Sick Day

We are seven days into Anna's first cold AND first stomach bug. The mama has a cold, too, thanks to the cute baby girl.

We're sneezing, doing laundry, changing clothes and generally feeling bad around here. Alas. It'll pass. And what a trooper Anna has been thus far. We're lucky to have such a laid back kid. Wait. Strike that. We're lucky to have Anna.

Get well soon, Little One!

Sleeping it off...

Oh, Baby! Last night was your first visit to the After-Hours Pediatric Clinic. You were becoming less smiley and still puking up all your milk and you started experiencing some, um, less than desirable bowel movements. So, I called the nurses' hotline and the nice nurse said to trust my motherly instincts and take you to the clinic.

Daddy and I hauled you up there and you were such a trooper. You got pretty fussy in the waiting room, but it was just because you wanted to eat. I was scared to feed you! I wasn't sure if I should give you milk or Pedialyte. We finally fed you after we got back into a room and you managed to keep it down until we got home. You soaked Daddy!

The doctor (Oh! How we missed Dr. Stewart!) said that you have a stomach bug that could last for two weeks! Yucky! We are loading you up on Tylenol, Prevacid, and Pedialyte. I hope you feel better soon!

Is that Hair I see???

Three Months Old (and one day)

Baby girl,

Here are some pictures that I took of you yesterday. You are such a cutie pie! I really enjoy dressing you up. I'm sure one day you will develop your own sense of fashion - and it will likely be on the other end of the spectrum from mine, but until that day, I am gonna have fun pushing my fashion sense on you!

Nana bought you this little romper when she went to Nashville, TN back in July right after you were born. I thought it was darling when she brought it home, but you were WAY too little for it. Now it is a perfect fit!

Three Months Old

Hey baby girl! You are three months old today! I can't believe how quickly time has passed. You are such a big girl.

Last week was (sadly) your first week at daycare. I only sent you Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, however, because I wanted you home with me on Thursday and Friday. See, Mama is an attorney...and I have my own law practice, but you came along and everything changed and I don't want so much conflict to be in our lives anymore. Soooo, I am looking for a new job and the search isn't going that well, and Mama gets a little down every once in awhile. Daddy, Big Pop & Nana, and Mama's friends try to keep the encouragement levels high around here, but you do it best of all. Your little fuzzy head and toothless grin are the BEST! You try so hard to talk to me (and anybody that spends a little time talking to you). You are quite the little kicker, and you flail your arms ALL THE TIME.

For the past couple of days, you have projectile vomited up your milk. It is really pretty gross and hilarious all at the same time. My how the milk flies! I took you to see the doctor yesterday to make sure that you don't have an infection or virus. The doctor thinks it is just your reflux acting up. Daddy and I gave you Pedialyte several times just to make sure that you have liquids in your little bitty system. This morning, you woke up with your first cold! So sad! The little baby coughs and sneezes break my heart. You are still smiling, though! You are Mama's brave girl.

Three months, kiddo. Wow. I wish I was able to articulate how I feel about you, but there aren't words.

Love,
Mama

Never gonna give you up...

Dear Anna,

I wish I had a picture to go with this post. But, as it is 1:25 a.m. as I type this, the picture will have to wait.

You are (mostly) sleeping through the night. You do the best when I get it together and make sure that your feeding schedule includes a meal right around 8:00 p.m. Last night, though, I didn't calculate correctly and you ate around 7:00 p.m. and were down for the count. I just went up to your room to change your diaper and feed you. You throw SUCH the fit when you are hungry! You kick your little feet like an Olympic swimmer and pooch out your bottom lip like a world-class pouter. By the way, kid, the pouting thing is real cute now, but in a few years...not so much. I changed your diaper just now and fed you. After you ate, you curled up next to me and went back to sleep. Your little legs were draped across my thighs, and I felt my heart grow just a little bit bigger. I love you so fiercly...and you know what? I think you love me with just as much intensity. There are times when only mama will do - and while I worry about you when I'm not around - it makes me the happiest mama in the whole world.

So anyway. Where was I?

I gathered you up after you ate to wrap you back up in the Miracle Blanket. Just when I got you swaddled up, you decided to open those big blue eyes, look straight at me, and give me the widest smile! Kiddo, you don't know it yet (or maybe you do) but that cute little toothless grin of yours is your ticket. I'm going to have to muster up some immunity to it before you turn two, though, or you'll turn out rotten to the core.

I put your pacifier in your mouth and with a sigh you were back to sleep. I stood next to your crib and watched you enter the Land of Nod. You are so beautiful when you sleep. Okay - you're beautiful all the time. But especially when you sleep. Your little legs flop open. Your eyelashes rest so adorably against your cheeks. The corners of your mouth hint at a smile, making me wonder what you are dreaming about.

Time for the mama to go back to sleep, too. Sweet dreams, Little One.

Love,
Mama