Hello Fall!

Molls is growing so fast it's almost unbelievable! We are blessed with one very happy baby I will say..She smiles a LOT and always if someone is talking to her and/or smiling at her (guess I can't capture on camera though!) She loooves to be a part of the action!! She is getting even better at holding her head up, loves to sit up & see what's happening. I swear the girl doesn't miss a beat. She will coo and talk so much, sometimes we hardly get a word in. It's just awesome to see that kind of development literally occur before your eyes.
I'm so in love with how she will follow Matt with her eyes and head alll the way around a room or when he's sitting next to us and gets up, she turns and looks like she's really about to talk and say "Dad, where you going?" It's so darn cute and melts him, I know.

Word up, sista

Last weekend we took Molls to the pumpkin sale at a local church, where our friends belong. Granted, I had about 3 cute outfits for her to get different photos in, but we ended up with just this one due to sleepiness...and also got called 'handsome.' Shucks..guess it's back to the pink & purple for this one!! Haha!

Two buds

My little pumpkin!!

Almost 2 weeks ago we also got the first real laugh!! It was everything and more, that I'd been waiting on. Just the sweetest chuckle ever. And of course, once you hear it, you want it all the time--but she only indulges me sometimes, though we're on a pattern of at least once a day! A friend and I were talking the other day about all these baby milestones & how they have so many accomplishments this first year. I'm not really one to take the time to scrapbook, although I do enjoy crafts, and honestly don't even have a baby book for Mollie! I have gathered some pictures and at least will write on the back her age, etc. But I also figured, I'm not doing a baby book because I have this blog! I can't wait to share with her all those old entries of Matt & I first knowing about her existence, her growing in my tummy and even more importantly, how much we LOVE having her with us and how much fun we are having! Each day brings a new smile to our face and we anticipate getting to see her each morning. Even this am, I brought her into our bedroom to say hey to Matt...although he would've seen her in just a few more minutes, I just couldn't wait:)

Matt and I did have our first dinner date sans Mollie last week. Mom & Dad were in town so they watched her for a couple hours.

Mimi, Pops & Mollie

It was lovely, but we were anxious to get back to see her before she went to bed!! I do remember the times before Matt & I had Mollie, there's no lying and saying I don't, haha!, but in all honesty, I'm not sure either of us smiled or laughed on a daily basis as much as we do now. Guess that's what parenting is supposed to be. Building joy upon joy. I'm pretty certain there's more joy now than we ever expected..and I hear it only gets better!

Family pic..complete with spit up!!

Happy 3 months, Mollie!

Oh my, Mollie is already 3 months today!! This age seemed so far away!! She is honestly getting sweeter and more fun by the day- Matt and I cannot get enough of her and that precious face:)

Sweet, sweet girl!!

A few things we've recently realized..

•  I'm not sure if we'll ever have the need for an alarm clock again
• When she gets up in the AM's, we both race each other in the room, as that first daily sight of her all swaddled and smiling is truly priceless. We just stand over her & laugh it's so adorable! (see pic)
• She is a 'happy spitter' - the girl spits up more than we thought possible, but smiles and it doesn't bother her, so no need to worry! I'm keeping burp cloth and bib companies in biz.
• Pretty certain Mollie will love cooking and/or helping dad in the kitchen. She can sit in her bumbo and watch dad cook forever..he tells her about all the tips and ingredients! We cannot WAIT to talk solids with the Pediatrician next month!!!
• When she catches a glimpse of the TV her eyes just get locked in..she seems to prefer Food Network, but maybe that's because it's all we watch:)
• She is getting so good at sitting up and having strength. She loves to look around and is so alert- but really, she was alert from Day 1! We of course have to help her sometimes, but guess rolling over is next on her agenda, so we'll see!
• Her likes and dislikes are becoming a bit more obvious each day. Likes= swing, taking walks, being outside, talking, reading, lovey blankets, babydoll, bathtime and MUCH more. She is a very happy baby. Dislikes= getting hungry is pretty much it. Ha!
• Pretty sure Mollie's a morning person, which is fine by me! Matt and I are by no means night owls..Although this AM I did have to go in and wake her, which I hate doing as she needs her sleep, but the girl had been asleep for 11+ hours!!!
• Somehow each night she moves from one end of her crib to the other IN her swaddle (see pic). Little inchworm we have I guess! What will happen when we don't swaddle her?! Will she learn to crawl?!
•   Matt & I are blessed everyday to have a wonderful and healthy child- we could not ask for more!

All wedged down at the end! Haha

Seriously, makes our day to wake up to this! Wish I awoke this happy:)

I also want to take this opportunity and say THANK YOU to all of our blog readers...I run into people all the time who reference the blog & I also get the most amazing emails or facebook messages from best friends and even long lost friends sharing their highs & lows of parenting, providing support, telling cute or funny stories and I really appreciate it!!! Y'all are awesome:)  xoxo

Reality Hits (& Bites)

My maternity leave is officially over. Well, today is my last weekday at home with lil peanut:(

Our last weekday AM walk..

Beginning July 6 when Mollie was born, fast forward 3 months and now it's time to go back to work. Early on I was overwhelmed with emotion & life and it definitely took me a good while to make sense of our new life and learning all these new ropes. Ha, not like I have it ALL figured it out yet:) But feel I sure could use some more time. I'm staying realistic and thinking, who could NOT use more time?!

I've worked from home throughout my leave and then in September I went into the office 2x a week. It's now October 1. Guess what that means- full time for me in the office starting this month. Ohhh has the day really come?!  Reality hits and tears fill my eyes.

Being home a few days a week with her for sure had it's pro's & con's. I wasn't rushed in the mornings. We got in our regular neighborhood walk & I was able to just snuggle with her for as long as I wanted. On the other hand, it really was non-stop. When she did nap, I could then get things done. I am not the cook of the household, Matt is, thank goodness. While I do clean, I could do a better job:) Between feeding her, pumping, washing things in the sink, laundry, playing with her, straightening the house, I was sometimes lucky to even get myself lunch made on time or close to it. That kind of hecticness I won't miss...but man, I will miss those snuggles:) With her bedtime about 7pm, and we get home around 5pm, that's not much time to spend with her! I think that's been the toughest part on my office days..I feel like I never get to see her. Although, P.S. Mollie, I don't NEED to see you in the middle of the night, so keep up the great sleeping!!

We adore Mollie's caregiver- she is with a wonderful lady (JoJo) and her family who all love kids! We've been transitioning into our routine for September and all seems great. Matt & I are working on the AM routine of feeding, quick nap for Molls, getting us and her dressed, bags packed, milk transported, dropping her off, etc. I am now questioning will I ever get my car and personal space back?? My thought is no. What used to fill my car was trashy mags, sunscreen and beach chairs has now been replaced with a stroller, carseat and an overfilled diaper bag. To be honest, I wouldn't trade that for anything! Even when Mollie isn't riding in the car with me, I glance in my rearview mirror, see her carseat and just smile ear to ear. She warms my heart through & through.

I always knew and assumed I'd be a 'working mom' and never thought I'd consider anything other...until I met my daughter. Don't get me wrong, I love to work and I love my job!! I know for a fact that staying home with a baby full-time would not satisfy me--at least not for very long I don't think. I've loved having best of both worlds this past month, but really, that's not for me either. It was very, very hard to work a whole lot at home and stay focused, so am confident that if I'm to work, I prefer the office. So what IS for me? I'm not sure 100%- but I know what it is for now and for a while.

As Oprah says, 'what I do know for sure' is...I love my daughter more than I ever thought possible and want the best in life for her. Mollie will grow up seeing her mom as an independent, confident woman who took her children and family's interests seriously and appropriately. Nothing less. She will see me laughing with Matt and us spending quality time with each other. SHE will grow up an independent & confident woman, as well.

Where has the time gone?!

So apparently, 3 months marks the transition from a newborn to an infant. We have a few more days, I'm not jumping the gun quite yet. It's so hard to believe how much these little beings change in just a few short weeks! My newborn will soon become an infant...wowsers, where has the time gone?!

Lounging poolside at Kiawah

Just Playin'!

One week I'm stressing that I need to be better apt to handle her wants & needs, I mean, the girl does communicate but I just doing speak 'baby' very well sometimes...At least she only cries when she needs something and once I go down my short list of what those things could be, I stumble upon the correct answer. Whew crisis averted. Once she hit about 2.5 months this was soooo much better!!

As much as it makes perfect sense, Matt and I have to constantly remind ourselves that babies are just 'miniature us's'. Some days we're more hungry or less hungry than others. Same with babies. Some nights we sleep well, some nights not. Same with babies. I could go on & on.. We're still trumped at certain moments, but for the most part, we're getting the hang of this! And loving every second of it- she really is super fun!!

Her personality's really starting to come through. There are times when she needs her alone time & doesn't want to be held. I hear ya. She'll wiggle and whine and as soon as you put her down, she's fine. I've always been one to enjoy time by myself as has Matt. I think that's a great attribute in a person when they enjoy spending time with just themselves. I bet she'll like her independent time to play and just chill when she gets older, too. When I would worry about her napping, my mom would remind me, 'when she's tired, she will sleep.' I really didn't quite get that & thought I had to tell her when to do it and coax her into falling asleep. Not the case. If I provide her the opportunity to fall asleep she will (in most cases) fall asleep. I got so wrapped up into having her 'be by the book' that I was missing her messages and her individuality. I've learned my lesson & will let her be her OWN person. As much as I wanted a schedule, we pretty much have one without me forcing anything. For that, I am grateful and comfortable.

Her smiles are out of control! The girl will crack me up. We finished feeding a few days ago and I started singing Bad Romance by Lady Gaga (don't ask) and the girl LOVED it. Oh great. Yep, she is def the niece of Julie & Jane Szteiter, the biggest Gaga fans I know:) I cannot wait for Mollie's out loud laughs to start!!! They are almost there & I am dying for a real giggle. While she can 'talk' up a storm, and seriously at times we can hardly get a word in. Matt and I just look at her and laugh. What in the world could she be trying to tell us? Something very important and useful, I'm sure:)

She was all smiles then stopped once the camera came out!

She also recently loves to hold things and touch things. Hence this precious picture of her holding her babydoll! She naps with her over her face and blankie in other hand. We knew she was a snuggle bug from DAY 1-- Melts my heart!!

Loving on babydoll

We have daily tummy time & while she is awesome at holding her head up, no signs of her attempting to roll over yet, but we're working on it. 

Roll Tide Roll!!

She's been sleeping great. She basically tells us what she wants and we follow. Guess we already know who is in charge here, right?! Her naps are pretty consistent and even if brief at times, she gets what she needs. Her fave afternoon nap spot is on her tummy (supervised, of course) in our living room leather chair. It's adorable & she always looks so content!

Ahhhhhhhh

We were trying different bedtimes to see what works and think we've ended up with right about 7pm. She has been doing down like a champ! We bathe her, have massage time, pj's, then read Goodnight Moon, eat a touch more, then bed. As we're reading Goodnight Moon, she always starts to fuss right around the page of 'Goodnight mush' because she knows her bedtime snack is right around the corner- haha! I usually get up once with her about 3 to eat & I also pump then we're all good:) Looking forward to her spacing that out til wakeup time!! A few nights ago it was ALL night, 8pm-6am, then the next night it was 7pm-5:45am...bingo, lets keep that up!!

So, we're going to have our last little while with our newborn and then she grows up into a new category. So very hard to believe and I know she'll be crawling before I can even blink my eyes. For now, we'll enjoy our little tiny Mollie:)

Happy Anniversary!

Matt & I are celebrating 4 years of marriage today!! I remember that magical day like it was yesterday and relive it often. The day he proposed to me in Asheville and it was snowing, the moment I called my family to share the good news, the day I walked down the aisle in my dad's arms to wed my best friend.

4 years? How could so very much happen in just 4 years? An amazing wedding, a couple weeks after my mom falls down and busts her teeth out, my sisters go off to college, my dad is in the hospital for 74 days, my parents sell their house and probably 95% of everything in it and then we welcome Mollie into our lives:) Whew. That exhausts me just writing it out.

I can only imagine how wonderful all of these many more years will be with our little family. We've taken some awesome trips together, laughed so hard we've cried and cried so hard we've laughed. What is in store for the next 4? I don't know, but I will say excitement is sure to be had:)

I'm lucky he chose me. I'm lucky we were blessed to have a beautiful little girl together. I love you, boo and Mollie does too!!

She's growing!

Yesterday we had Mollie's 2 month vaccine Pediatrician appt. I will honestly say that I had no clue what to expect nor how she would react. I was dreading the shots! I've only heard one pain cry from her and it was the other night, when my ring either scrached her neck or she got a scratch elsewhere & I just rubbed it. Either way, I knew that was a pain cry. When I heard it, I just snuggled her real hard and hoped it would go away ASAP whatever it was! I knew we'd hear it again with the shots. She did GREAT! Was snoozing in my arms at the time they were ready to do them, so I woke her a bit, had to lay her down, the sweet nurse was quick and she cried a few good wails, but that was it! Then I scooped her back up, snuggled with her & rocked and presto, back asleep...for almost 3 hrs!!! She fell asleep in her carseat and I even ate lunch in my car, in the driveway so I would not disturb her!

Check out my boo-boo's :(

I actually ADORE our Dr, so it's been nice to go to him and he really spends time talking with the patients about what baby is doing, how the family is doing, milestones, what we need to look ahead at doing/not doing, etc. It's wonderful to have him as an important resource and he's been helpful from Day 1.

Also at this appt they do measurements and look at percentiles/averages. She is exactly 10 lbs!!! I knew she was close to that a couple weeks ago and Matt & I even thought she'd be a touch more, but nope -10 even. That puts her in the 50% percentile, so exactly average--although I think she is waaayyy better than average:) Big improvement as at 2 weeks, her weight was in the 10% bracket. She is now 22 1/2 inches in length, putting her in the 80% bracket. Where is she getting this height?! Not me or Matt, haha, must be my side as the rest of my family is pretty tall. I knew she might be lengthier than usual, as some 0-3 month outfits are so wide on her, but pull a bit in the length. Go girl, get you some height!!

Gah, I'm so big!

I don't know if it was the vaccines or not, I am hoping not, but she had an awesome night's sleep last night. We currently have a consistent bedtime routine, just not really consistent bedtime. We made the effort to put her down earlier than usual last night, when showing tired signs and she went to sleep without even a wimper! Woke up at 12:45 and I needed to pick her up, pat her back & put her back down. She didn't wake again until 4:30am!! She ate pretty well & then back down (which she is always good about, thank God). I went in there this am at 6:45 to start our day!! She was stirring, but not totally up. Had the BIGGEST grin on her face too!! Guess that's what happens when we get a good night's sleep, huh?! Yay, hope we're on to something, I've known she needed more nighttime sleep hours, um as do Matt & I. Day sleep issues will be next:)

Information Overload

“One of the effects of living with electric information is that we live habitually in a state of information overload. There’s always more than you can cope with.”
Marshall McLuhan
 
“Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense.”
Gertrude Stein

I've always felt like a pretty confident woman. Confidence in myself & confidence in my choices. It's always been a priority of mine to build up others self-esteem, especially women, as it's sooooo important and we all know why.

When Matt and I were first talking about starting a family, there wasn't a whole lot to do or 'study' ahead of time, per se. We wanted children together and that's all there was to it. So, of course, once you find out you are pregnant, the mass of information becomes out of control. I mean,you immediately want to read up on what you as a child-bearing mother should do & more so, what we should NOT do-- Matt likes to say the book "What to Expect When You are Expecting'  is full of 'all things you cannot do.' In all honesty, he's spot on. When you are pregnant you tend to worry about what you are eating, your size & what's normal and more so, what's going on with this baby inside of me? Well, there are plenty of books, websites and people's opinions out there to last us a lifetime! I don't even think I read through all the pregnancy books I had.

Fast forward to the present & we have a beautiful and sweet 9-week old little girl:) Almost the moment she arrived, I then moved onto the books and websites of parenting. A whole new genre at Barnes & Noble, if you will. Now...I really didn't stress or worry much during pregnancy, I knew it was all in God's hands and as long as I did what was healthy for me and baby, that's all I could do. Ha, not the same way I feel now that she is here!!! I wish it were that simple. Maybe it is and I'm just suffering from information overload.

Once you have that new life in your arms, the decision has automatically been made that you will do ANYTHING & EVERYTHING in your power for them. It's so true, it's almost frightening. In thinking and feeling that, you want to try and do everything right. Well the problem is, what is 'right?' What's right for one baby and family is not for another.

I heard the cliche 'Babies don't come with instruction manuals' time & time again and I really thought it was so lame. Now, um yeah, where IS my instruction manual?! After 9 weeks, we are for sure figuring things out. Books, websites and friends have helped, but there is an overabundance of information out there to 'help' you & at times it for sure has. On the other hand, sometimes all it does is confuse the heck out you and make you question yourself. I think that's the hardest part. I never really squabbled in my confidence or my choices, but I swear these past weeks sure have tested that. What if we do this, will that help? How do I help her sleep better? How do we get her on a schedule? The list goes on...On that note, I sent Matt to go out and get a particular baby sleep book for me. He comes back and informs me that the book was at B&N in the 'Problem Children' area. Great. Now, my child has a problem..just one more thing to worry about. Yeah right.

I know I'm the only mom Mollie will ever know & I think I'm a pretty darn good one I will say:) I want to make her the happiest baby possible and do everything 'right.' I think I'm starting to let go of the obsessive need to read into things too much and question our choices. I want Mollie to lead us and let us know what she wants. Hun, we're listening- tell us what you want! I promise to put down all the books and delete some of the bookmarked websites & just spend time with you. Not a whole lot of information, just good ole' quality time:) Our newest favorite past-time.