Tuesday, December 10, 2013

4 months

So, it's really hard doing things, like the laundry or dishes, or writing on the blog because all I want to do is spend time with Greta. She is my world. I could eat her up...and I do pretend to. She smiles so big.

She has become attached to me and I can't say that I don't kind of love it but it's also kind of driving me crazy. I lay with her when she sleeps...if I get up, she wakes up. So, I nap when she naps and so forth. I don't think I'm ready to sleep train her just yet...I'm just not ready to give up this special time we share. AND it is extremely difficult to hear my baby cry for any length of time.

However, I think that we will all sleep better when the time comes. The books say the sooner, the better. She does sleep through the night, for the most part, and that ain't bad at four months.


































To my darling, at four months...

You are holding steady in the 80th percentile for height and weight! 14 lbs 15 oz and 25 1/2 inches long!

Your head went from being in the 55th percentile to the 90th percentile. You smart girl, you.

We've been calling you "Greta the goat" because anything, especially cloth, that comes within reach of you, you will grab and proceed to try and eat it.

You play with your feet and chew on your toes and I think it's just the cutest thing ever.

You examine your hands in great detail.

You are becoming very good at sitting up...so good, that you want to practice it everyday.

You love to stand. You even try to stand up in mama's sling...which is kind of dangerous.

You love "Head, shoulders, knees, and toes" and "Little piggy" and pretty much any song we sing to you.

Your giggle is music to my ears. Mama can find a sweet spot on your neck that gets you to giggle...I make funny faces and sounds, and if the mood strikes you, you laugh. You found Nancy Karam to be quite hilarious, though.

You suck on that thumb of yours like it may somehow become detached from your body and you are trying desperately to save it.

You have been sucking on your lower lip lately. You did this when you were first born, too.

You celebrated your first Thanksgiving at Aunt Melissa's and then at Gram and Papa's. You were such a good girl.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Happy Birthday, Sister!

I remember this day that you were born 30 years ago.  Our parents always had us stay with friends when babies (you and Ryan) were on the way.  When you were born at home on Jameson Court, we were staying with a family on the "new" side of Bolingbrook - the Reynolds' (they lived in a nice house that I wished was ours).  I remember hearing the news that, "it's a girl!".  And, then I got to meet you.  I fell in love.  You were all mine (after having 3 brothers!).  LOL

I cannot believe you are 30!  And, at the same time, I am so excited you are 30; and, you are married and you have your beautiful daughter and your beautiful life.

I want to tell you how much I love you and how much YOU ARE LOVED. 

You have many gifts, dear sister.  You have the gift of laughter.  You can (and have always) made everyone smile (and laugh!) in the face of sadness, anger or adversity.  You give this gift away freely, to our father, to me, to your friends.  This is a beautiful gift. 

You also use your gift of laughter in your gift of writing.  I am honored to share this blog with you, not only because you are my sister and my friend, but also because you are a wonderful writer!

You have the gift of photography.  You take such beautiful pictures.  I am so glad that you use this gift and share your pictures here on our blog.  I KNOW that when you are ready, you will create a thriving photography business (I still dream about you and I traveling to art fairs and markets with our kiddos and setting up "booths" to sell our creations to others who will hopefully buy them).

You have the gift of unconditional love.  You love others, no matter what.  When they hurt you, you struggle with what to do next, because, dear sister, your love for them does not go away.

You have the gift of calm.  You can remain calm when everything is chaos.  You have used this gift as a teacher and you will continue to use it as a mom.

You have many more gifts.  YOU are a gift.  To me, to our family, to your husband and daughter, to the world. 

I love you.  I look forward to celebrating with you this weekend.  Happy Birthday, lovely sister!

Friday, November 29, 2013

Pilgrims and Indians

So, we woke up on Thanksgiving morning...slowly.  And, the boys were all excited because it was THANKSGIVING (I am guessing it was exciting because dad was off from work, family was coming and all holidays are special days)!  They busied themselves in their room, as they normally do in the morning.

Then, we noticed they were kind of sneaking around.  They just averted our eyes and said, "we're not ready yet!"

We have been reading about Thanksgiving.  We have heard about gratitude and giving thanks.  But, the story that stands out is, of course, the FIRST Thanksgiving, with the pilgrims and indians!

So, when our children emerged from creating art and costumes, they had a "turkey" in hand (a box with construction paper feathers).  And, one of them was dressed as they believe a pilgrim would have dressed (notice the belt on the hat); and, one of them was dressed as they believe an American Indian would have been dressed (the feathers are stuck on the head with a rubber band, and they found a washable marker to make the "paint" on the face because they knew I would be mad otherwise).

Here are our boys.  We are proud of them for their imagination, creativity and doing it all on their own!  We love them!  We are grateful for them.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!



Monday, November 4, 2013

3 months











































To my little tyrannosaurus...at three months.

Many people ask us if we have a nickname for you. We have many. Not just one. Lately, you roar like a dinosaur, so we have been calling you "tyrannosaurus Greta". And we roar right back and you squeal with delight when we do this.

Your favorite toy is your monkey. (a gift from one of daddy's co-workers) When you wake up, you can't wait to tell monkey all about the dreams you had. When monkey doesn't respond, you take your little hand and give him a shake. (Daddy wishes monkey would respond back for this reason) So, Mama, in her best monkey voice, responds for him. And sometimes, you and monkey just have staring contests.

When I lay with you and you drift off to sleep...sometimes I just stare at you. You smile and make cooing sounds in your sleep and I wonder what you are dreaming of. I could stare at you forever, my darling.

You never used to let us cuddle with you. You would push us away and go "Eh, eh" and try to squirm away when we tried to snuggle you. But, you have warmed up to us, my little one. And I couldn't be more grateful for this. Mama loves to cuddle with you...and you are indifferent...or maybe you like it. Anyway, you let me cuddle with you and it makes me so happy.

When I change your diaper, you take your little hands, place them on your pudgy knees, and pull them up to your chest in anticipation of getting your bottom wiped. I love you for this and when I thank you, you smile, as if to say, "You're very welcome, Mama. Thank you."

You started scooting. With your knees bent, you plant your feet down and move your body up. You try to do this on the changing table and Mama has to hold you down so you don't scoot off of it! You also swing your legs over the side of your changing table...that really scares the shit out of Mama.

You have been sleeping through the night for the past week. You used to wake up at about 3am to nurse and go back to sleep...so, Mama has still been waking up at this time. I check to make sure you are still breathing and then it takes me awhile to go back to sleep.

You keep scratching yourself with your little nails and when you are in your bouncy chair, I feel like you run your nails over the material to sharpen them...which only reinforces your new nickname. You have also been pinching us lately...

You are on the verge of laughter, which means when you do have your first real laugh...you will be cracking up on a daily basis because your daddy and I are pretty hilarious.

You just started noticing your feet. You don't really do anything with them. You just acknowledge that you have them.