Much Better!

Last night went much, MUCH better! 

I put Libby Anne in her co-sleeper awake but drowsy.  It took about 10 minutes of her talking to herself and watching her Mobi Man change colors before she finally just went to sleep.  She didn't cry at all. 

Shortly after she fell asleep, I went to bed too.  Let's face it, I was pretty exhausted. 

A couple hours later, I woke up and looked over at Libby Anne.  She was still in the exact same position and was silent.  I had to reach over and make sure she was breathing a few different times throughout the night because she was sleeping so soundly. 

She only woke up once, at 4:30am.   This is a HUGE improvement over the past two nights.  I *think* the transition is becoming a success!  (Hopefully I won't be eating my words tomorrow and things will continue to get better.  I am ready for her to sleep through the night again.)

Nightmare of a Transition

Libby Anne has been sleeping in a Rock N Play Sleeper for a while now.  It was wonderful to have for her to sleep when she was struggling with acid reflux and needing a little more cuddles in the evening.  She was sleeping through the night and everyone was happy.  I was so thankful for the Rock N Play. 

Over the past few weeks, I have been trying to introduce her to sleeping on flat surfaces again in her co-sleeper and her crib.  When I am home with her, I aim for at least one nap in the crib.  Those naps usually are a lot shorter than a nap in the Rock N Play, but we have to start somewhere, right?

Two nights ago I decided that we need to get a little more aggressive about the transition.  She is growing and now starting to try to sit up in the Rock N Play, so it is time to move on.  But Libby Anne disagrees.  She loves sleeping in her Rock N Play and really struggles not being at an incline or being cuddled. 

It probably wasn't the smartest idea for me to start this endeavor on a Sunday night, when I had to get up for work WAY too early the next morning.  But I wasn't thinking about that.  I was focused on sticking with the plan and getting her transitioned out of the Rock N Play. 

Rick moved the co-sleeper back by my side of the bed, and moved the Rock N Play out.  He adjusted the mattress so that it was at a slight incline by putting a blanket folded up underneath the mattress.  We were all ready to go. 

Libby Anne went to sleep easily and I thought maybe, just maybe, she would surprise us and the transition would go smoothly.  Look how peaceful and content she looks!

Well, that didn't last long.  She groaned, moaned, wiggled, tossed, and whined ALL.NIGHT.LONG.  Last night wasn't much better. 

I am not sure what we are going to do about this situation other than try, try, try again.  We have to get her transitioned somehow.   The sooner the better because Mommy needs some sleep at night so she can get through the work day. 

My Little Wahoo

I have mentioned before that Rick and I have different taste when it comes to athletic teams and universities.  I support THE best University, the University of Virginia.  Rick is a huge Tarheel fan (University of North Carolina).  This rivalry is not anything new for me as my Dad and Mom were split also, with my Dad being a fan of the best school, UVA!

For Valentine's Day, Rick surprised me with tickets to see the UVA/UNC basketball game.  We went last year also, but this year we had a new little fan to go along with us!  Libby Anne went to her first sporting event!

I got her dressed while Rick was in the shower.  We tried on a couple different outfits, but decided on an adorable dress from Grandma.

Rick tried to put some UNC socks on Libby Anne, but I won.  She was 100% Wahoo!

Before the game, we went to lunch.  Libby Anne attracted lots of attention in her cute outfit, especially when she let out lots of giggles when Rick was playing with her.  

We had great seats to watch the game.  Libby Anne LOVED all the lights.  We put on her cute headphones to protect her ears from the loud noises, but she didn't mind at all.  Everyone thought she was adorable, of course... even the students!

Libby Anne did great through out the first half.  She watched intently and cheered the Wahoos on.  The second half, however, was a different story....

I am convinced that the Wahoos lost because Libby Anne was no longer cheering them on.  Regardless, it was a close game (we only lost by 3 points) and we had a wonderful time!

Five Months Old!

  

What she loves:

* her binky
* snowflakes falling on her face
* smiling and giggling
* sitting up by herself and standing with a little help
* her exersaucer
* going for adventures with Mommy and Daddy
* music and lights
* bath and story time every night
* Mommy and Daddy singing to her
* being outside
* cuddles


What she doesn't like so much:
* She still doesn't like sleeping flat on her back yet.  We are working on it

Daily Life with Libby Anne: Libby Anne is such a happy baby.  She rarely cries, and when she does it is usually because she is very tired.  Our routine consists of eating, play time, and then nap... repeated several times through out the day.  Libby Anne loves music and cuddling, as well as being outside and riding in her stroller.

Milestones this month: Libby Anne rolled over for the first time this month, although she has not shown any interest in doing it again since then.  She saw her first snow last week and went to her first sporting event tonight.

Uncle Bug's Visit

On Tuesday Uncle Bug (my brother Canton) came to visit us!  We had lots of fun spending time together.  Our day consisted of Bodos for breakfast, watching a movie, going to the Downtown Mall for lunch and walking around, Sweet Frogs frozen yogurt, and getting a whole new stereo system in Canton's car.

Libby Anne loved her Uncle Bug and gave him lots of smiles and laughs.

Dear Libby Anne,

My favorite part of my work day is picking you up from daycare. 

Yesterday, I walked in the door and peered around the corner.  You were sitting in a bumbo seat on the play mat with two other little girls.  You looked up at me and gave me the BIGGEST smile!  I picked you up and squeezed you tight, telling you how much I love you and missed you.  You continued to smile and giggle.  I can't help but squeel in delight.  (Mrs C may think I am a little crazy, but that is ok!)

You make me so happy.  When you smile at me, the rest of the world just disappears.  It is just you and me in that very special moment.  I love it!  

Your Daddy says there is a song that always makes him think of you.  I like to tease him about it because it is a Justin Bieber song (maybe one day you will know who that is, but he will probably be really old by then).  Even though I give your Daddy a hard time about it, it makes me think about you too.  The song isn't about parents' love for their precious baby, but most of the words ring true for how we feel about you. 

I'd wait on you forever and a day

Hand and foot

Your world is my world

Yeah Ain't no way you're ever gon' get

Any less than you should

Cause baby

You smile I smile

Cause whenever You smile I smile

Baby take my open heart and all it offers

Cause this is as unconditional as it'll ever get

You ain't seen nothing yet

I won't ever hesitate to give you more

 Cause baby

You smile I smile

You smile I smile



I will spend the rest of my life trying to be the best Mommy I can be. I love you more than you will ever know!

Love, Mommy

Cute of the Day

Libby Anne received some really cute sunglasses from her cousin Lila Kate.   She picked them out all by herself and was so excited to give them to Libby Anne for Christmas.  They are still a little too big, but OH SO cute! 

First Snow

This afternoon it started snowing, and snowing, and snowing.  It is coming down very quickly!

I bundled Libby Anne all up to take her outside to play in her first snow.  At first she wasn't sure what to think about it, but then she started smiling and laughing as the snow flakes fell on her face and stuck to her eye lashes.

No More Stitches

A quick update...

I just got back from the doctor.  They took out all my stitches and said everything looks great so far! 
I need to keep Vitamin E on it to help with scarring. 

Thank goodness all of this is finished and I am cancer free!  Hopefully the scar will heal well and it won't be too noticeable. 

Dear Libby Anne,

This morning when I picked you up to change you and feed you, I started thinking about how my life has changed since you came along.  I placed you on your changing table and you started to stretch and wake up.  A couple seconds later I got to see your precious smile.  It brightens my day! 

After I changed you, I scooped you up and just cuddled you for a few minutes.  I look forward to your cuddles daily, especially when you first wake up.  You love to snuggle up and tuck your little head into my neck.  I squeeze you and kiss on you and tell you how much I love you and will miss you that day while I am at work.   

I like to take in everything about you- You are my whole world... well, you and your Daddy.  I am not sure what I did before you came along, because now EVERYTHING I do is all about you.  I love it! 

Every second of every day I think about you.  I cherish my time with you.  There is no place I would rather be than with you.  I just love being close to you, looking at how perfect you are, and being so happy that I get to be your Mommy.  I love you so much!

Your smiles and giggles are my favorite.  Every time you giggle, I can't help but to laugh and squeal myself.  Your Daddy thinks I am crazy, but I just can't help it.  You are so adorable!  Every day when Daddy walks in the door from work you give him a huge grin.  I know Daddy loves it, but I do too.  He is a really special person and a wonderful Daddy! 

I really look forward to our family fun days on Tuesdays.  It is so nice to just spend some time together.  I have been trying to come up with fun things for us to do every week so that we have new adventures as a family.  Those days are precious to me.  I hope that you can tell how much Mommy and Daddy not only love you, but love each other. 

I am amazed at how much you have changed already.  Time is going by way too quickly.  One second I wish I could keep you tiny forever... and then the next second I dream about what it will be like when you get a little older.  I think about what kinds of things we will get to do together and what I hope to teach you about.  I dream about going on trips with you, doing craft projects, taking walks together, and what our conversations may be like as you grow.  You love to talk to us now, so I can only imagine how talkative you may be when you can actually say words and what your voice will sound like.  I wonder what you will like to do and what you will be interested in, and I hope that I will get to do those things with you. 

Thinking about my future with you makes me excited and happy.  I look forward to spending every day with you.  It is hard to imagine, but I love you more every day.  I never thought that would be possible because I loved you so much from the second I found out I was pregnant with you.  You are so precious and perfect to me. 

I will spend the rest of my life trying to be the best Mommy I can be. I love you more than you will ever know!

Love, Mommy

What a Difference a Year Makes

February 15th is a very special day in our house, because a year ago today, Rick and I found out our lives would forever be changed!  Today was the day that I saw that precious word that I had longed and prayed for for so long... PREGNANT! 

Little did we know how much we could possibly love the little one with whom we were blessed. 

I still remember that afternoon vividly.  I remember being upset and disappointed because I thought we had another unsuccessful cycle, but that day I thought maybe, just maybe, and decided to test just in case.  Technically you are supposed to test in the morning, but I coudln't wait another day, so I tested when I got home from work.  I didn't have high hopes, but I did have a little hope. 

I actually took three tests.  The first two I saw a faint line, so I decided to pull out the digital test so I could actually see the word.  When it popped up, I literally started jumping up and down.  I had to keep quiet though because I needed to tell Rick, which I had all planned out for months. 

Sharing that moment with Rick was amazing.  We were both so very excited and somewhat in disbelief... you know that, "oh no, what have we done" moment? 

The best adventure of my life was just beginning that day. 

What a difference a year makes, and what an amazing year it has been.  I can't imagine my life without my sweet Libby Anne. 

Happy Love Day!

We have had a great Valentine's Day!

We had an early start to our morning.  Libby Anne and  I couldn't wait to give Rick his surprises.  We didn't even wait for him to get out of bed before we bombarded him.

Libby Anne made a special card for her Daddy:

Then Libby Anne gave Daddy his big present that we worked very hard on.  After over 100 pictures, several different outfits and experimenting with many different backgrounds, we wanted to tell Daddy how much we love him.  

Here are the pictures I used: 

Daddy surprised us with a special movie, a CD of Daddy-Daughter songs, and tickets to the UVA-UNC game in a couple weeks!  

We made a trip to the post office to get Libby Anne's passport.  This attempt was much more successful than last week.  We were in and out in about 10 minutes.  Hopefully we will receive her passport in the mail in 4 to 6 weeks! 

We stopped by to wish Grandma a Happy Valentine's Day and then  headed down to Lynchburg to visit my parents and eat at our favorite Japanese restaurant.  

Afterwards, we decided to go to Libby Anne's first movie, The Muppets.  We took along her head  phones to protect her little ears.  She was SO adorable watching the movie.  She did really well for the most part.  We had to step outside a couple times because she started talking some and we didn't want to disturb anyone else.  She got really tired about half way through.  But she did great!  

We stopped at Sweet Frogs, our new favorite frozen yogurt place, to wrap up our adventure.

What a great day!  Happy Valentine's Day!