Two Months: A Letter

July 28, 2014

Miss Molly,

Oh what an exciting second month we've had!  You are changing so much and it's all so wonderful!  You are growing and getting a little personality that's so sweet and we just love you so much:)

Lucas is still infatuated by you and kisses you every chance he gets:)  He is so helpful getting you your paci when you're fussy, taking your diapers to the trashcan and laying by you on your mat.

You don't absolutely love your swing yet, but are starting to like your bouncer more and your mat more.  You take naps on our bed, in your crib, on the couch, and have also taken a few naps in your Boppy.  We are starting to figure you out more and more.  It's amazing how much we "know" you already and have learned what makes you you and what makes you special:)

You have started to smile this month which has been amazing to watch!  You smile at this silly noise we make while playing with your burp cloth (just like your brother did), when we smile at you, when you "ride a bicycle", when we make kissing noises, and when you're on your changing table.  You love your room so much and you've started sleeping in there too.  It was a necessary transition.  It took you a few nights to adjust, but we finally got the hang of it.

You love sleeping on your tummy; which I know is a "no no", but you try to turn that way anyway.  I think you'd eventually flip yourself over and you are pretty gassy, so we flipped you over one day and you've been like that ever since.  You now sleep 9 hours at night, so I think it's working:)  The mommy in me worries, so I wake up every 2-3 hours checking on you.  You start to wind down around 8p and we lay you down at 9p and you wake up at 6a.  You get a bath every other night (with brother; you got too big for your Puj tub in the sink) and you still love to be swaddled under the arms.

You both have so much fun in the tub:)  He loves having you in there and you do everything you can to wiggle yourself down and get a foot in the water!

You experienced your first fireworks show (with Mama and Daddy's Sunday school class) and your first 4th of July on your first trip to Miami:)  We stayed at Grammy and Grampy's one night and Papa and Nana's one night.  You did pretty good:)  You sleep better in your own crib, but who doesn't?!

You are still wearing 0-3 months clothes and size 1 diapers.  I wanted to wait until your 2-month check-up to write this and you weigh 11 lbs 11 oz (72%) and are 23 3/4 in  (92%)!  You are growing so fast and some of the smaller 0-3 month stuff is too little!  I'm trying to put you in some of it twice just because it's so cute!

You eat 4 1/2 oz every 3-3 1/2 hours of Similac Sensitive and you are still a sleepy eater!  Your Great-aunt Rhonda got to feed you at the Children's museum and she laughed at how hard we have to work to feed you!  Girl, you get lazy when you eat:)  We have been to the Children's museum twice, swimming several times, to Mimi and Poppy's a few more times, and to hang out with friends:)  You are so easy and so good and you rarely get fussy!  When you do get mad, though, you go from 0-60 in 5.2!!!  Your cry is so sad:(

We've also taken a few walks and you enjoy being in the Baby Bjorn which is very unlike your brother.  He didn't like to be cooped up at all, but then again he hated being swaddled and being on his tummy too:)  So while parts of your personalities are the same, you are still very different!

You've met some very important people this month.  Your Great-grandpa Dennis, your first cousin three-times removed Jenni, and your Great-great Aunt Nancy:)  They all loved you so much and just wanted to hold you all day!  They loved your pretty toenails, your sweet smile, your blue eyes, and your soft skin.

I want to remember the way your hair fell out except the very top and started to grow back in looking like a buzz cut, the way you grab for my fingers when I'm feeding you your bottle, your big crocodile tears, the loud grunts you make while pooping, the way you start to smile with your eyes, the way you stare at the pictures above the couch, the way you chew on your hands, the way you roll your neck when you're trying to hold your head up, and the beginnings of your little voice!

We just can't get enough of you and we are soaking up these last days before school starts!  You bring such a different dynamic into this home and we really love it!  And you!  You complete us:)

Love,
Mama and Daddy

The Fourth

The 4th of July will always hold a special place in my heart.  I spent my growing-up years at my friend Whitney's house for the 4th and going to the lake to watch a show:)  I have so many memories and I will forever cherish them.  Since I began having children, fireworks are so much more fun!  The way Lucas' eyes light up when he sees fireworks is just amazing and I can't put it into words.  Molly was a little young this year, but she was a blast to dress up:)

We headed to Miami (for the first time with both kids) for the weekend.  Lucas thought it was so funny that Jovie was riding in between Molly and him.

We got there Thursday afternoon and spent the evening with Nick's mom.  Molly and I hung out and I painted her toenails for the first time:)  So fun...red!!!

We had a delicious American dinner of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn on the cob, green beans and deviled eggs!  Oh and homemade ice-cream and chocolate chip cookies for dessert!  And sadly, I have no pictures:(

After dinner on the patio, we spent time outside watching Lucas play, lounging on a blanket and just spending time with each other.  Oh and I think he threw about 200 poppers:)

Once the sun began to go down, Lucas and Nick started doing smoke bombs and Lucas even lit a few himself:)  Notice please how he and Nick are squatting the exact same way!

They even lit a few fountains!!

It was so cool that evening, we built a fire in their fire pit and roasted marshmallows:)  They were delicious and then we sat around the fire and chatted!

After a yummy breakfast the next morning, we headed to Nick's dad's house for the day:)

We ate a delicious lunch outside and lounged around the pool for the rest of the day:)  Uncle Cal, Aunt Cassie and Boston came for the day, along with Uncle Bo and Aunt Megan, and our friends Matt, Julianna and their daughters Camilla and Tayah:)

Lucas absolutely loved being in the pool!!  He's getting so brave!!!

We spent the evening eating more good food, shooting off fireworks and catching fireflies!  You can even see Lucas' firefly box around his neck:)  Everyone had so much fun:)

We had a great time with our families and hope we are building the same memories for our children that we have!!!

It Takes a Village

This saying rings more true to me than ever since I had Lucas...and now Molly!

I have a group of people surrounding me that love Nick and me, love my children, and would do anything for us!  They bring food, do laundry, babysit, hug, kiss, bathe, and love on my children anytime I need them and more than that!  I couldn't do it alone and God put them in my life because He doesn't want me to.  He blessed me with these people and they are good:)

They were there at the hospital for Molly.  Well, except Grampy (who got to meet her a few days later) and Aunt Jana (who hasn't met her yet but loves her just the same!) :)

They mean the world to me and I love them all very much!

Mimi (my mom)

Poppy (my step-dad)

Aunt Cassie, Uncle Cal and cousin Boston (my sister, brother-in-law and nephew)

Grammy (Nick's mom)

Grampy (Nick's step-dad)

Papa (Nick's dad)

Nana (Nick's step-mom)

Uncle Josh and cousin Colt (Nick's brother and nephew)...again so sad we missed Aunt Jana!

Aunt Megan (Nick's sister)

Uncle Bo (Nick's brother-in-law)

I love you all and thanks:)

One Month: A Letter

June 28, 2014

Dear sweet Molly,

I can't believe it's already been a month!  What an exciting month it's been:)

It's been such a range of emotions for Mama.  You've made me so happy, worried, excited, scared, confused, and content all at once!  You've fit right in, but we've definitely had some adjustment period too.

You're brother is infatuated by you!  He loves to look at you; especially when your eyes are open!  He puts your paci in when you fuss and he loves to lay by you and look at you when you're on your mat!

You went to the doctor just a few days after we got home and you had gained 4 oz since we left the hospital!  The doctor said you looked wonderful and that made us so happy:)

Mommy was nursing you and you seemed to be doing okay, but you fell asleep while sucking almost every time:)  My milk seemed to be coming in on one side more than another and you seemed real fussy, so I called and we went back to the doctor on Wednesday and to see the lactation consultant.  You had lost a little bit of weight since Monday, so the doctor told us to supplement 1 oz of formula after every feeding.  This seemed to work better:)

We were still trying to figure out how much you were eating, but we put you on more of a schedule and the lactation consultant taught mama a few tricks, so you were starting to sleep pretty good.  The doctor wanted to see you again in one week.

We had lots of fun with you figuring out your quirks.  You take your paci really well, you like laying on your belly when you're fussy, you like to be swaddled under the arms, you put your arms above your head when you sleep just like your brother, you're a sleepy eater and you don't like to work very hard while eating, you curl your toes and clinch your fists when you really start sucking, and you love your room!  

We took you for your newborn pictures and we got some amazing ones!

You also experienced a lot of firsts this month.

You met your first friend, Jordan.  Jordan's daddy is friends with your daddy and Jordan's older brother Campbell is friend's with your brother.  Campbell is 6 days older than Lucas and you are 2 days older than Jordan.  We will see them and hang out with them a lot:)

You went to church for the first time and have still yet to go to the nursery.  You're such a good girl and usually sleep all through service.  I'll take you in there soon, but now I love snuggling with you during church!

Your Aunt Cassie and I took you, Lucas and your cousin Boston to Mama's hometown of Pryor to surprise Mimi at work.  She loved having all three of you there and you got some snuggle time in with Aunt Cassie too:)

Your cord stump fell off, so you finally got your first bath and you loved it!  You loved looking at the running water and seeing yourself in the mirror:)

We took Lucas to the park and you and I had a good time sitting in the shade watching:)

We got to celebrate Father's Day with Daddy:)  His first as a father of two!  He loves you and Lucas so much!!!!  You've got a good daddy.

We went to one of Daddy's baseball games.  Lots of people got to hold you and love on you and I'm excited for you to see more of those!  It's a sport your Daddy loves and he can't wait to teach you all about it:)

And you got to meet your second cousin Daisy!  You guys are less than a month apart and I can't wait to see your friendship grow:)

We spend our days cuddling with you on the couch, laying on a quilt in your room, swinging in your swing, being outside watching Lucas swim and ride his tricycle, getting to know your grandparents, aunts and uncles, and figuring out where you like most to nap!

You eat 3 1/2 oz every 3 hours during the day.  At night, you sleep really good the first go-round; usually 4 hours.  Then after that, it's very inconsistent.  Sometimes you'll only sleep two hours after that feeding and sometimes it's 3-4.  Also after that first feeding, sometimes you stay awake for awhile and sometimes you fall asleep after only eating 2 oz.  That's our toughest time right now.  We want to make sure you're comfortable and satisfied and sometimes we don't know how to do that.

You are on sensitive formula right now and after a day of fussiness while you got used to the formula, you seem much more content after each feeding.  Mama nursed you for 3 weeks and she's grateful she got that time, but you started needing 2 1/2 oz of formula after Mama would nurse you, so you were getting more formula than you were breast milk.  It's easier because now Daddy can help feed you and you eat a lot faster.  You are growing too because when we went back to the doctor for your 2-week check-up you were 1 oz shy of your birthweight and Daddy weighed you the other day (with you on the scale and without you) and you weighed 9 1/2 oz!!!  You are in 0-3 month clothes now and size 1 diapers.  You are starting to get chubby thighs and rolls on your arms, knees and back!  I love it:)  More to squeeze that way:)

I want to remember your strawberry blonde hair, your big, dark blue eyes, your dainty fingers, your chubby cheeks, and your little mouth:)  I also want to remember the way you smile when you start to fall asleep and the way you always throw your head back, just like it was in the womb:)

You are so sweet and fun and we are so thankful God gave you to us.  We promise to teach you to put Him first and love Him first.  We also promise to love you and take care of you:)

Thanks for joining our family and making us a family of four!

Love,
Mama and Daddy