6 Months!

My sweet Samantha is 6 months old!! Where did the time go?? I cannot believe the things I have learned in this short 6 months and just how much I adore being a mom. In honor of this half-year milestone, I write this letter to the little girl who stole my heart.

Dear Sam,
Words cannot explain how honored I am to be your mom. You are truly one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I am beyond blessed to call you my daughter. You are every bit a piece of me and daddy combined, with some of your own sweet qualities of course. You're smart, happy (90% of the time), relaxed, easy-going, patient, and beautiful! Just to name a few things about you ;) I love your laugh, your gummy smile, the way your eyes light up when I walk in the door from work or when you see daddy come in the room, the pleasure you get from sucking those little piggies of yours, and even the way you love on your kitty (although we're still working on learning "gentle")! One of my favorite times of day is when you first wake yourself up, just about an hour before I have to get up for work..and I carry you into our room, where you eat and snuggle back asleep with me and daddy. It's so still and peaceful and wonderful. I love that you are apart of this little family of ours. You truly identify with your name, "JOY". Your heart is full of it and you have brought it to our lives! We love you Sammy Joy, "Buggy", Sam Sam, little love, precious, Joy Joy...Samantha :) We relish in everyday with you, watching you grow, learn, and develop. Daddy and I will always love you, little lady and you'll always be our baby :)
Love, Mommy
At 6 Months: -You love your wubbanubs "pinky" and "freckles" -you make this adorable scrunchy face and blow out your nose -laugh when you toot -prefer to sleep on your tummy -now sleeping in your crib -LOVE your ExerSaucer (despite the screaming and tears when we first put you in it) -scratch anything you can get your little razor sharp nails on -said "mom" a few times and once right after daddy said it! -can hold your bottle when you eat -can almost sit up without assistance -lift your arms up when you want to be held or picked up (cutest thing ever!) -still loves to see yourself in the mirror

4 & 5 month update!

  I never thought I'd be so behind on blogging!! Eventually (I hope) to be way more on top of things!!! So here's Sammy's 4 & 5 Month updates!!   4 MONTHS!   -likes to laugh -rolled over at Grandma Jones' house over Christmas break! -loves Mom and Dad! (not so sure about everyone else at first) -LOVES to eat! (4-5 oz is a must at every meal!) -great car rider! -becoming an expert in drooling  

    5 MONTHS! -rolls over like a champ -grabs everything within reach -sharpest nails ever! (no matter what mommy does to trim them) -LOVES her sponges in the bath tub & LOVES bathtime -sitting up better and better in her bumbo -LOVES nap time with daddy -Prefers Mommy and Daddy to anyone else -learning to be gentle with petting the kitty  

   

     

1-3 Months!

Since I'm playing catch up, I'm going to lump my sweet girl's stats from 1-3 months in one post!  

1 Month!

 



 



-Making little squeaking noises

- Super calm

-loves to sleep on mommy's chest

-sleeps best on her belly (only on my chest)

-will NOT keep her gloves! She's the houdini of getting her hands free

-sleeps on car rides, no matter how short

-LOVES her paci- she's soothed by sucking

-sleeps through the night! usually wakes up around 5am then falls back asleep with her paci

Samantha and her kitty :)

 

 

2 Months!

 

She was an M&M for halloween!

 

LOVES to smile!

 

silly goose :)





-LOVES to smile

-poops every 5-7 days (doctor says that's normal with breastfed babies. No complaints!)

- stares at lights (lamp, light fixtures, the ceiling fan light)

- falls asleep every time in her Moby- loves to be snuggled tight

-almost always has her hands in little fists

-sleeps with her hands above her head :)

-Loves music, especially when her daddy plays the guitar

-likes to "talk" to us! No words just lots of noises. She's going to be a talker for sure!

  3 Months!  

First time at the beach!

My 1st Thanksgiving!

 

-laughs all the time

- gives LOTS of big smiles

-loves looking at herself in the mirror

-officially LOVES baths! She kicks the water like crazy

-rolled over for the first time on Friday November 29th! -loves to stand if you hold her hands -has started needing mommy to stand while feeding her (otherwise she fusses)...makes for some strong arms for me! -loves looking at her hands and sucking on them- I'm talking part of her fist in mouth or licking the top of her hands like a kitty!   My girl is growing, changing, and becoming more and more of a ham everyday! We absolutely continue to be amazed that God gave her to us!    

Labor & Delivery

Don't let this post scare you! I was extremely blessed to have a very smooth labor and delivery!   Because we decided to induce, Andrew and I spent the night in the hospital where they gave me cytotek to help prep my body for labor. Once we decided to induce, I very realized that telling people our plans wasn't a good idea...just like everything else in pregnancy and baby related, people have their own opinions and people quickly let us know their feelings on induction...so with very few friends and family knowing, we headed to the hospital on Thursday night (August 29th). With our bags packed, Whatburger consumed, and video camera on, we had a calm check in at the hospital.  



special goody bag for dads!

    I slept poorly that night mainly because of nerves and my poor hubby was freezing. We only brought a small fleece blanket and weren't prepared for the cold of the hospital (of course I was just fine!). Friday morning they checked me again and I had made NO progress, so they started the Pitocin...o the pitocin...   As anyone can imagine, labor started pretty much right away at that point but still moved slowly..I had contraction for about 2 hours and then my doctor showed up to check me. At that point I was dialted a whole 2 cm...she offered the epidural and boy did I jump at the chance!   Immediately she broke my water and about 30 minutes later, the anesthesiologist showed up to give me the epidural. That was probably the worst of it out of the whole experience...having to be really still while contracting and leaking water (sorry for the TMI). Once my body took the meds, it was smooth sailing!   I spent the day in bed, drinking juice, napping, and watching tv (sports center, gilmore girls, the Kardashians) and Andrew napped in his little bed and played on the iPad. Since I couldn't feel anything they quickly upped the pitocin and at 3:30pm we started pushing.   15 minutes later (that's right!) our beautiful baby girl was born!   Samantha Joy August 30, 2013 7 lbs 10 oz 19 1/2 in  

   

first family photo :)

Daddy and Sammy :)

 

heading home!

 

She was so little!!

 

melts my heart

 

 So that's our little love's introduction the blog world! The worst part of the whole experience was getting my initial IV (I hate needles!) and taking the epidural tape off my back...I'm so glad I can say that was the worst pain of everything! We were visited by a few family members and friends in the hospital and within a few days we were home! God completely blessed me with a smooth pregnancy, smooth labor & delivery, a great labor coach (my sweet husband), and a beautiful laid back little girl!  

I'm back!

Once again, I have returned from a very long blogging hiatus. My excuses for being gone? Being pregant, being tired, being busy, having a newborn, enjoying every bit of maternity leave and focusing solely on my precious daughter, being busy back at work, the holidays, etc...yep, I've got tons of valid reasons but I'm VERY ready to get back! I've missed recording the daily events (however uneventufl they may seem) of our life. Especially with an infant, there is so much I want to remember and share so I'm jumping back in!

  Where to begin?   O yeah! I had a baby! Last time I blogged, I was 6 months pregnant! So I'll start there... I had a beautiful pregnancy by the grace of God (yes I know the next one doesn't promise to be at all the same, but I'm rejoicing for this one!). I felt great, had energy, worked out a lot, and worked til the day she came. The summer was spent VERY busy at work, working out at 5am during the week with my cousin, and constantly growing.. Here's some pictures to break up all the info!  

   

My baby shower cake!

My grandmother, mom, me, cousin and & aunt at my shower in July!
 

4th of July at church

work shower!

 

my cake from our church baby shower :)



me and my not so little brother :)
 

 the "dads" putting together the stroller!

part of the baby's room!

this amazing bulletin board of baby cards my mom helped me make!

 

8 days before baby!

 

 Ok so that was my progression from May-August! 

 

August was a month of playing the waiting game. Every week I was checked and NO progression...this child had no intention of coming on her own, no matter how much I tried to help her along! 

At 40 weeks the baby was measuring perfectly and head down, so we decided to induce!

On to the labor story in the next post!

Thanks for following! 

   

It's OK...

Happy Thursday! Today I'm linking up with Neely and Amber for a much needed "It's OK" post!     It's OK...   -to have a moment where you just lose it. I had one of those moments yesterday. Wasn't proud, but I feel so much better.   -to rely on workouts to pull you out of a bad mood, crying fit, meltdown, etc.   -that all my baby wants this week is chocolate chip cookies and Odwalla Superfood drinks (at least it's balanced, right?)   -that even at 24, married, with a baby on the way...I still want to go "home" when I get upset   -that we're about to have another cold front of 40 something degrees..in TEXAS...in MAY. I'll take it!   -that this week has flown by   -that our plans aren't always God plans...when you can come to terms with that and see what God has for you and how it's SO much better and more than you imagined for youself, it definately makes you prefer HIS plans      

Friday's Letters

   

 

 

Ahhhh it's finally Friday & I couldn't be more ready! Here's my lovely letters for today!

 

 

Dear Friday, you've been good so far. Let's keep it up! Today you marked 22 weeks of pregnancy, there was Spring fling luncheon at work (but off site!), I got a starbucks, and tonight I get to see my mom after two long months! Dear husband, you're great, bottom line. You know me better than anyone else on this plant and your patience, kindness, and love for me are truly something else. Thank you for our sweet date last night! Sharing my 1st Jurassic Park experience with you was great! (Yes, I never saw it as a child. No, I don't regret it. Those dinos are scary stuff!) Dear sweet baby girl, I love you so much. I love your sweet little kicks throughout the day, and I love that in 18 weeks (roughly), I'll be your mom officially! Dear Macy, I promise to do my best to not neglect you once your sister (haha yes, sister) is here! You'll always be my silly fur-baby. Dear God, thank you for being the one who holds our future in your hands. So much hangs in the balance right now as we wait on phone calls, timelines, and meetings. Thank you for having plans that are perfect for my life and for being the ultimate planner. Dear weekend plans, you continue to stress me out. I've come to the realization that I will just never please everyone...and it stinks. (I'm a huge people pleaser!) Someone will always be let down by me...and this pregnant girl, can't handle the stress of that. It's literally brought me to tears. Dear people, (yes people in general) when I share something like, "I love feeling her kick during the day", I don't appreciate responses like "just wait till she's kicking your ribs" or "you say that now, just wait". This is just an example, but it seems like people enjoy taking your moments of joy away...I know they don't mean to, and I know I'm more sensitive now, but I don't like it. Why rob me of the sweet joy of feeling my little girl move around? Random, but I needed to say that.  Dear husband, our trip in the Target baby section was hilarious and I'll never forget this conversation:

 

A:Why are there so many car seats of different sizes?

Me: Because they stay in a car seat until like 70lbs.

A: No way. So my 5th grader is gonna be in a car seat? So we have to buy more than one?

Me: Yeah, we buy one for when they're an infant and one when they're a toddler.

A: Then let's go ahead and get this big one. It's adjustable down to really small.

Me: So when I take her out in public, I'm gonna have to lug around a big chair basically?

*we bust out laughing"

 

O the things we have ahead of us. I love that we are on this journey together! Love you baby! 

 

Thanks for reading!