandma Susie came down to help us with the drive.  You slept the whole way there....
We got all ready for a BIG party when we finally made it to Albany.  We were celebrating mommy's friend Cori and here upcoming wedding!   It was your very first party, and you were quite the hit!  You got to wear a fancy pink dress and stay up way past your bedtime to meet all your Albany friends.  Your cousin Caris and Auntie Millie came too!  You had so much fun laughing at Caris, you think she is hilarious.  You got to play with your aunties all weekend, you love your family so much!

The next weekend you had LOTS of new friends over at your house for a little BBQ.  Daddy cooked burgers and our house was full of lots of little friends & lots of big friends.  No doubt you will have plenty of playmates....so many babies.  You got to meet everyone for the first time, we had a blast getting to show you off.  Charlie, Heather and Carter even flew in all the way from Tennessee to meet you!  You loved getting to watch Carter crawl around everywhere...I have no doubt you will be crawling before we know it!

Some of your favorite activities month 2 have been, shopping, driving in the car, smiling, laughing, you still love kicking your legs, you love your walks, love the moby, love your book time at night, and love when you daddy is home on the weekends.

You had to get 2 very big shots this month, and you did EXCELLENT!!!  You only cried for a second then were asleep in mommys arms before we knew it!  You weighed 10 lbs 1 ounce and were 22 amd 1/2 inches long! The dr. called you a smiley girl, and I have to agree.  You are my smiley girl.  You also grabbed your toes for the first time right before we headed to the Dr. for your 2 month check-up!  I think it was on accident, but it was very cute!

We have lots of fun friends to play with now, and lots of friends baking away ready to play with you soon!  It is such an exciting time to see all of our friends get to experience the joy of their babies like we get to experience every day with you!

Cant wait to see what month 3 of your little life holds for you....

Here are a few pics from our monthly photo shoot!!  You have grown so much!

Month one

Annabelle!  You are one month old!!!  What a month it has been.  In some ways it has gone in slow motion, as the nights merge into days, with few hours of sleep in between, but in a very real/scary way it has flown by!  My little baby is a month old!!!  Unbelievable.

Your first few weeks were spent with mommy, in our room just getting used to each other.  We napped, ate, played, prayed and learned each others every facial line, every smell, every finger and every toe.

We have had lots of visitors, so many people are loving getting to finally meet you!  You smiled at us around week 3, it was amazing! Your eyes lit up, your face widened and there you were, our little smiley girl :)  something I will never forget.

You love laying on your back and kicking your legs, you hate your tummy time, and love playing with your daddy when he comes home!

We have gone from you sleeping a LOT to me trying to get you to at least get one good nap in the day.  You wake up every 2 hours at night, you like to eat then and most times like to stay up and play.  We are working on you wanting to sleep but for the most part me or daddy are up with you, rocking you for hours on to make sure you stay asleep!

After week two, you woke up to us, and really started using your lungs!  You like to really work out those cries for about 2 hours at night, when you are exercising your vocal chords,  I bounce with you on my exercise ball, you LOVE this, and every time I stop bouncing you wake up and tell me to KEEP BOUNCING MOM!!!  So we do, we bounce and bounce and bounce.

Your first out of town trip was right after you turned one month.  We went to visit mommy and daddy's meeting place, Baylor!  You wore your green and gold and got to see the bears, take a tour of the campus, and eat at chilis too!  You loved it!!!  We got to visit your auntie Cami, Uncle G and cousin Caris in Waco, you had so much fun playing with them!  You love your family and they love you.

Your first month we spent in constant amazement, amazed that our girl was really here, in our arms and completely and totally OURS!!  I still dont think it has sunk in yet, you amaze us every second of every day.

One of my favorite things you do is your wake up stretch....it is the cutest thing!  Whenever I pick you up and you have been sleeping, you reach both of your arms over your head clench your fists and give a BIG STRETCH!  It is so sweet watching you stretch your muscles, getting ready to wake up and see your world.

We go on walks, you love the air outside.  We watch American Idol & The Biggest Loser and lots of the Food Network.  You and I talk a lot, we talk about your family, your daddy, your home, your room, trips we are going to take you on and things we are going to do.  We both love our long talks together.

One of YOUR favorite activities is bath time, no matter how upset you are before your bath, as soon as you sit in that warm water you are relaxed and content.  You are so cute looking up at us as we wash your little self.  I hope you always love your bath, it is one of my favorite times with you!


**Pretty soon we will need a 2 month update, but  I wanted to make sure I got to your one month first, because you will be 8 weeks old soon!!!  Cant believe it!

Love you Annabelle Grace, you have made me a better me.


Here are a few of my favorite pictures of your first few days and weeks of life....moments I will never forget.

your first bath at home, grandma susie did most of it while mommy watched and learned

me & you in your room for the first time

you and all your Jones girls....your are so loved

you and mommy, love!

you sticking your tongue out at daddy :)

Our first picture in our house, right when we brought you home from the hospital!

moments

Our moments....

These are what I live for.  The last 6 weeks with my girl have forever changed me.  I have realized over the last weeks, that mommy hood at least on my part is sort of entered into blindly.  No amount of advice, warning, book, knowledgeable friend or relative could have prepared me for what I have experienced thus far.  I must say, for that I am thankful.  Although most days, I feel like I have no IDEA what I am doing, the fact of the matter is, that Annabelle and I are doing this, together.

Our days are divided into moments, moments I am trying inhale in and not let them escape.  Thanking God for each one, from the nights of both of us crying for no particular reason, to the sweet, sweet peaceful moments we have snuggling and sleeping.  Our moments, are just that, ours.....

I have found myself the last week or so really taking in my moments with our little one, with a huge realization that they will be gone so quickly.  I am already seeing a baby emerge our of our little newborn.  One with chubby cheeks, personality like her daddy's, one that likes to kick her legs and hates me putting bows on her head!  It has happened in an instant, as I knew it would.

All advice aside, I am embracing our sleepless nights, embracing the fact that my girls favorite place to sleep is on my chest, embracing that I have not gotten one ounce of anything done because she doesn't like me to put her down, I know all too soon these moments will morph into something so, so different.

Resisting the urging of the "experts" telling me I will spoil my baby by holding her too much, that she needs to learn to sooth her own cries, and that I need to start some sort of routine for her to strictly follow, I am embracing the moments I get to hold, sooth, and play with my girl.  At 3:00 in the morning when our little AB has decided she wanted to party for the last 2 hours, and finally submits to the sleep that is taking over her little body, those are my moments.  I lay with her, smelling her hair, holding her hand knowing that these moments could only have been brought to me by the Lord above.  The blind moments of motherhood, when I am stranded with dog, baby, and stroller in tow, I am a mile from my house, attempting a walk, when all 3 have a major breakdown, those are my learning moments.  Those are the moments my blinders of going from Tara to mommy are slightly moved, and I can see I am learning, I am learning to be a mommy.  Annabelle is being very patient with me taking on this new role, and I think is secretly getting a kick out of the fact that I am a little bit of a mess more often than not.

So for now,  my hair will remain in a bun crammed on top of my head, my make up will consist of last nights moisturizer, and I will choose to spend my moments getting to experience all my girl has to offer!

Because what is better than the moments like these....

Ice Ice Baby...part 1

(A month later....I am finally getting to blog documentation of our girls birthday, I may or may not get through this post, I am currently writing with my girl, strapped to my chest, we will see how long she thinks the Moby is a cool idea or not.)



Ice, Ice, baby, indeed.  Not as in Vanilla, but our Ice baby is sweeter than any chocolate or vanilla combined.  I may have to pick my nicknames a little more carefully next time around, because my winter baby did not disappoint.  After 3 weeks worth of our Dr. saying "any day now" and me walking around in a semi-labor state, at week 38 1/2 I finally decided, enough was enough.  I/my dr. called it quits on my 2 hour daily commute, I called my mom in for moral support and we went on full baby watch mode.  That week was one of the most vivid/surreal weeks of my life....  We knew baby Annabelle was on her way, just weren't quite sure when, so we waited, and waited and waited.  Mom and I did not waste our days away, instead we filled every ounce of the day with activity upon activity thinking it would spur on our little girl. B-dub was especially busy that week at work, so having grandma Susie in town was just what the Dr. ordered for this very anxious mommy!

The week before our little winter baby's birthday, was a week for the record books.  Late January and 80 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, perfect spring/summer weather day after day.  Every morning I had a little pep talk with my girl, letting her know that the forecast said it was a beautiful day for a birthday, but little did I know there were other plans in store.  During our week off, mom and I went to the spa, went shopping, cleaned, cleaned, cleaned, cooked, and walked miles and miles all in hopes something would bring on the contractions.  Careful what you wish for....

Then the troops arrived, Auntie Camille, cousin Caris, Grandpa JJ, and Auntie Shelby all came down on Saturday, Jan. 29 in hopes that the newest little addition would be coming soon.  I had my Dr. appointment scheduled for that Monday the 31st and we were all convinced he would admit me in the next day or so to have this baby....

Then a reality check, that Monday the Dr. told us just what were were afraid of, it could be another week or so, and we wouldn't try and intervene for at least 5 more days...WHAT!!!  I cried, so ready to meet my baby, my comfort level had maxed weeks ago, and all  my family was in town for the big birthday.  Not to mention we were expecting the worst winter storm in Dallas in 50 years the following day,  not quite what you would call suitable for traveling visitors.  But all pleading aside, we decided Friday, Feb. 4th was the earliest we would induce and B-dub and I left, fully prepared to celebrate our girls birthday on Friday.  I pushed my family out the door, less they be stuck here for an entire week with the ice well on its way.  In a frenzy everyone left as fast as they came, gearing up for the return trip Thursday night.  Well, that evening the ice came, and came and came and came.  Covering Dallas in inches and inches of winter precipitation, and just like that our week of spring turned into a winter wonderland, and we weren't going anywhere.  For the first time in a week, I stayed in my pj's all day, didnt shower, no make-up, no blow dryer, no anything.  I sat on the couch and rested, after all I needed my strength for Friday's festivities.

During the mad dash out the door, mom decided she would stay. So it was the three (four) of us, Bobby, Me, Mom, and Annabelle  cozied up for a day indoors.  True to form, our winter girl heard her cue, at 5:00 that evening I started feeling horrible.  Not wanting to alarm anyone I stayed quiet, and rode through the ever increasing pain.  6:30 rolls around and I was not hiding my feelings very well, I broke down and told Bobby, I may be having contractions, but dont get too excited.  We waited.  Not long after, like 5 minutes, I had another, then another, then another.  Interesting.  We let mom in on what was going on, but didnt get to dramatic about it, very unlike me.....

Finally, I couldnt take it, I told Bobby to go start scraping the ice off the car, the only place I could think of was the hospital.  When we finally made the decision to go, things seemed like they went in Fast Forward.  I threw my things into my bag, slapped some makeup under my eyes, and tried to not throw up the dinner I just ate....and off we went.  B-dub was in for the drive of a lifetime.  What would normally take 15 minutes, was taking well over 30, the streets were bricks of ice and we were sliding every so carefully over the top of them trying to make it to Labor & Delivery.  Through contractions, I called the family to tell them, Annabelle may have decided to come early.  But there was just no way they were going to be able to make it in for the evening events.  Thank goodness for the i-phone.

Finally we got checked in to our delivery room, and even though no one was convinced I was in full labor, I knew were were in it for the long haul that night.  Labor came on fast and furious, and an hour after the nurse almost sent us back home, we were prepping for a delivery, and all I could think was where exactly was the Dr.  Any dr.  Just a dr. of some sort, to stop the pain, to check on my baby, anyone to help us out.  Apparently Dr's aren't in full force at midnight on coldest day of the year in history.  At 1:00 am I finally got some relief with an epidural, and some friendly faces.  True to best friend form Alise & Nick braved the ice and drove 30 minutes at midnight to be there for Annabelle's birthday.  They were such troopers, but were committed to staying until Annabelle was in our arms safe and sound.

Sparing the lengthy and somewhat dramatic details, the hours from 2:00 to 4:00 am will forever be ingrained in my mind.  Somewhere between starting to push, finally being seen by a Dr, my B-dub intervening on our behalf in front of every nurse in the hospital,  my mom being my labor coach, and the Dr. making me just mad enough, we delivered our girl.  4:22 am exactly, and exactly 22 minutes after the Dr. made his announcement that there was absolutely no way I was going to be able to deliver her without some medical intervention.  Little did he know, I was just determined enough, had a powerful prayer force on my side, and had the 2 best labor coaches around....because between 4:00 and 4:22 we had our girl in our arms.  My miracle.  Forever she will be.

Annabelle Grace, graced us with her presence weighing in at 6 lbs 3 oz and 19 inches long 2-2-11.  Our girl was here. In my arms, staring up at me, I was forever changed.  I was transformed into mother.  My husband was transformed into daddy and our world was turned upside down.


** pictures and part two to come......

360



360-degree - complete; all around


No not the new trick I am trying on my bike, snow board (much to my husbands dismay), or any other object for that matter.  In fact any sort rotation is seemingly challenging right about now.  Our 360 is coming in all sorts of shapes and sizes these days.  We have had quite the "complete/all around" changes showing up all over the place the last 9 months, including but not limited to the all aroundness of my growing belly....which is still a growin! Our lives have taken the 360 degree turn, gradually at the beginning, now somewhat quickly things in the White house are revolving at a very, very rapid pace. 

B-dub and I had a full term celebration party on Monday, we were 37 weeks, some plans had fallen through with our friends that evening, and I was off work!! So I decided to make the most of our evening alone and attempted to connect with my former self and put together some sort of meal for my hard working husband.  Annabelle and I talked it over, and decided it was worth the grocery store trip, sore feet, and swollen legs to make dinner for our main man.  And so we did.  Lasagna it was, and I must say, it was not my typical pregnant disaster of a meal Daddy-dub has grown accustomed over the course of our prego journey.  Maybe out of sheer stubbornness and determination not to screw this one up or by some Grace from above, our full term party dinner was, yummy! Who knew I still had it in me?!?!  Anyway, I digress, just had to pat myself on the back and document in writing I was not a complete culinary failure during my entire pregnancy.

I bring it up only because it was at that dinner both Bobby and I looked at each other and had the realization that with our 360 coming to complete revolution in the next few days, weeks, hours, etc.. that  things were about to be drastically different....

All in a GREAT way, but it was somewhat of a moment to sit there and think, wow, this is going to seem like a faint memory in a few very short days.

In less than 2 years we have gone from engaged, to married, to homeowners, to newly weds, to expecting parents....followed by becoming Mom & Dad.  Unbelievable.  We have been so blessed and so overwhelmed by this growth that has developed and led us to this point, anxiously awaiting our girl,  drumming up all sorts of emotions that are beyond impossible to put into words.  So, so blessed.

So what better time than the present to reflect on our revolution into parenting from where we were to where we are....and what we hope to become.

Somewhere between May of 2009 to Jan of 2011 we went from...

This....

To This....

My Belly went from (if you are squeamish of weird belly pics you can skip over this transition, it wont hurt my feelings)

 This...

Belly at 12 Weeks

To This....



belly at 37 weeks 1 day...Its HUGE, I know, you don't have to tell me :)



My purchases moved from something like

 This....                                                       

To more like

These....

                                                                                     

And our upstairs guest room has gone from

This



(Yes I know there is no picture here, that is the point, imagine a blank room, I promise there are more fun pictures to come just keep reading)

To this....

this....

This....

and finally, this....

YES!!! Our last and final phase of our 360 (aside from the whole labor and delivery thing) was completed this weekend!  Her ROOM!!!  My favorite place in the entire house.  Waiting anxiously for its newest little tenant. 

Our transformation into parents has been a process beyond imagination, I can only imagine what it will actually be like when we do indeed have our girl in our arms!  Come on Little Annabelle, we are so ready to meet you, and for you to turn our world completely around!  We are so beyond blessed to be your parents, excited beyond imagination, and anticipating every day of the rest of our lives together.....We have loved our complete, all around changes you have brought us the last 9 months and are looking forward to a lifetime of more 360's with you.

Just for the record

The past you know, 250ish days have been a learning process all their own.  When started I was like all other first time mom's, unaware, full of questions, inexperienced, well, new.  A few short months later, with one huge learning curve to climb, I feel like there are a few items I have learned on my journey.  Take it or leave it for what you will, these are just a few tidbits, I thought I would share not only to other new moms but to myself.  (Disclaimer, I am not claiming them to be fact, or an expert by any stretch of the word, just a few lessons I learned along the way, with a few more weeks to go, I have a feeling this list will only continue to expand)

Lessons Learned....

- Enjoy every day with your little one in your belly, even the scary, sometimes uncomfortable, and very exhausted days.  It goes quick, so quick.  As I hear so does the rest of life.

- Learn to take a compliment, Learn to take what people think is a compliment, and Learn to take what no one in their right mind would EVER think is complimentary but choose to say anyway.  Ex.  "You look great" say thanks, "You don't look big, just healthy" smile and sip your orange juice,  "Are you having twins" politely say no then try desperately to find somewhere else to go before you scream, "Wow, I didn't think you would get so big, I mean you were just so little before", proudly pat that belly and proclaim, yes we did good!

- Always size up....before when shopping and deciding between two sizes, I would originally say go with the smaller of the two.  That's nothing one run or a little stretching wont take care of.  Pregnancy brings a whole new light.  No amount of stretching will actually stretch those pants that shouldn't have been purchased in the first place.  Give yourself  a little room to grow.  You will grow, that is a GOOD thing.

- Never compare pregnancy weight gain with others.  Its just not good for anyone.  If you were a super hero and gained 20 pounds, good for you.  If you were a super hero and gained 70 pounds, good for you.  No need to go writing home about it.  First off, no one ever really tells you their correct total, second off, if your dr. isnt worried, no one else should be.  Leave it at that.  BUT be prepared for any Tom, Dick or Harry to ask off the street.  Apparently when you are prego social norms go out the window and people feel obliged to ask. 

- Give into your cravings when you have them, but don't try to recreate them when you don't.  For example....When all that sounds good is pretzels and orange juice, by all means go right ahead, but be aware that 6 times from now when you are still trying to eat those pretzels and o.j., it will loose its luster. As it should, its weird. 

- The right undergarment can be a real game changer.  (See point above about sizing up)  If you haven't been comfortable in a month and you realize you are still trying to wear the same underpinnings as before you were pregnant, just go get some that are bigger.  It will change your world.

- Talk to your baby.  Even if you feel weird about it.  It is the only time you have them captive, no interruptions, crying, etc...  So what if the guy sitting next to you in traffic thinks you are talking to yourself, just go ahead and tell him or her whats going on, how you cant wait to meet them, and how much you love them. 

- 2 words.  BODY PILLOW.  I don't even know if you would call it a pillow or a huge monster that takes over your bed, but either way, get one and use it.  Your husband may grow to despise it and it may end up burned or torn to shreds after the baby comes, due to the hatred that has been brewing over the last 9 months....BUT get one anyway.  Your body will thank you.

- Hire a chef :) , if you cant hire one, train your husband, if he is un-trainable, order out, but by all means try and avoid cooking.  One, even if you muster up the courage to cook, by the time dinner is ready your feet hurt so bad you night is pretty much over.  Two, even if it sounds good before you go to cook it, once you stare at it for 30 or so minutes, taste it, stir it, season it - then go to eat it, something happens, because what you thought looked good an a hour ago, and what smelled good 20 minutes ago, just isn't appetizing anymore and you would kill just to eat a pb&J.  I am hoping my domestic urges return once the baby gets here and I will enjoy the culinary process again.....

- Just ask.  If you are worried, agonizing over something, thinking about it, googling it, etc. just ask someone, anyone.  Your husband, Friend, Doctor, Mother, Sister, sometimes ask them all.  It wont hurt.

- Watch out for sneezing attacks....for those of you who have been there you know why.  Enough said.

- Say no to the social obligation every now and then.  Spend the time you would have there with your husband at home.  Nothing is better.

- Go easy on your other half every now and then, despite what your crazed hormones may be screaming at your, he didn't mean to make his socks smell extra bad today, wasn't malicious when he bought you sprite instead of ginger ale, and really truly didn't intentionally make the apples you have been dying to eat go bad in the fridge.  Sometimes fruit just gets old.  He really is trying.  Just let him.

-  Start a blog, because when everyone else is tired of talking to you, you can just write it :)

- Love every moment.  You will never have those moments again.

It's Game Time...Limbo anyone???

We are committed, gotten up the nerve, taken the plunge, goal in sight, and now we are stuck...somewhere between one side of the bar and the other.  Stuck in a GREAT sense, just waiting, in sort of a holding pattern for the momentum to shift and push (no pun intended) us under the bar, and take us from the game to the prize!!  I am READY!

Its the only visual I can really picture to describe the state I am starting to feel myself in. Literally the visual is pretty out there, me + one big belly + no balance, coordination or skill, trying to maneuver under a dangerously low bar....not so much, but figuratively speaking, the limbo it is!  Nerves have set in, I am excited beyond belief, not really on one side of the bar or the other, just somewhere hanging out in the middle, waiting to move! 

I am not really sure what to do with myself these days, do I rest or keep on truckin', clean every inch of my house or give in to the fact that I will be busy when the baby comes so enjoy the down time, read books on pregnancy or switch to baby, exercise or take it easy, shop more or get the things I have in order, stay up late talking to my husband or go to bed early, start new projects at work or start wrapping up some loose ends, figure out if it is even possible for me to be productive at work or do I give in to the fact that I am mainly concerned about my water breaking while I am AT work, look for maternity items or figure out what to do with this bod after baby, pack a bag for the hospital or clean my closet?  Clearly I am confused..... In the best of ways, just really starting to find myself really, really ready for my baby to be here!  In my arms, safe and sound, I am ready to meet my girl.  We have gotten through all my little personal markers I had set for myself, Thanksgiving - check, Christmas- check, New Years - check, birthday - check, it has all come and gone, now its time for the big one....

In theory getting down to the month marker seemed like worlds away when I set it in my mind, I figured by then she could come at any time, I would have things ready, I would be ready, and the days would pass by quickly.  Now that we are here, a month seems like a long time to wait!  I know in reality, it isn't, but I am indulging my non-realistic self here...so go with me.

I know I will miss the days of having my girl all to myself, safe and sound in my belly, feeling her kick all by myself in the quiet hours of the night, the wonder of it all.  Don't get me wrong, I am loving it!  Just a little on the anxious side these days!

We  are now going to the Dr. every week, CRAZINESS!  It has all gone by very fast!  However, the thought of possibly going to the doctor 4 or 5 more times is a little weird because I feel like she is so close to coming (see.... more of my confusion)!  As of yesterday, we are still in the running to have her on her predicted due date, no progress in the labor department, but a GREAT report on all ends.  We have a good healthy girl growing here! Something I am reminded every day not to take for granted.  Thank you Lord for protecting our little one.

The birthday predictions are coming at us from all ends, all get me very excited that she may come early, but may be a little on the unrealistic side, I have to counterbalance the girls in my family's maternal inklings on predicting her to come weeks early with my prediction of one day late :)  Its how I roll.

Our official guesses are as follows:

Jan. 15th - Mom - Grandma Susie (I think she knows this isn't going to happen, she just wanted to have the first date claimed)  This coincidentally is our Child Birthing class day, so I guess if Grandma Susie is right, we will be in the right place, just a little uninformed.

Jan. 20th - Camille - She thinks this is the winner!  Caris was born on the 20th...of April, so they could be birth "DATE" twins, still to me, a little early

Jan 23rd- Alise- She bounced around a few days, but she is convinced Annabelle is going to have a Jan birthday

Jan 24th - Daddy Dub- For obvious reasons, see my week 24 post for more details :), he did say he gets another guess, more on that to come

Jan 31st- My first guess (if B-dub gets 2 I get two right??) and Grandpa JJ's guess, my theory, if she is a January girl, this is the only day I think it could be. 

Feb. 1st - Auntie Shelby's guess, that I just texted her for....I don't know if there is any method to her choosing, but I like it!  I would be ok with a Feb 1st bday!

Feb 4th- Daddy- Dub's second guess, her birthday would be 2-4- 2011, see a theme?  I told you, he's a little nuts about those numbers

Feb. 7th - Her OFFICIAL due date, so I guess this is the Dr.'s guess

Feb. 8th - My second guess, to keep everyone honest....

We have a few more family members to poll, we need to get some predictions from the White's, more on that to come....but until then, here is what we have.

I am thinking about a cash prize for the winner....or diaper duty.  Maybe I will go with diaper duty!  May the best diaper-er win!!!! 

I will keep playing my little game until our big game of limbo is over!  Can't wait for what is to come.....