Monday, August 24, 2015

welcome, my little plum.





























To my darling little girl,

You came into this world early on a Sunday morning in August, two nights after a blue moon. Your big sister also decided to come on a Sunday. As did your mama. We named you Estella Plum.

Your dad and I had it narrowed down to three girl's names and every time we said, "Estella", you smiled. You even frowned when we mentioned one. So, in a way, you chose your name. Your dad felt it was right. He thought it was a "magical" one.

Four pushes and you were out. I held you right away. I thought you looked just like your big sister when she was born. You latched onto my right breast and peed on me while you were nursing. I didn't mind.

Daddy cut your umbilical cord. Our midwife, Nancy, said it was the longest she had ever seen. They even measured it...40 in...it was loosely wrapped around your neck a couple times when you came out, "like a necklace", Daddy said.

My sister got to witness your birth, which made it all the more special. I'm grateful she could be there to hold my hand. A sister watching a sister being born.

You met your big sister later that day. She was so excited to see you. She wanted to hold you and she kept pushing on your nose, saying, "Awuuuuuuga!" She was so gentle with you.

You are so beautiful. You are so little. You are so loved, my little Plum.

Love always,

Mama






Thursday, August 6, 2015

To my curious 11 month old baby boy

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What a week!  It's no wonder you had trouble sleeping last week:  you got two more teeth (for a total of 4!), you learned how to crawl the stairs and you are starting to wave, "bye-bye".

You, sweet boy, have started getting into everything within your reach.  And, you are pulling yourself up to stand all over the house!

Regarding the stairs, you paid no attention to them and then, one day last week, you were curious and climbed all the way up your first time all alone (with us right behind you of course).  You are a pro going up...now, we just have to teach you to go down!

You love to plant your foot on my chest when you nurse as if to say, "don't go anywhere mommy".  :)


You want your daddy!  Even over milk!  LOL.  I love that you have bonded with daddy.  Daddy loves it, too.  Your brothers did not prefer daddy until they were about 1 1/2.


 
You are still eating everything mommy gives you (primarily fats, meats in tiny pieces, vegetables and fruits, all in tiny pieces).  You feed yourself.  Mommy did not let your brothers do this.  I think we are onto something.  I hope that you keep enjoying foods as much as you do.  You really like greek meatballs (made with lamb and beef, grated lemon, garlic and oregano).  You eat all your veggies.  You like grapes and unsweetened applesauce the best.  We seem to finally have your tummy issues under control.  The autoimmune paleo diet (that the rest of us started to heal from leaky gut syndrome, read more here) seems to be what you needed also.
 

Your brothers adore you and are enjoying getting to know you as much as we are!  I love to see you bond with them.



 
Oh!  How we love you so, sweet boy.