Week 13 (November 10-16)

Thursday: Mommy heard me giggle!  Daddy had something going on, so no small group for us, which meant I didn't get to hang out with my friend Hope.

Friday:  I hung out with Nana P. and we had to be there bright and early!

Saturday: Mommy and Daddy had meetings for church, then we headed to Aunt Sara's to get family pictures taken.  It was windy and a bit chilly, so I was not the most cooperative baby.

Me and my Daddy...he <3s me and I <3 him!

Mommy is the best cuddler!

Mommy and Daddy kept doing some weird things to try to get me to smile!

I was not so sure about being held up high like this!

Everyone loves when I smile!

Sunday:  Compass had an All Worship night!   I loved all the music and dancing!

When I have my blanket, I wrap my fingers through the holes and hold on tight!

Monday: Mommy worked a bit late, which meant she was late getting me, which meant there was not enough time to make the meeting, so Mommy and I chilled as Daddy was at the meeting.

Tuesday:  Daddy had another meeting that night so Mommy and I chilled again...we like surfing the internet and watching tv together!

Wednesday: Mommy and Daddy were both home to cuddle with tonight.

Baby notes:  Mia loves routine and we have done great at being as consistent as possible.  She gets a bedtime bottle (between 7:00-8:30ish, though Mommy prefers it after 8:00 because then I sleep through the night, any earlier and I tend to wake during the night HUNGRY!)  The only thing we are trying to do better is bedtime story time, but she has been so tired that you swaddle her and she is practically out the next second.  This week Mia had her first formula bottle and did great...no hesitation or any acknowledgement of it being something different.






Mommy notes:  My milk is still dwindling, but I keep going,  Some days I truly just want to throw in the towel and say I'm done, but I keep going.  I know that it's good for her and I feel good knowing that only I can give her this!

Week 12 (November 3-9)

Thursday:  Another small group day with Gigi!  Those friends of hers love me!

I love going in in the mornings and seeing this sleeping baby!

Friday:  A family from Mommy's work gave her a floor mat to play on, so Mommy gave it to Nana P. and I loved it!  This one sings to me and has lights!

Saturday: Grocery shopping with Mommy while Daddy slept!

Mommy is always getting her phone out and snapping pictures!

Sunday:  Gigi and Pappy had something at church, so Seth came to the house to hang out!  I love my Uncle Seth.  I always get a big smile when he is around!

Monday:  Back to the work week...which means I go to Gigi's.  This was a special one because Aunt Sara had the day off and she stopped by for a visit!

Aunt Sara bought me a new outfit!

Tuesday:  Another day with Gigi and Seth.

Wednesday:  Early morning arrival at Gigi's!

Baby notes:  Mia loves to sleep (this she gets from her Daddy!)  She is now consistently sleeping 8-10 hours a night.  When she starts to get sleepy (which means she starts rubbing her head), Mommy or Daddy make sure she has her jammies on and a fresh diaper, then swaddle her and we cuddle until she is almost asleep.  At that point we lay her in her crib and she puts herself to sleep.

Mommy's notes:  I came to the realization this week that my milk is slowing down QUITE A BIT.  I realized that we would need to start supplementing with formula soon.  It was a tough decision, first I blamed myself and got mad that I could not provide for my daughter.  But then some great people reminded me that I am still giving her milk, but I need to give her additional to help her keep growing.

11 weeks (October 27-November 2)

This week was an interesting week--most of it not even phasing the baby!

Thursday: Nothing big today...small group with Gigi!  At small group that night, Hope kept crawling over to baby and Mia decided she didn't want to be a climbing toy, so she swatted and succeeded in getting Hope a few times.  Our baby may be a bit aggressive.

Friday:  Daddy spent the night at Kings Island with the students, so Aunt Sara came over for a girls' night...though Mia decided that she wanted to go to bed a bit earlier than normal.

I finally wore my hat without freaking out!

Saturday:  Some boys spent the night after King's Island, so mommy made them pancakes in the morning, which meant Austin fed me a bottle!

Sunday:  All the kids dressed up at church in their costumes, so I spent the celebration in my soft and cuddly bear costume.

Our Mia bear on her first Halloween!

Monday:  Here is where our fun and exciting week began.  Gigi called Mommy and told her that I seemed off, just wanting to be held and not my normal smiley self.  Mommy decided to get me a late night appointment at the pediatrician just in case.  Then, Mommy went to leave work and discovered that she had a flat tire (her and Daddy had just been told that two tires would need some work soon, but nothing immediate.) Daddy and I came to rescue her.  This meant we would not be making the doctor appointment.  But as Mommy fed me and then walked me around the parking lot, I gave a big burp and had quite a bit of spit up...this seemed to make everything better.

Tuesday:  Both Mommy and Daddy were taking me to Gigi's so they could pick up the extra car.  But when Mommy got in her car to drop it off at the shop and discovered the other tire was flat!  I was at Gigi's for a long time that day because Daddy got sick and Mommy had to pick me up after closing at work.

Wednesday: Back to normal!

10 Weeks (October 20-26)

This baby keeps growing!  She is getting to be a bit of a chunk, but we love the extra squishiness we get to squeeze :)

Thursday: Another day with Gigi at her bible study!

Friday:  Spent the day with Nana P.  Daddy was so tired when he picked me up, we took a nap together before coming home to see Mommy.

Saturday:  THE PUMPKIN PATCH!  Mommy was so excited to take me and Daddy was not excited to be in a field of rotting pumpkins where we walked in the mud to find the perfect pumpkin!  I slept through it all...the hayride...the pumpkin selection...buying cider and donuts...I found my Ergo to be too comfy to not nap in.

My pumpkin patch outfit!

Sunday:  I was very attentive during church today...staying awake for almost the whole celebration.  That night Mommy and Daddy had a church gathering...I slept through most of it!

Monday:  Daddy got stuck in a big traffic jam coming to get me from Gigi and Pappy's so he missed the creative team meeting...so it was just me and him while Mommy was away.

Tuesday:  Up early to go to Gigi's.

Mommy taking a picture of me starting to get tired.

Wednesday: I got to meet my friend Jensen Marr.  Mommy enjoyed dinner with Chandler and Sarah while Jensen and I slept through most of it!

Personality notes:  Mia loves mirrors!  She loves talking to them and seeing herself...she makes the funniest expressions when she is by herself with the mirrors...whether the one on her play mat, in her crib or hanging from her car seat. Mia began pretty consistently sleeping 7-8 hours a night and putting herself to sleep!


Mommy notes:  My milk supply is dwindling.  I got lazy when I went back to work, then got sick and just haven't been able to build it back up.  I am still able to nurse once a day and pump enough for 3 of the 4 bottles she eats.  I still have a good supply of frozen at my parents, but we are looking at introducing formula once a day by the end of the year.

Now 9 weeks old!

Time is flying by and I want my baby to stop growing!

Thursday:  Mommy and Daddy are hosting a new small group, so we had lots of friends over!  You even had Hope to play with!  Mommy began to feel bad this night too, looks like she finally caught the colds you and Daddy had had.

Friday:  Back to Nana P's!  You got outfit changes because of a snot explosion and drooling too much of your bottle.  Mommy picked you up that night because Daddy was at Fall Weekend, so just a girls' night for Mia and Mommy!  Mommy's cold was kicking her butt, so we just had a lot of snuggle time and then went to bed.

Fashion show at Nana P's

Daddy was away...so we sent pictures!

Saturday: Mommy took us babysitting for a work family...other than my bottle I slept the whole time!  Mommy was not feeling good at all, so we knew it was going to be a long day.  We snuggled and took pictures to send to Daddy!  We also wished Aunt Sara a happy birthday.

Mommy took this great picture to send to Daddy!

Daddy wanted more pictures!

Sunday:  Another day at church.  I was awake for a lot of it and my daddy kept me almost the whole time, because he had missed me when he was at Fall Weekend!  Because I am getting so big...Mommy had to take out my car seat head insert and move my straps.  She then had to pull out some 3-6 months pants because my belly is growing too.  I also decided that I was working too hard to get my milk, so Mommy had to change all my bottle nipples to medium flow.

Mommy is ALWAYS taking pictures!

Monday:  Gigi told Mommy that you seemed off.  Happy but just not yourself.  When Mommy saw you that night she could tell that Gigi was right.  You were fussy and did not want to cuddle, plus it took almost 2 hours to get you to finish a bottle.  The night only got worse...you only let Mommy sleep for 3.5 hours!

Tuesday:  You slept lots for Gigi and Mommy was tired.  Mommy's friend suggested we give you gripe water because maybe you just had a belly ache, it worked like a charm and all was well by Tuesday night!  We also celebrated you turning 2 months!

2 months

 Wednesday: To the doctor for your 2 month check-up. You weighed 10.5 pounds and were 22.25 inches (both coming in at 45-50%).  Your head is off the charts, sorry baby!  You got 2 shots and SCREAMED.  Mommy then took you home so you could spend the day with Daddy.  He had it easy and you slept all day, except for getting up for bottles.

Relaxed and chilling!

This past week was probably the busiest we've had since Mia was born!

Thursday...Mia went with Gigi to her weekly small group.  These ladies go ga-ga over babies, so I'm pretty sure my baby was spoiled.  Every other Thursday night Pappy has a men's group, so he met Mommy at McDonald's to drop off Mia.  He said she is a great companion in the car because she sleeps!

Daddy is always telling you, "Tell Mommy to shut up!"  Se decided to tell you instead!

We <3 us a sleeping baby!

Friday...Mia's first day with Nana P.  Nana P. was so excited to see Mia, she had even brought her a new toy (yet it will be sometime before Mia can play with it)!  Then Aunt Kalla and Aunt Sara with Kynlee picked up Mia and took her shopping.  Aunt Kalla and Sara got some weird looks with two babies in tow.  Mommy then came to Gigi and Pappy's and was so excited that it was the weekend and she would get two uninterrupted days with you!

The girls...they will be your best friends!

Not sure what you were thinking here!

Saturday...What a day!  We went to Dawn's salon so Aunt Kalla and Sara could get haircuts, then to Skyline for lunch, followed by the Gap Outlet.  Aunt Kalla and Sara were going to church so Mommy took you shopping to get supplies for Compass.  We then met up with Aunt Kalla and Sara, Monica and Kynlee to eat at Don Pablo's for Sara's birthday! Sometime in between all this Aunt Sara did an impromptu photo shoot with you and Kynlee.

I love your big smile!  Thanks Aunt Sara for capturing this!

The best of friends!

I love being your Mommy!

Sunday...church!  You were awake for most of it this week!  Aunt Kalla and Sara with Kynlee came over to our house and we hit the thrift stores!

Monday...you headed to Gigi's house while Mommy had training and then I picked you up.  We cuddled until Daddy got home from his meeting and then he cuddled you and you made his bad day all better!

Tuesday...Mommy had to be at work at 6:30 AM, so we were out of the house at 4:45 AM.  Mommy was TIRED when she got home, so Daddy came with when we had to run to the store for a few things!

Wednesday...another early morning!  This one was you wanting a bottle in the car on the way to Gigi's and let's just say Mommy was great at multitasking!

Personality note:  You are so alert.  Yo definitely recognize Mommy and Daddy's voices and it is so exciting to see you react when we get home to you!  You are a routine kind of girl (like Mommy!)  You continue to be so laid back and Mommy and Daddy are thrilled with this (we definitely got lucky with you Mia!)

Mommy note:  Week 1 at work was not as bad as I thought.  Fridays take on a whole new meaning...it means 2 days with my daughter!  I saw my milk production decrease a bit, but I think most of it was because I was not feeling my best.  I am still able to pump enough to feed her everyday and store a little additional, plus we still feed together 1-2 a night.

7 weeks old

The past week has probably been the craziest since Mia arrived!

Thursday:  Mia and I attended Gigi's grandma shower that her friends threw for her.  I got spoiled with lots of holding and lots of presents!

Friday: Mom and I did some shopping and got to see my friends Don and Jill.  We then headed home to chill with Daddy.  That night I had a little trouble sleeping, Mommy thought maybe I wasn't feeling well; Daddy told her everything was okay.

Mommy was getting in lots of snuggles before Monday!

Saturday:  Daddy was wrong!  I woke up congested and my nose all stuffed up!  Mommy took me to this place where she does church stuff and I hated it (only because I was sick)!  I slept in my bouncy seat in Mommy and Daddy's room because I had trouble breathing laying down.

Sunday:  Mommy and Daddy had me dedicated at church along with my friends Isaiah and Elijah.  Gigi, Pappy, Seth, Sara, Nana P., Nana and Pops all came and then joined us at the house for lunch.  Gigi and Pappy then let Seth spend the whole day with me!

Monday:  Mommy went back to work and I spent the whole day with Daddy.  I decided that I didn't want to give Daddy any long naps and this was difficult for him, as he needed to sleep too!  I again got to sleep in the bouncy seat in Mommy and Daddy's room.

Tuesday:  Mommy took me to Gigi's house.  I did so good for her!

Wednesday:  More time at Gigi's!  I started going through a growth spurt and wanted a bottle after 2.5 hours and drank the whole thing!

Personality:  I did great with my sitters this week.  Being sick and at not my usual space didn't seem to phase me much.  I am so close to giggling...Mommy keeps trying!  I love music...any kind (Mommy and Daddy like completely different types.)

Mommy's note:  I have so much milk!  I thought going back to work would help my milk decrease...no such luck!  It's crazy how much milk I have stored, but it makes me so happy to know that I can provide this for Mia.  Going back to work was much easier than I thought.  By the end of the day I can't wait to get home to her and I miss her like crazy throughout the day, but I really enjoy my job and am happy that I have such a great one!