Six Months: A Letter

November 28, 2014

Wow!  Half a year has gone by since you came into our lives!  We cannot believe how fast it's gone.  I so wish I could slow it down.  I love the lyrics to this Lady Antebellum song, "Time is a thief I would rob".  I couldn't agree more.  I just constantly think, "I wish we had more time".  But since this time is all we get, I cherish every little bit.  I try to savor even the crazy because I'll never get it back.  So, I love crazy!  And that's what this month has been.

You had two holidays this month...Halloween and Thanksgiving and there were some big events that surrounded these and filled the time in between.

We started the month with your very first trip to the pumpkin patch.  You weren't all that excited about it, but you looked so cute in your sunglasses and you sat in your umbrella stroller for the first time!

A few days later was your first Halloween!  You were the cutest little strawberry.  It was pretty chilly, so we didn't stay out for very long, but you had fun going to a few houses with brother while he got candy:)

You then became mobile!!  You started rolling from belly to back.  And it wasn't long until you'd roll all over the room.  It was so cute, but we all had to be more aware of where you were in relation to other things in the house...Lucas' toys mainly!

You also started sitting up this month.  You still can't push yourself into the sitting position but when we sit you up, you will sit for a really long time .  When you fall forward, you just transition to your belly, but you fell backward one time and it was not good.  You hit your head and cried pretty good.  So sad:(

Another major event this month was your dedication at church.  All your grandparents were there, along with Uncle Cal, Aunt Cassie and cousin Boston.  It was such a precious time.  We made a promise before our family and God that we would pray for you, raise you up in a Godly home, teach you the Word, and encourage you to be a part of a body of believers so you would grow and mature.  We love you and we want you to be with us for all eternity in Heaven.  This is our greatest prayer.

You also started eating solid food this month, for real!  We started you off about 2 weeks ago with oatmeal with banana and you love it!  You open your mouth like a little birdie and eat every bite.  At first, you didn't really know what to do with your tongue, but it didn't take you long to get the hang of it:)  After about a week of oatmeal, we started on sweet potatoes and you loved those too!  You lean forward and I can't hardly feed you fast enough.  Love it!  We'll try green beans next week.

You eat 2 oz of oatmeal and about 3 oz of formula for breakfast, 7 oz of formula mid-morning, 7 oz of formula mid-afternoon, sweet potatoes and 4 oz of formula for dinner, and about 2-3 oz of formula right before bed.  You go down about 7:15p and we wake you up at 6:30a.  You take 2 really good naps during the day and a short catnap in the early evening; usually on our way home from Ms. Kelly's.

You are still wearing 3-6 month clothes and jammies, but I predict we will be moving to 6-9 month right after Christmas.  You are in size 2 diapers, but I think we'll be moving to size 3 as soon as this box is out!  You also now sleep in a sleep sack.  You were kicking out of your swaddle.

You love your jumparoo and will spend a lot of time in it.  You get bouncing pretty fast and high sometimes and you just squeal!

When you're not in there or watching Lucas, you are pretty quiet.  It takes a lot to get you to laugh!  You smile a bunch and squeal, but you don't belly laugh very often and you don't talk a lot.  I guess Lucas talks enough for the both of you:)

Your last major event the day before your 6-month birthday was Thanksgiving/Mama's birthday.  We had many celebrations...Mimi's, Grammy's and Papa's.  You were a great traveler and everyone loved seeing you.  You met lots of new family and friends...Graham (our friend's son who is 1 month older than you), your Great-aunt Linda and Great-uncle John (daddy's aunt and uncle), your Great-aunt Joyce (daddy's other aunt) and lots of Daddy's cousins and their kids!  We had a great time getting together with everyone.

Well, sister...time is about to get even crazier with Christmas coming up.  I want to make some great memories with you and teach you the true meaning of the season...Jesus coming to earth as a baby to save us from our sins so we can live with Him forever.  I love you and look forward to all these new moments we get to share with you!

We love you so much!

Mama and Daddy

Five Months: A Letter

October 28, 2014

Molly Ann,

My dear sweet baby!  I can't believe how time has gotten away?!  It's flying so fast; faster than it has thus far.  You've become so active and so busy and it's hard to keep up!

You are such a fun, sweet little baby.  You are usually happy and have just become so alert and aware and you just laugh all the time:)

We started this month with your first set of shots and you were a little cranky and fussy those first few days.  You had a slight fever and wanted to take your time to eat.

Speaking of eating, Dr. Freed said we could start you on rice cereal and then move you on to solid foods.  Well, that was easier said than done.  You absolutely hated rice cereal!  You would fight us and refuse to open your mouth.

We thought you'd get the hang of it, but after about 2 1/2 weeks we decided to skip rice cereal and move onto veggies.  We wanted to start with greens, because we figured if we started you on orange veggies (carrots, sweet potatoes, squash) that you wouldn't like greens.  Well, we were right about that!  You absolutely HATED peas!

Feeding time started to become something we'd dread, so I called up the doctor and they said to stop it! They said you obviously weren't ready and to give you 2-3 weeks or a month and try again.  It's been 3 weeks and I think you're starting to get interested.  We started sitting you up on the dinner table in your Bumbo and giving you a spoon.  You have started to put it in your mouth and a couple of times I've given you bites of nothing and you've opened up like a little birdie.  We will try next week and I pray you like it better:)

This month started with a lot of family members watching you.  Ms. Kelly was gone on vacation and Grammy, Papa, Nana and Aunt Megan all came and stayed with us to watch you and Lucas.  You had so much fun with them:)

You got to chill at home and you so enjoyed your time with each of them.  You started rolling over consistently that week, but still don't roll from belly to back.  I know it's going to happen soon though.  You are so close!  You just have to figure out what to do with that arm:)  You love to grab your feet and as soon as you grab them, you roll onto your belly.  You are happy there for awhile, but you do get a little mad because you can't roll back over.  You just want to get around and look at everything and sometimes you actually scoot:)

You are still eating 6 oz every 4 hours, but in the evening we try to make your feedings closer together so you will eat another 2-3 oz before bed.  You were starting to wake up earlier and hungrier, so we started trying this and it's helping.

So, you're typical schedule is:
Wake 6:15a and eat 6 oz
Nap at 8:45a for about 1 1/2 hours
Eat 6 oz 10:15
Nap at 12:30p for about 1 1/2 hours
Eat 6 oz at 2:15p
Catnap at 4:00p for about 30 minutes
Eat 6 oz at 5:30
Eat 2-3 oz at 7:00 and go to bed around 7:15-7:30p

You are still wearing 3-6 month clothes and size 2 diapers.  You still love to chew on everything and you also love to blow raspberries!

A few other things that happened this month were an afternoon with Mommy's aunts and cousins for a baby shower, which resulted in you throwing up for the first time!  Mommy and Daddy got very sick that week, but we were glad that throwing up that one time was all that happened to you!  Mommy was so scared you'd be sick.  I praise the Lord that you weren't.

You also got your ears pierced this month:)  You were so good!  You cried for about 5 seconds, but once I gave you your paci, you stopped and haven't been bothered by them since.  You've left them alone and they've healed wonderfully:)

We also spent time at Daddy's softball State tournament and Daddy's team did really good, but lost in the semifinals.  It was very exciting though and you were definitely a hit:)

You have become more aware of Jovie this month and have also loved playing with brother more and more!  You love to lay on your mat and you just laugh at him and you try to turn whichever direction he's in.  I love watching your relationship.  I always wanted a boy and a girl for that very reason.  He'll always be your protector and you'll look up to him and rely on him and he'll do a great job taking care of you:)

This month I want to remember all the drool, the noises you make with your mouth, your laugh when daddy tickles you, how you stopped wanting to be cuddled and just wanted to lay down (sad for mama). and the way you want to hold your own bottle.

You are just the sweetest thing and so much fun to be around.  I love hanging out with you and getting to know you.  You are strong, stubborn and sweet all at the same time!  You are funny and my biggest challenge all at the same time!  I love that you want your own things and that you find me in the room.  I will be your biggest fighter and your biggest fan your entire life!  I love you so much sweet girl.

Love,
Mama and Daddy

Four Months: A Letter

September 28, 2014

Molly Ann,

What a big month you've had?!  You have learned so much and grown so much and have really started to show your personality:)

You love to smile, you love to kick your legs, you love to watch brother, and we love to just be with you!  You have completed our little puzzle and we couldn't be happier;)

You've settled in perfectly at Ms. Kelly's and we soak up every evening we have!  We travel to Daddy's games as much as we can and you and Lucas make many trips to the grocery store with me.  It's a challenge sometimes, but I love it:)  This season won't last long, as I already know.  It's already flying by!

You started off this 4th month with your first little vacation:)  We went to Shawnee for a softball tournament.  You stayed in your first hotel and you and Lucas got to come see OBU where I went to college.  It was so fun walking around with the two of you:)

You then got to meet my sweet friend from OBU, Chandra:)  We always go to her house for Labor Day and she and Justin loved meeting you!

Your other major event was meeting another 2nd cousin, Mayson!  We went to see her at the hospital and then at her house.  You looked huge next to her!  She's so sweet and tiny and I'm so glad you all live so close to each other:)

Other than that, we spent most of our days going to softball games and lounging around:)  These weeks go by too fast and we can't get enough of you and Lucas!  He just adores you and loves on you and calls you "my baby".  He loves when you smile and loves when you make noise and loves when you look at him!

You now eat 6z every 3.5-4 hours and are just starting rice cereal.  We went to the doctor for your 4-month check-up and you weigh 14 lbs 14 oz (75%) and are 25 1/4 in long (82%).  Chunky monkey:)  He says you're just perfect.  You have rolled from back to belly a few times and Dr. Freed that you went this way first. Usually it's the other way around, but Lucas did it that way first too.

You go to bed around 7-7:30p and we have to wake you up at  6:30a to go to Ms. Kelly's.  You sleep great.  You are still sleeping on your belly swaddled under your arms, but once you can roll from belly to back, we will have to put you in a sleep sack.  You take a good nap in the mornings and in the afternoons, with a catnap after lunch and sometimes in the evenings.  You absolutely love your bath and you kick like crazy and laugh the whole time!

You love to lay on your mat and you really like your bouncer too.  We are starting to put you in your Bumbo to get you ready for solid food, but you just love to lean forward.  You are really good at holding your head up, but you don't "sit up" very good yet.  You do love tummy time, so I know you'll get the hang of it:)

I just can't believe we are already at this point.  You are about to get very mobile and experience all the yummy baby foods.  It's such a fun stage and I'm excited, but I'll miss these days more than you'll know.

This month especially, I want to remember your chubby thighs, your coos, the way you love to kick your legs, your "droopy" cheeks, and the way you rub your eyes when you get sleepy.

You are a breath of fresh air and just the sweetest little thing.  We love you so much and are so grateful for your little life.  We can't wait to watch you grow and change and our prayer is to someday love the Lord and serve Him with your life.  You will do great things, Molly Ann!

We love you,
Mama and Daddy

Three Months: A Letter

August 28, 2014

Dear Mollz,

I can't believe you are three months!  I can't believe it's already September and I'm just now getting around to posting this!  I can't believe how busy we've been!

You are just the sweetest little thing:)  You are very easy-going (two children that way...lucky, I know) and laid back and we are just loving life with you!

You smile so much now and we want to capture every single one of them:)  Your cheeks raise up so we can see you smiling from across the room!  You have even started to laugh just a little bit...it sort of sounds like you're sucking in air really hard!  It's the cutest.

We have been so busy with school starting up.  You and Lucas helped me so much by coming to my room every day for a few hours to get it all set up.  You just laid around on the rug and took naps and watched Lucas play.  You were wonderful:)

Daddy has been really busy with softball games too and we go to all we can.  You love all the softball girls and they all love you too.  They've all been so helpful and will hold you any chance they get:)  But we like when he's home and we soak up every minute:)

You have settled into Ms. Kelly's really well.  She loves you and Lucas being back!  You take good naps there, play on your tummy, sit in the swing and the bouncer and get lots of kisses from Lucas:)  I'm so glad you are both there and taken care of!

You are eating 5 oz, every 3-3 1/2 hours and you have moved to a Level 2 nipple which has been amazing!  You eat in 15-20 minutes now and you don't get sleepy!  Woohoo!  It's helped so much in the mornings getting ready and when we are out and about:)  You have just moved to size 2 diapers and you are still wearing 0-3 months clothes.  You go to sleep at 7:45p and we have to wake you up at 6:30a.  You are still sleeping on your belly, swaddled from the waist down.  Sometimes you do a 180 in your crib and it's so crazy!  You are about to get mobile, I'm sure.  You take about three 1-1 1/2 hour naps and a cat nap in the evening.  You still do really well in your carseat, stroller and the Baby Bjorn.

You are starting to get better at tummy time, but you still flail your arms and you don't really do a "push up".  You are learning how to keep your head up for longer periods of time, though, so I'm sure it won't be long before you figure out where your arms go.  You like your bouncer a lot more now because you are starting to kick and bat at the toys.  You still won't hold onto anything for very long.

You met some more new people this month.  You met Megan and JD because they finally got back from Spain.  You've been able to hang out with them a few times...swimming and playing games:)  You also met your Great-uncle Greg and Great-aunt Debbie, Mommy's cousin Russell and his family and Mommy's friends Erin and Brittany:)  They all loved you so much!  We also got another picture with your Great-grandpa Dennis...a 4 generation pic:)

This month, I want to remember your funny little laugh, the smile you give me when I pick you up from Ms. Kelly's, how fast you eat your bottle, the way you have started to look at books, and your fuzzy-stick-straight-up hair!

It amazes me how fast time has flown!  You have fit into our lives and our schedule like a glove and we couldn't feel more blessed:)  I don't know what we ever did before you came.  You are starting to get the sweetest little personality and I can't wait to see what all you accomplish!

We love you so much Molly Ann!

Mommy and Daddy