Thursday, May 28, 2009
Virginia
Here are R and S at the Bristol, VA rest stop just seconds after crossing the state line. She loves her Papa so much!
Here is a picture of S at our hotel, lounging on her blanket:
Also, there are two videos of S rolling from tummy to back in the video bar. She's practically a pro now!
More later...
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Moving v2.0, and other things
We decided to spend today relaxing in Lubbock and finishing projects around the yard, and we are hitting the road early tomorrow morning. The drive will be approximately 1,602 miles and an estimated 24 hours of driving. Closing day on our new house is Wednesday so we will get into town just in time to officially become homeowners.
Amidst the craziness of moving we have managed to have a little bit of fun. On Wednesday S and I had a play date with my friend L and her daughter E. It was S's first play date with her first friend. They were really cute and even had matching hair bows. They were most interested in playing with each other's toys.
Here is a picture of S napping in Z's arms last week.
Yesterday I spent some time watching S at Z and Grampy's while R and Grampy were at our house packing up the trailer. I fed her a slice of pear through a mesh baby feeder and she LOVED it. Then we played on the bed for awhile and at that moment she was the happiest baby on the planet. I love her more and more each day.
I look forward to keeping our blog updated once we are in Virginia!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
We're Moving!!!
We're picking up the moving truck in a few minutes and will spend the whole day loading the truck with boxes, furniture and motorcycles. My mom stayed in town after graduation to help us pack the house and she left for VA yesterday. I still have to pack S's nursery but the rest of the house is done! We are staying at Suzanne's house until Sunday morning when we will begin the long drive east.
Yesterday I turned 28 - which feels much more like my "late 20s" than did 27. At least when I was 27 I could pass for being in my "mid-20s". Ah, well, it's just semantics at this point and anyway Rob says that his 30s have been much better than his 20s. So much to look forward to!
Last night we had dinner with some dear friends. It was difficult to say goodbye to them but I know that we will keep in touch. Texas has been wonderful to us and I will miss this great state tremendously. S is a Texan by birth but she will now be leaving for Virginia... maybe someday we will be back.
I guess happiness was Lubbock Texas in my rear view mirror
But now happiness is Lubbock Texas growing nearer and dearer
And the vision is gettin' clearer in my dreams
And I think I finally know what it means...
-Mac Davis
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Graduation 2009!
Here are some pictures of convocation, commencement, and the ensuing celebration.
Our happy family
After convocation on 5/15
With my parents!
The Lubbock wind was ridiculous
Our little graduate-in-training
Mmm... toes!
S and Mommy
Aunt H and S
R and I enjoying our class party the evening after convocation
Before commencement, 5/16
Our names being read at commencement... M.D.s!
S enjoying commencement with Z and H
Seeing my daughter for the first time after graduating
H and A
Dr. C, my Ob/Gyn who delivered S
Family!
Oma and Z with S after commencement
Mum and Pops
S wearing her party dress, sitting in her beautiful new chair
S wearing a Lamb Chop towel
R's mother, Uncle S, and father
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Happy 1/2 Birthday!
Here is her 6 month picture with Teddy, and a comparison month by month:
2 1/2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months
She is sprouting up like a true wildflower! Her weight has stayed consistent - at two, four and six months she has been in the 70, 69, and 65th percentiles, respectively. Her height, however, keeps climbing. At two, four and six months she has been in the 67, 78 and 94th percentiles, respectively! I have a feeling that her height will slow down soon, considering that neither R nor I are tall, but we do have tall genes in the family so it will be interesting to see how she continues to grow.
Here are her growth curves. Grow, little one, grow. We love you S!
Weight
Birth 6lb 6oz (14%)
2 mo. 11lb 8oz (70%)
4 mo. 14lb 4oz (69%)
5 mo. 15lb 12oz (74%)
6 mo. 16lb 10oz (65%)
Length
Birth 19.25in (48%)
2 mo. 22.50in (67%)
4 mo. 24.00in (50%)
5 mo. 25.50in (78%)
6 mo. 27.00in (94%)
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Thoughts on Becoming a Mother
Edited to add, Happy Mother's Day to all mommies - to those with babies in their hearts, with babies in their bellies, and with babies in their arms.
Thoughts on Becoming a Mother
There are women that become mothers without effort, without thought, without patience or loss and though they are good mothers and love their children, I know that I will be better.
I will be better not because of genetics or money or that I have read more books but because I have struggled and toiled for this child.
I have longed and waited.
I have cried and prayed.
I have endured and planned over and over again.
Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams.
I will notice everything about my child.
I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore and discover. I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life.
I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold and feed her and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream. My dream will be crying for me.
I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child that my friends will not see.
Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love.
I will be a better mother for all that I have endured. I am a better wife, a better daughter, neighbor, friend and sister because I have known pain.
I know disillusionment as I have been betrayed by my own body. I have been tried by fire and hell many never face, yet given time, I stood tall.
I have prevailed.
I have succeeded.
I have won.
So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort. I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs.
I listen.
And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely. I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth and when life is beyond hard. I have learned a compassion that only comes with walking in those shoes.
I have learned to appreciate life.
Yes I will be a wonderful mother.
- Author Unknown
Happy Mother's Day
Happy Mother's Day to my amazing mother, as well as to my grandmother and mother-in-law, and all the other incredible mommies and mommies-to-be.
My husband and daughter with my beautiful flowers!
Family portrait
Z, S and me
Mother and daughter
Trying to get her to make eye contact with the camera
Papa and Pea!
My world
Exhausted from all the festivities
Saturday, May 9, 2009
She swims
We were all ready!!!
As soon as I dipped her legs in the water she started paddling her legs instinctively. It was adorable. Then when her hands got wet she smacked the surface of the water with her hands and splashed and splashed and splashed. It was a lot of fun and she really enjoyed it!
First look at the pool...
Getting ready to dip my feet in the water...
Saying hi to Rudy! I love doggies.
Rockin' my glasses!
This is fun!
The water is so refreshing! And I am just too cute for words.
Relaxing with Grampy after swimming. Phew, that was exhausting!