Letter to Emma: Thank You

Dear Sweet Baby Girl,

Most importantly I am glad that you are feeling so much better!  It is so nice to see you play with us, the dogs and your toys rather than just sitting on the ground crying until we pick you up. 

Second most importantly, I am sooooo thrilled that you remember how to sleep.  It didn’t come without struggles (i.e. daddy checking on you to make sure you had a clean dipe and that you were well fed), then laying you down to cry.  And you cried.  But it only lasted 20 minutes (with one comforting session).  Since then, you have managed to sleep through the night THREE nights in a row.  And for that, your daddy and I couldn’t be more thankful.  I really did think we were going to have to start from square one and that you would never sleep on your own again, but you proved us wrong.  You proved that you love your crib J and you love your more well rested parents.  This may seem trivial to you, Emma, but after a week of not sleeping well, this felt like pure heaven to your mommy. And I just wanted to write you a note to tell you thank you for all this sleep.  

Keep up the good work J and don’t get sick anymore J. 

All my love, 

Mommy

Loving Lately

… a low key new years eve with sushi + ice cream + bed before 10pm

… celebrating new years day at Dan and Jennifer’s house

… cinnamon crunch bagels from Panera

… the Aggies winning the Cotton Bowl

… all of the delicious food at the cotton bowl party party

… snuggling a sick baby

… taking Emma to the Fort Worth Zoo for the first time

… watching the sloth bears fight each other over an iphone that someone dropped in their cage (it was hilarious)

… chipotle for lunch

… when the sick baby starts to feel better

… hearing the little heartbeat today (150 bpm)

… Emma sleeping in her crib for two nights straight (still waking up multiple times, but back in her crib every time J)

… not staying up past 9pm for five nights straight

… the prospect of Emma’s big girl room

… starting the plans for Emma’s first birthday party! CANNOT believe my baby is about to be one

… growing a baby inside my belly and feeling incredibly blessed 

Baby Mitchell #2: 12 Weeks

How Far Along: 12 weeks! (my picture is sideways...grrr)

How Big is Baby: the size of a large plum (2.5 inches long)

Sleep: AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH, I don’t even want to write about sleep.  Emma has been sick and has not had a good night’s sleep in five days.  There were nights where she woke up every hour.  The nights where she would go two hours between wake ups felt like heaven.  Thanks goodness for my husband who has been getting up with her most nights.  One morning I walked downstairs and saw them sleeping on the floor together.  He said that was the only way he could get her to sleep.  Now that our girl is feeling better, we have to get her sleeping better.  And remind her that she loves her crib.  It is not cool to sleep in mommy and daddy’s bed. 

Diet/Cravings/Aversions: this week I am loving orange juice and everything breakfast.  I think I have figured it out.  I don’t have these weird cravings where I want ice cream and pickles mixed together.  I have something totally different.  When I crave something, I want it and I want it in bulk until I get tired of it.  This week it is orange juice and cantaloupe.  I sent Wes to the store specially for these things because we ran out.  I also ate a whole cantaloupe in 1.5 days.  And I can drink a thing of orange juice in no less than three days. 

Symptoms: some days I wake up and I can’t believe I am only 12 weeks into this.  I have asked myself if I have it in me to throw up for 28 more weeks.  I have finally decided to fill the prescription that my doctor gave me (I don’t know why I was trying to act like a hippie and hold out) but I am hoping this helps.  Because I am sick of morning sickness.  

Movement: Nope

Gender Prediction: after talking to my mom, I am leaning towards another girl.  Only because of the heartbeat.     

What I am worrying about: this week I was mostly worried about Emma being sick.  My mind is crazy, seriously.  At one point I thought she had pneumonia or leukemia.  I have to get a grip.  I know this, but somehow I still worry about everything.   I also worry before every OB appointment that we are not going to hear the heartbeat. 

What I am loving:  being able to tell people that I am pregnant J this is the part of pregnancy that I love- talking about it.   I could talk about being pregnant all day long.  I am also loving that we were able to cash in on my favorite Christmas present- a zoo membership.  It was so nice to be able to take Emma to the zoo, stay for a little bit and when we all got tired- leave.  Emma loved the zoo J for the first hour anyway J.  

What I am looking forward too: my OB appointment tomorrow J Cant wait to hear that little heartbeat again (fingers crossed)!   

Best Moment of the week: watching the Aggies win the Cotton Bowl- well let’s be honest, I was in bed by the third quarter, but the food that my mom had at the party was amazing.  It was such a good spread and I ate all of it 

2012 In Review

The years just keep getting better and better.  I blame Emma for this.  She is the best thing that has ever happened to us.  Here are some of my favorite things (Oprah style without the presents) from year 2012 :).

Favorite Moment: giving birth to Emma- I mean can it get any better than that

Hardest Moment: the lack of sleep, and the daily trial and tribulations of getting Emma to sleep

Favorite Vacation: San Francisco + Santa Clara with Wes and Emma (a close second was Port Aransas for Thanksgiving)

Biggest Milestone (for Emma): gosh, there are so many to choose from- she changed so much in 10 months.  The one that probably had the biggest impact was Emma being able to sit up on her own.  LIFECHANGING.  The one that is the cutest is a tie between crawling and walking- both are adorable. Hopefully next year this will read sleep!

Biggest Milestone (for me): changing my work schedule, becoming less selfish (I even tried to share my fudge pop with Emma much to my husband's chagrin)

Favorite Surprise: finding out that we are expecting a new little one (we found out November 16th)!

Favorite Celebration- this is so hard for me to choose just one.  Baby shower + Emma's baptism party + pool party + Wes's birthday dinner + Christmas with both of our families + my birthday were all wonderful celebrations!

Favorite Roadtrip: to San Antonio to buy my couch! 

Favorite Present: the two gold rings that Wes gave me as my push present when Emma was born

Favorite Purchase: my dream, Restoration Hardware sofa :)

Favorite Kiss: when Wes leaned down and kissed me after Emma was born and whispered "we did it"

Favorite TV Show: tie between Survivor, Amazing Race and The Big Bang Theory

Favorite Date: our last dinner at Café Aculpoco without our baby (the night I was induced); we were scared, nervous and excited and relished being with each other :)

Favorite thing about Emma in the first year: breastfeeding my baby girl

Favorite thing about Wes: that he gets to stay home with Emma every day, he does the best job with her :)

Favorite change in myself: I promised myself that I would live in the moment this year, and I really did.  I tried and mostly succeed to turn off all electronics when I am with my baby girl and just savor every moment of her precious life.  After all, I only get her all to myself for 18 years before she is all grown up :(

I heart my family :) 2012 could not have been a better/more fulfilling/more scary/more exciting year.  Although I have a feeling that 2013 will come close.  After all, our baby girl turns 1 in almost a month and we have a new little one on the way.  I can't wait to see how Emma continues to develop and grow and watch her become a big sister.  I am also looking forward to seeing how mine and Wes's relationship continues to grow and flourish with adding another baby to the mix.  One thing is for sure- it will be a crazy year filled with lots and lots of love and laughter :).

Sick Sick Sick

Our family has started off the new year on a sick note :(.  Wes first got his cold the day after Christmas.  Then, about a week later, I caught the cold + I lost my voice for one day.  In addition, the day after Christmas I spotted Emma's top tooth in her gum.  She was fussy and clingy and had a low grade fever.  But, then Emma got what we had.  In addition to a cod, she has had really high fevers- as high as 103.3.  Of course, I was really worried about her.  I called the doctor's answering service and the doctor that called me back told me not to take her to the emergency room, but to take her in on Monday.   

Today, she went to the doctor.  No ear infection.  No Flu (thank goodness).  No nothing, other than a really bad cold.  We are going to monitor her until Wednesday morning and see if her fever stops.  If not, she will have to get xrays :(.

As a bonus to this mess, she has been sleeping with us.  Which means that none of us get any sleep.  The last two nights I have put her down in her crib and she has lasted about 1.5 - 2 hours before crying.  So she has been in bed with us.  Where she wakes up about every hour and throws her little body all over the bed.  We both just feel so bad for her.  During the day, she has been sleeping and snuggling in our arms (which she never does).

Poor baby Emma- feel better soon!  It is heartbreaking to see you sick :(.    

Baby Mitchell #2: 11 Weeks

How Far Along: 11 weeks!

How Big is Baby: the size of a lime (2.0 inches long)

Sleep: I am exhausted.  Emma has been cutting her top tooth since Christmas Eve and sleep has been very sporadic.  The other night, she woke up and just screamed.  Wes held her.  I held her.  I fed her.  I brought her to bed with us (which I hate).  She just kept screaming.  Wes finally just got up and took her downstairs.  She played and played.  Until 1:45am.  WHAT?  Go to bed, sweet child.  Your parents don’t want to stay up that late.  I am just fortunate Wes took over. 

Diet/Cravings/Aversions: too many treats over Christmas.  Seriously could Christmas food get any better.  We had coffee cakes, breakfast casserole, fruit, fajitas, tamales, rice, beans, guac, Christmas cookies- yum yum yum, I ate all of it.  Frozen pizza still grosses me out. 

Symptoms: I am still sick. I am exhausted.  The other morning, I had just thrown up, I walked downstairs and told my husband that I hate being pregnant.  He promptly reminded me this is not true- that I always say I love being pregnant.  And I do love it.  It is just hard to love the throwing up and morning sickness.  But I do love it, and I don’t want to take it for granted.  This is probably the last baby for us so I am trying really hard to savor every moment, even the bad ones. 

Movement: I don’t think so- I feel flutters, but it is probably just gas.   

Gender Prediction: no clue.  Can’t wait to find out.  Last night I was telling Wes- I wish the pregnancy test that you take could indicate girl or boy- wouldn’t that be awesome.  If you could invent that, I bet you would be rich J.   

What I am worrying about: is my baby healthy?  I will love my baby no matter what, but every night when I say my prayers, I pray for a happy, healthy baby. 

What I am loving: eating dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  I coerced my sweet husband into going there (even though he had cooked dinner- don’t worry, we will eat it tonight), and it was AMAZING.  He agreed. Best part- we got there before 6 and our chicken fried steak was only $8.99. and OHMYGOODNESS was it delicious.  We will be going back there while I am pregnant. 

What I am looking forward too: seeing the Aggies in the Cotton Bowl and hanging out with my family while we watch it!  

Best Moment of the week: getting to ring in a new year (even though we were in bed by 10pm), that year end close is done! And one final hang out session with Adge before she goes back to Colorado.    

Twenty Nine

In case you didn't know, I LOVE LOVE LOVE birthdays!  In fact, I have been planning Emma's first birthday in my head since the day she was born!  In my opinion, no day of the year is better than your birthday.  My birthday happens to be Christmas Eve.  While some may see this as a bummer, I choose to embrace this and celebrate the entire month of December.

My parents have always made my birthday special since I was a wee one, and this year was no exception.  My husband has also gotten on board.  He knows my love affair with my birthday.  My birthday morning started great.  Emma was still sleeping when I woke up- an extra special treat!  I went downstairs and saw the cutest ornaments that Wes and Emma had made me- saltdough ornaments with Emma's handprints.  They also thoughtfully made one for each of Emma's grandma's/nonnie's.  Along with some cards (one that also has Emma's hand print on it.  Side-note: I got my couch for my Christmas and Birthday present this year (not something I would normally let my husband combine- but this was a big present!)

Then, we headed over to my parents house for some traditional biscuits and gravy!  My mom makes the best biscuits and gravy so it is always a real treat!  When we got there Emma was feeling especially clingy to her Nonnie (which I am pretty sure Nonnie was loving!)

Then biscuits and gravy on the special day plate!

My plate all loaded up!

Here is the birthday girl! Ready to devour some biscuits and gravy!

Afterwards, my parents gave me some of the books that I have been wanting: Blog, Inc., Raising Bebe (the French art of parenting), and my favorite the Young House Love book!  Here I am so excited to finally get a chance to look at it in person!

Here is Emma giving Bobbob some love after a delicious breakfast!

Next up, we had an outdoor fire (although I have to say the weather conditions were much better for the fire that we had the night before).  My dad had made a roaring fire.

I love this picture that Wes got of us huddling closing to the fire :).

Then, we bundled up and headed out on a walk, although we didn't last long.  It was cold and the wind was really blowing.  Wes, Emma and I headed to Kroger after that to pick up my traditional sushi lunch (don't worry- the shrimp was cooked!).  Emma took a nap and when she woke up, we had lunch together.  I took a little nap and then started getting ready for the evening.

We had surprise visitors- my uncle Bubba and aunt Cindy came by to give Emma her Christmas present.  This was officially Emma's first present to open.  She was very confused by the bag concept.

Here she is opening it.  Please ignore the outfit- I was just trying to keep her warm.

Here she is in the jacket they got her- looking too grown up :(.  I don't want my baby to grow up.

Then, Emma went down for another nap and we had to wake her up for church.  We went to the Christmas Eve mass at our church which was preceded by the cutest children's choir performance.  After Mass, it was off to celebrate Christmas with Wes's family.

But don't worry, they never forget my birthday!  Wes's mom made a delicious chocolate cake and Wes and his sister surprised me with three more animal heads for the nursery!  We didn't capture when they gave them to me on camera, but here they are.

The giraffe was my favorite!  Since planning Emma's nursery, I have always wanted a giraffe!  Cant wait to hang them up!

I really had an amazing birthday with lots of love from both of my families.  And the celebrations aren't over there, my mom had a birthday dinner for me on the 28th!  Christmas birthdays aren't so bad when you have people that love to celebrate the birthday girl :).