Wordless Wednesday

Six Weeks Already?

Where is the time going? I can't believe Sydney is already six weeks old! On the other hand, so much has happened since then- has it only been six weeks?! Our biggest news is that in the past week, she slept 6 hours one night and 6.5 hours another night. I'm not sure how long she's supposed to sleep before we can say she slept "through the night", but I'm thrilled to pieces with our progress so far.
The downer is that I couldn't catch a smile today during our photo session. In fact, she was completely mad about sitting there next to that lamb! She cheered up not long afterward, but we didn't go back for more pictures. For today- a picture of our girl in rare form!

6 weeks old

Happy six-week birthday Sweet Pea!

Sydney's First Christmas

This has been absolutely my favorite Christmas ever! Better than when I was little and I got new roller skates AND a dollhouse, and even better than when Rob took me to New York City to see the tree at Rockafellar Center. We told Sydney that what we really wanted for Christmas was a smile from her. A TRUE smile, not just the happenstance "gas grins" that she'd been giving for a few weeks.

We decided to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve this year. We had to be at Rob's parents' house by 11 on Christmas morning, and I knew that meant we wouldn't have any extra time for breakfast or opening our gifts to each other before that, so we just bumped everything up a day. Some might say that we cheated, but I don't care- we had a wonderfully relaxing Christmas at home on Thursday before a fun family Christmas on Friday. One of our only Christmas traditions is to go to the Gaylord Opryland hotel to see the lights. If you've never been there, it's a huge, extravagant hotel here in Nashville and it's decorated beautifully for the holidays. Several years ago, when Rob & I were dating, he took me there and that's where he first told me he loved me. I've made him take me back to the exact spot every year since and tell me he loves me again! As a result, we have a picture of us together every year at Opryland, and I wanted one with Sydney. So on Wednesday, our Christmas Eve, off we went. (I'll skip the part about how Sydney had her first big blowout diaper on the way there and we had to change her in mid-air between the front & back seats of the car!) It was fun to stand there by "our fountain" and tell her how our family sort of started in that very place. Afterwards, we went home, drank hot chocolate, read the nativity story from The Jesus Storybook Bible, and watched a Christmas movie. It was a great night.

We got up on Thursday morning, our Christmas morning around 8 and got to enjoy being lazy for a few minutes. I fed Sydney, and then laid her down between us in our bed. We just stared at her and talked to her for a while before we finally decided to go downstairs and start the celebration. Sydney decided to take a nap instead of opening her stocking, so Rob & I had a little time to enjoy giving each other gifts while she rested.

   

After Syd woke up, she gave us her gift to us...

          

We could not have asked for a better surprise!! Once she got it figured out, she didn't stop smiling for a while- it was so sweet! I wish I had a video to show you- her right cheek comes up first, and then the left side follows. We've had a blast this weekend spending time together as a family. The best part is, we know that our Christmases to come are only going to get better as Sydney gets older.

Wordless Wednesday

A Mom's Thoughts

5 weeks old

I can't believe how much Sydney has changed already! I know that 5 weeks isn't very long, but it seems like SO much has happened since she was born. Really, it's already hard to remember our lives without her- it's like she's always been here. And it's so good.

Christmas is different this year. Rob and I were talking tonight about how usually, by this time in December, we've been singing Christmas carols for weeks in church, and heard the story of Jesus' birth preached a few times. We haven't been out as much this year, so it's been up to us to "get into the Christmas spirit" on our own. And it's been harder to do. But at the same time, I feel like I'm seeing Christmas through new eyes this year. We went to our church's Christmas music service last weekend, and one of the kids choirs sang a song about how Jesus was a baby, and He cried, and He took his first steps-- it described Jesus' humanity as a baby. As we sat there listening to the kids sing, my eyes welled up with tears, thinking about how Mary dealt with all the same emotions I've been feeling lately. The joy she felt as a mother. The pain she felt when her baby cried. It's so cliche', but it's true- you can't describe the love a parent feels for their child, and I've experienced that now. So to think that God loved us so much that He would sacrifice His Son, that Jesus came to earth as a baby so that we could have eternal life... it's almost too much to swallow.

Becoming a mother has taught me so much that I didn't know I didn't know. The greatest lesson, though, is a better picture of the magnitude of God's love. I'm certain that I've only begun to taste it, and yet I'm overwhelmed.

I'm not really sure where I was trying to go with all that, and re-reading it now I realize that it sort of rambles. Maybe it would be better if I tried to organize my thoughts a little more and then share them in a more coherent manner, but I'm going to post it anyway. Sorry for rambling- I'll just play the "I-haven't-slept-a-full-night-in-months-so-I can't-really-think-straight" card. I'll be praying, though, that you too will see Christmas through a new filter this year and be changed by it.

December 17- One Month

November 18- 18 hours old

Happy Birthday Sweet Sydney!
It's crazy to think that one month ago today you came into our world. Even though so much has happened in your first month, it feels like yesterday when we locked eyes for the first time. You've changed so much already.
- You weigh 8-9 lbs (8 lbs, 7 oz last week) and wear size Newborn clothes. Some of your newborn clothes are still too big!
- You are starting to smile more every day. I don't think it's intentional yet, but you're practicing quite a bit and I can't wait for the day when I KNOW you're smiling back at me on purpose because you're happy!
- You are pretty laid back. You don't usually cry unless something is wrong (mostly if you're hungry or your tummy hurts after you eat). Riding in the car puts you to sleep every time.
- You sleep a LOT! It's not unusual for you to sleep about 20 hours in a day. But you're starting to have more awake time, which we love. You sleep really well at night, in 4-5 hour stretches most of the time.When you're awake, you really like it when we hold you up high on our chests and talk close to your face.
- You are a good eater, and would eat until you puke every feeding if I would let you! I've let you do that a few times because you were acting especially hungry, but then I felt guilty for overfeeding you.
- Your neck is getting stronger, and you try to hold your head back and look at us when we hold you on our shoulders. You don't really like tummy time though- and rather than lift your head to practice turning it, you like to stick your fingers in your mouth and go straight to sleep instead.
- This week, you've started paying attention when you hear Mommy's or Daddy's voice, and you look around if you hear us but don't see us.

December 17- 1 month old

We love you, Pumpkin! We couldn't be more proud to be your parents! Love, Mommy & Daddy

Wordless Wednesday

Growing Girl

4 weeks old

It's been a big week for cousins for Sydney. This past weekend, my sister Mindi & her husband Ryan and son came to visit from Texas. Sydney is David's first- and only- cousin, and I think he was unimpressed! He's not quite two years old, so we won't hold it against him. We weren't able to convince him to sit down with her so that we could get pictures of them together, much less pay any attention to her at all. He did give her a few kisses, after lots of coaxing, and we tried to snap pictures of that. I'm hoping that at least one of them turned out good (they weren't taken with my camera, so I don't know yet). Then Monday, Syd hung out with her Aunt Joanna, Uncle Stephen & cousin Annabelle while Mommy did a little bit of Christmas shopping & errands. When I got back to their house, they were attempting a photo shoot, but Sydney was the one not cooperating- she was sleeping HARD and wouldn't be woken up! She & Annabelle are only six weeks apart, so we're all anxious for the two of them to discover each other- Joanna and I are sure they'll be best friends!

I definitely think we've hit a growth spurt. Up until yesterday, Sydney had been doing great in a pattern of eating every three hours. And then yesterday, our calm, content little sweetie turned into a hungry, hungry hippo, wailing and "rooting" for food every hour & a half to two hours. Her little appetite cannot be satisfied! Today, she was hardly awake at all- except to eat, and not even always then. She's been a little eating machine, though, and I'm thrilled. Maybe she's trying to catch up to her two big cousins! I would love to find a scale to put her on, just to see how much she's gaining. She's been wearing all Newborn size clothes, and even some of those have been too big. Well, tonight I put a sleeper on her after her bath and was thrilled to find her little toes reaching all the way to the bottom of the feet. It wasn't until a little later that I realized the sleeves are now too short, and I even unbuttoned the top button because I was afraid it was too tight! (I think I'll change her into something else before we put her down for the night) For now, I'm enjoying sitting here watching her & Rob snuggle on the couch- I don't know which of them is enjoying it more. My heart is full!

I don't know that she'll be able to wear this sleeper again!

Baby's Day Out

Sydney's first outing was a success! I needed to go to LifeWay for a brief meeting, so we got dressed and set out for Syd's first trip to anywhere besides the doctor's office or family's house. She was an angel- she slept peacefully through my meeting and was a doll the whole time we were there. (To my co-workers who we didn't see today, I'm sorry- we didn't really pace the halls visiting. She's too little and has already had respiratory issues and no shots. I'll bring her back for a true visit another day.) I love this picture of her & Rob tonight!

Mommy's brag: Sydney slept SO GOOD last night! She went down at 9:30pm and slept until 2:30am-- FIVE HOURS-- and then slept another 4 hours after she ate. You're an angel, Baby Girl! Thanks for letting Mommy get some rest!

Mommy's booboo: I've been nervous about clipping Sydney's nails since before she was born. I even asked the nurse to cut them for me when she was still in the hospital. Her little claws grow fast, though- so much so that we've lovingly called her "Sydney Scissorhands" when she's scratched us. Well, tonight, I blew it- I cut her fingertip with the clippers. I felt terrible!!! Not only did I cut my poor baby's finger, but I did it while she was sleeping and woke her from a perfectly good nap. Ouch- I stink!!

Wordless Wednesday

She did it!

Rob commented last week that Sydney looked like a tiny boxer last week in her hooded towel after her bath. Today, like a champ, our little "featherweight" met her weight goal! The pediatrician said that she needed to be at 8 lbs, 6 oz. by this week. We put a lot of emphasis this past week on good feedings and it paid off- Sydney weighed in today at 8 lbs, 7 oz! Her doctor was impressed that she's already an overachiever!

There's really not much else to write about today- we didn't much else this past week. So here's a picture of our big 3-week-old girl. We're thankful that she's healthy and growing!

Two weeks old!

I guess this is a picture of Sydney's second outing with Mommy & Daddy- on our way to her two-week check-up with the pediatrician. Her first was the jaundice check that led to a trip to Children's Hospital, and I hate thinking about that. I'm thinking I'll probably wait to write in her baby book about her first FUN outing rather than a trip to see the doctor. Another high-point of this week's check-up: it was the first time Rob and I saw Sydney's pediatrician not half-asleep and in our pajamas since our initial interview (he made early rounds in the hospitals, and always managed to catch us right before our alarm clock!). I'm glad he finally got to see us looking normal!

There was one other minor event at the pediatrician's office that I forgot to mention- he removed the umbilical cord from Syd's bellybutton! He examined it and said that it was looking good, and before we knew what was happening, he said to her, "Eh- you don't need this any more" and popped it right out! We'd been trying to hard to be careful with it, and he just pulled it out like it was nothing! Fortunately, it didn't seem to bother Sydney... our little girl is growing up so fast.

With the loss of her bellybutton stump (and the discovery of her very deep little bellybutton!), that meant she could finally have a real bath! So that's exactly what we did to celebrate her two-week birthday. It was hard to tell how she felt about it. She didn't cry, which was a huge relief, but she also didn't exactly seem to love it. I'm hoping that once she gets a little bigger (and doesn't slide down in the sling so easily) she'll begin to enjoy bathtime and we'll all have fun playing in the water. I was really thankful she didn't poop in the tub!

Below are the pictures from Syd's two-week photo shoot. All the modeling wore our girl out pretty quickly! (So we did one extra picture after her bath-- just in case)

Happy Birthday, Sweet Baby Girl!