I haven't done my blogging letter challenge for a few months (courtesy of Olivia's arrival!), but thought I would start back up tonight, although I must admit that I am skipping "k!"
Love:
I was thinking tonight about what has made me the person I am today, and most of it has sprung from the things I love in life. Some of my current, and eternal loves are:
*Pizza....no cheese, just the saucy crust, and the hamburger if it's a beef pizza!
*Books...reading them, trying to write them, their smell, the way the feel in my hands....everything.
*Green...it's the color of life, vibrancy, and everything outdoors!
*Nick...he makes me smile, laugh, mad, and tons of other things, which means it must be L.O.V.E.
*Emma...her smile, her beautiful baby blues, the way she clings to me when she get scared of a bug, how she tells me she loves me, the sound of her little voice singing "Happy Birthday" when she's supposed to be going to sleep....and on and on.
*Olivia...the way she smiles and coos first thing in the morning, how she settles down from crying when I pick her up and start talking, the way she smiles when she's falling to sleep, how she loves to watch Emma dance and play....and on and on.
*The Lord our God...without whom, none of this would be possible.
I could go on and on, but I'm pretty sure I would lose my readers, maybe exempting Ethan, when I start talking about my love of the Harry Potter novels :)
Monday, August 19, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Belated Birthday Wishes to My Firstborn
Emma Rae,
How is it, my love, that already three years have gone by
since God sent you to us?! It has been
three of the fastest, yet sometimes the slowest, years of my life. You are sure a ham, and a ball of
fire!!! (I think you get that from your
Dad ;) ) Some fun facts about you:
*You are starting to get the hang of this potty training
business! Yesterday you didn’t have any
accidents at school, and went in the potty four or five times! Definitely a record for you!!!!
*Recently you’ve learned to do summersaults, and love to
practice your new skill……sometimes a little too close to your sister!
*I think you know how to run my iPad better than I do
sometimes!
*We are looking for a toddler bed for your room. You like sleeping in the ones at Gma and Papa’s
houses, and we think you may be getting close to being ready here.
Things haven’t always gone smoothly, or as planned, but we
wouldn’t have it any other way! I love
you more and more every day and can’t wait to celebrate many many, many more
birthdays with you!!!
Love Now and Forever,
Mommy
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Two Months!
Dearest Miss Olivia,
Where oh where have the past 2 months gone! Already it is August, and already you are turning 2 months old. It truly is hard for me to remember what is was like before you came, but all I know now is that life feels complete with you here. We are still working to figure each other out, but I'm confident that we'll get there :) These first two months have been terribly eventful, what with two hospital stays, one being for a whole week. Let's just not make this a habit, alright, little lady?
Bath time is now one of your favorite times of day, and you are so bright-eyed and bushy-tailed during it! Naps, on the other hand......well, let's just say that you're not a big fan because there's too much to see and do. Plus, I'm still trying to figure out how long to let you stay up before putting you to sleep, so maybe you're a bit overtired??? You are still a sucky eater (no pun intended :) ) and some days you want to eat every 1.5-2 hours, but only about .5-1.5 ounces at a time, which equals one LOOOOOONNNNNGGGG day for both of us. You had been napping between 45 minutes to 3 hours, but yesterday I don't think you napped more than 1.5 hours for the entire day, which led to a major meltdown that evening, followed by a 6:15 p.m. bedtime (and a tumultuous night.) I am working on getting you to nap in your crib and not the swing or vibrating chair. Yesterday you slept in it for 45 minutes, then woke yourself up crying. So, right now you are passed out in the swing, and I'm planning on giving you your afternoon nap in the crib.
I am trying to prepare to start back to work on August 12th, which will be your first day at daycare also. I have to be honest, I am looking forward to going back and getting into my old routine. Not that I haven't appreciated and loved my special time with you, but I know that I will appreciate that time and those smiles even more when I start working. Alright, so now some fun facts:
*You are DEFINITELY a morning girl, like your sister and your Papas.
*You have started "talking" to us, and love to be cooed back to, usually resulting in a sweet little smile :)
*Some cradle cap has begun to develop, but I'm trying to nip it in the bud with special cradle cap wash and using conditioner too. It is a common misconception that this is caused by a lack of hygiene, however, it is due to a lack of normal scalp oils to keep the scalp hydrated, so DON'T JUDGE when you see a baby with it.
*Sometimes you wolf down your bottles, and other times I have to practically take your clothes off to keep you awake enough to eat even half.
*You are so very loved by everyone, and we wouldn't trade you for the world!
All my love,
Mama
Where oh where have the past 2 months gone! Already it is August, and already you are turning 2 months old. It truly is hard for me to remember what is was like before you came, but all I know now is that life feels complete with you here. We are still working to figure each other out, but I'm confident that we'll get there :) These first two months have been terribly eventful, what with two hospital stays, one being for a whole week. Let's just not make this a habit, alright, little lady?
Bath time is now one of your favorite times of day, and you are so bright-eyed and bushy-tailed during it! Naps, on the other hand......well, let's just say that you're not a big fan because there's too much to see and do. Plus, I'm still trying to figure out how long to let you stay up before putting you to sleep, so maybe you're a bit overtired??? You are still a sucky eater (no pun intended :) ) and some days you want to eat every 1.5-2 hours, but only about .5-1.5 ounces at a time, which equals one LOOOOOONNNNNGGGG day for both of us. You had been napping between 45 minutes to 3 hours, but yesterday I don't think you napped more than 1.5 hours for the entire day, which led to a major meltdown that evening, followed by a 6:15 p.m. bedtime (and a tumultuous night.) I am working on getting you to nap in your crib and not the swing or vibrating chair. Yesterday you slept in it for 45 minutes, then woke yourself up crying. So, right now you are passed out in the swing, and I'm planning on giving you your afternoon nap in the crib.
I am trying to prepare to start back to work on August 12th, which will be your first day at daycare also. I have to be honest, I am looking forward to going back and getting into my old routine. Not that I haven't appreciated and loved my special time with you, but I know that I will appreciate that time and those smiles even more when I start working. Alright, so now some fun facts:
*You are DEFINITELY a morning girl, like your sister and your Papas.
*You have started "talking" to us, and love to be cooed back to, usually resulting in a sweet little smile :)
*Some cradle cap has begun to develop, but I'm trying to nip it in the bud with special cradle cap wash and using conditioner too. It is a common misconception that this is caused by a lack of hygiene, however, it is due to a lack of normal scalp oils to keep the scalp hydrated, so DON'T JUDGE when you see a baby with it.
*Sometimes you wolf down your bottles, and other times I have to practically take your clothes off to keep you awake enough to eat even half.
*You are so very loved by everyone, and we wouldn't trade you for the world!
All my love,
Mama
Monday, July 29, 2013
Bittersweet
There is a saying that goes something like "If I knew the last time I hugged you, would be the last time I hugged you, then I would have held on a little longer." Well, the version playing in my head goes something like "If I knew the last time I was pregnant, would be my last time being pregnant, I would have savored those 9 months a little more." To clarify where I'm going with all of this, I made an appointment to have a tubal ligation done on September 17th. This decision was a much more emotional one than I would have ever though possible, for several different reasons.
First off, it seems to close a chapter of my life.....like a part of me is dying. I know that's kind of a grim way of looking at it, but that's how I feel. It's not that I feel like less of a woman, but that a big reason for my existence will be gone. However, I think the biggest reason it was such an emotional struggle to make this decision was because I know that it means I will never again hold a babe of my own in my arms (after Olivia grows a bit.) Olivia is such a good, pleasant baby, and I have really come to love this baby phase.....the same, however, could not be said for when Emma was a baby, due to digestive issues and colic. It means that once these precious first months of Olivia's are gone, that I won't have this opportunity to experience them again. I know that it sounds terribly selfish when I put it that way, and that by choosing to have the surgery done I am doing something responsible for our family (albeit not in the eyes of my fellow Catholics and the Church), but it doesn't make it any easier knowing that all of these little firsts of Olivia's, are some of the lasts for me.
However, I will be 28 this year, and had already decided that I didn't want to give birth after the age of 30 due to the increased risk to the baby, which would mean that I would have to be getting pregnant within the next year or year and a half to keep under that age. This would put the two youngest closer together than I want, and I fear, more stress than we could handle. Therefore, I make this decision in confidence that what I am doing is the right thing for us. I will just remember to savor all of these little moments of Olivia's and Emma's and be eternally grateful for the amazing family God has provided me with.
First off, it seems to close a chapter of my life.....like a part of me is dying. I know that's kind of a grim way of looking at it, but that's how I feel. It's not that I feel like less of a woman, but that a big reason for my existence will be gone. However, I think the biggest reason it was such an emotional struggle to make this decision was because I know that it means I will never again hold a babe of my own in my arms (after Olivia grows a bit.) Olivia is such a good, pleasant baby, and I have really come to love this baby phase.....the same, however, could not be said for when Emma was a baby, due to digestive issues and colic. It means that once these precious first months of Olivia's are gone, that I won't have this opportunity to experience them again. I know that it sounds terribly selfish when I put it that way, and that by choosing to have the surgery done I am doing something responsible for our family (albeit not in the eyes of my fellow Catholics and the Church), but it doesn't make it any easier knowing that all of these little firsts of Olivia's, are some of the lasts for me.
However, I will be 28 this year, and had already decided that I didn't want to give birth after the age of 30 due to the increased risk to the baby, which would mean that I would have to be getting pregnant within the next year or year and a half to keep under that age. This would put the two youngest closer together than I want, and I fear, more stress than we could handle. Therefore, I make this decision in confidence that what I am doing is the right thing for us. I will just remember to savor all of these little moments of Olivia's and Emma's and be eternally grateful for the amazing family God has provided me with.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Settling BACK In
These past 7 weeks since Olivia has been with us has been more excitement than anyone needs in such a short amount of time. She has been hospitalized not one, but TWO times. The first was due to a fever caused by enterovirus, and warranted a 2 night stay, a spinal tap, blood workup, IV antibiotics, and lots and lots of nighttime interruptions from nurses. The second was due to an infection in the blood due to an unknown bacteria, and warranted a 7 night stay, spinal tap, blood workup, 3 IV (it started leaking twice and had to be replaced both times), 14 rounds of Rocephin (a very very strong antibiotic), and many more nighttime interruptions.
I have tried to assure her that she doesn't need to give us this "excitement" every three weeks, and that we would really like to be able to settle into a good pattern for a long period of time. Hopefully she understood what I was saying ;)
I have tried to assure her that she doesn't need to give us this "excitement" every three weeks, and that we would really like to be able to settle into a good pattern for a long period of time. Hopefully she understood what I was saying ;)
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
One Month
My Baby Girl Olivia,
I can't believe that you have already been with us for a month!!! I must admit, before you were born I wondered how my heart would be able to love another little girl as much as I loved your big sister, but rest assured that the moment you were born and I laid eyes on you that my feelings for you were instantaneous. You have grown so much (well, at least I think you have!) in the past month, so here are some fun facts about you:
*You weight 7 pounds and 9 ounces.....up from 6lb 3oz at birth.
*You are (usually) an awesome snuggler!!!
*Eating can be a very slow process for you, and lately you've been wanting to eat ALL.THE.TIME
*You haven't been napping very well lately, but sleep pretty good at night
*The Halo Swaddle Sack is our best friend at night and when you're fussy
*You like to lay on our legs and look around
*Bathtime is getting better each time
*You are pretty easy going when it comes to Emma liking to poke your eyes, stick her fingers in your mouth, and "petting" your head :)
We are really enjoying getting to know you and seeing you change before our very eyes! Just, please, don't grow up too fast!!!!
Love,
Mom
I can't believe that you have already been with us for a month!!! I must admit, before you were born I wondered how my heart would be able to love another little girl as much as I loved your big sister, but rest assured that the moment you were born and I laid eyes on you that my feelings for you were instantaneous. You have grown so much (well, at least I think you have!) in the past month, so here are some fun facts about you:
*You weight 7 pounds and 9 ounces.....up from 6lb 3oz at birth.
*You are (usually) an awesome snuggler!!!
*Eating can be a very slow process for you, and lately you've been wanting to eat ALL.THE.TIME
*You haven't been napping very well lately, but sleep pretty good at night
*The Halo Swaddle Sack is our best friend at night and when you're fussy
*You like to lay on our legs and look around
*Bathtime is getting better each time
*You are pretty easy going when it comes to Emma liking to poke your eyes, stick her fingers in your mouth, and "petting" your head :)
We are really enjoying getting to know you and seeing you change before our very eyes! Just, please, don't grow up too fast!!!!
Love,
Mom
Thursday, June 27, 2013
4 Years
Nick,
Where have these last four years gone?! I can still remember what we were doing this night four years ago: polka-ing around the dance floor at our wedding!!! That was one of the most amazing and memorable nights of my life, and who knew that it would lead to two beautiful daughters and a very busy life!!! Tonight we celebrated this milestone with dinner at TGIFridays and then a stop at Barnes and Noble on the way home :)
We now are a family of four, which keeps us so incredibly busy, but is so rewarding at the same time. I am thankful that God brought us together, as I wouldn't want to "do" this thing called life with anyone else! I love you and look forward to all of the years to come!
XOXO
Nikki
Where have these last four years gone?! I can still remember what we were doing this night four years ago: polka-ing around the dance floor at our wedding!!! That was one of the most amazing and memorable nights of my life, and who knew that it would lead to two beautiful daughters and a very busy life!!! Tonight we celebrated this milestone with dinner at TGIFridays and then a stop at Barnes and Noble on the way home :)
We now are a family of four, which keeps us so incredibly busy, but is so rewarding at the same time. I am thankful that God brought us together, as I wouldn't want to "do" this thing called life with anyone else! I love you and look forward to all of the years to come!
XOXO
Nikki
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