5 Weeks Old

Hey Little Love,

Well, I'm feeling a little more like myself, you are nursing much better, and every day I am a little strong... still around 70%, but getting there. I'm working to just overcome the complications and jump back into life. I do it better every single day! 

You are growing like crazy and eating like crazy. You are content and sweet until you cry and look like a grumpy old man, which is quite possible the most endearing thing ever. How could I possibly love you more than I do?  You are so loved and so precious. I'm so happy to be your mommy!

We took your sister to her first gymnastics class today and you were a champ. Slept in the Moby wrap the whole time!  I love having you so close to me.... snuggled on my chest where I can see that gorgeous face.

I'm so grateful for you. I love you,

Mommy

3 years, 5 months

My Little Love,

You are growing so much faster than this mama can handle, and it is hard to catch it all, especially with a new little addition to our family. You are such a great big sister. You are gentle and have such a way with him when he cries.

You have been through a lot this summer, but we have also had a lot of fun and made some great memories.  I've been trying to get you out for some mommy/daughter time. That has been good for both of us. I have missed you just as much as I know you have missed me.

Man, I sure wish I was writing you letters enough to capture all the hilarious, witty, and simply amazing things you say all the time. 

There was a funny moment last night where I went in to give you a kiss (I go in to give you kisses every time I put Max back to bed after nursing him)  I bent down, kissed you and your eyes flew open, your arms went out to the side and you literally yelled "THIS OLD MAN, HE PLAYED FIVE" and then feel immediately back to sleep. It was amazing... and a little creepy. Ha!

You have been really excelling in the world of manners lately, and your friend play dates have included much more sharing. You are so spirited, which can be overwhelmingly amazing and also frustrating. Especially when you aren't listening, pushing a friend's buttons to see your boundaries, or pushing mine. However, your kindness, love, sweetness and gentleness can just floor me 

Oh, how I adore you. Please keep being you, my love. I will be here in awe of you with a smile (or raised eyebrows) watching. These moments pass by far too quickly, I want to remember them all. I so wish I could.

This Mont we went to the Wilson County Fair with your besties, Keenan and Emma, we started gymnastics, and you and I went to Chuck-E-Cheese for a date. Fun times!

I love you to the moon and back, infinity.

Jaime

Four Weeks Old (40 Weeks gestation)

Hey Bubbs,

Well, I am slowly getting better and feeling more normal. I was able to start taking Mollie to school and giving you guys baths and doing the bedtime routine. Mollie likes to help change your diaper and she has just the touch to calm you when you cry.

We went to the Wilson County Fair this week and took newborn pics... finally. We got some really sweet ones. LeAnna took them, and she did a wonderful job!

You are growing like crazy!  You have put on a ton of weight and are generally just a Rockstar. I love holding you close and snuggling you. I love watching you cry, because you look line a grumpy old man and it just makes me laugh, but it makes you mad so I keep it to a minimum! 

I adore you so my little wild thing,

Mommy

Three Weeks Old (39 weeks Gestation)

My little love,

I keep titling these with how old you would be in utero, because it is just part of our beautiful story. This week has been mostly about trying to heal. Between a UTI and severe anemia, it has been rough. Grandma Penrod came back to help us, and I don't know what I would have done without her. Your sister has been so patient and kind. We are one fortunate little family!

Keep growing... I love you so!

Two Weeks Old (38 weeks gedtation)

Hey Baby Boy,

Well this week the big thing is that you weren't gaining weight.  The doc was really concerned. We had to go back to the doc 4 times to keep weighing you. Finally on our 3rd time, you had gained a little (6lbs. 15 oz) and by the 4th trip, you were at 7lbs. 10oz. SuperMan!

I love all the little faces you make and I love that you are my precious healthy boy!  Grammie has been with us all week and that has been all maxing. She is so loving and helpful and kind. I can't wait for you to get to know her. She got lots of good time with you and two nights, she let me pump and she fed you and cared for you so Mommy could sleep and heal and that was a big deal.

You met your cousins, Dan and Sara. Lots of friends brought us food and we got some snuggle time with your sister!

I love you so very much... to the moon and back.

Mommy

3 years, 4 months

My Sweet Mollie-Girl, 

Tonight is the last night you are an only child. I thought I had a few more weeks to savor you, focus on you and snuggle you, but you and I were in a car accident that on Tuesday and that resulted in placental abruption, caused contractions and is resulting in a c-section.  

Baking with Grammie

Brother snuggles

Okay... fast forward 13 days and here I am to continue this letter.  I didn't get to finish it in the hospital... things went so very fast.  Then, your brother was in the NICU and it took us 6 days to even get home. Then the whirlwind of healing and feeding and sleeping and changing.  Your grandma, aunt and three cousins were here for the first week, so life was crazy but good.  This week, your Grammie is here and we are trying to adjust, but I am having so much pain.  Your Grammie extended her trip and now your Grandma is coming back on Tuesday.  

You have been so patient!  With everything!  This summer I carted you all over the place.  Your Popa passed away and we were back and forth to Dallas many times, we were in IL, OH, MI, IN, PA, TX and OK and for the most part you were with me.  You are a great traveler, and because of our rooming situations, you had no schedule.  Then we got in a car accident and instead of us being able to savor our last few weeks with you as an only child... BOOM!  We had a baby, and one that required extra care.  He is definitely healthy and doing well, but that first couple of weeks was a bit rough. 

Cousin Love

Celebrating Olivia's Birthday

This summer you have developed a few interesting behavioral things, and I don't know if it is because of our travels, how little you have been with mommy and daddy together, all the changes, too much stimulation or just being three years old, but here goes...  You like to yell, talk back, whine, and spit. We are working on all of these things, and you seem to understand that they are unacceptable, but we are definitely spending a lot more time in the thinking chair.  However, the tender side of me wonders if this is a result of how I have managed your life this year... it has been overwhelming and you have already been faced with death of someone close to you at such a young age.  You still talk about it every day.  

You don't really dig having your picture taken these days...

But you love wearing pretty, pretty dresses!

You and I love to snuggle with each other!

On the flip side though, you are incredibly loving, sweet, caring, affectionate and kind.  Any time you see that I am hurting you want to fix it, when your friends cry, you want to make it better. You give me, Daddy and Max kisses and hugs all the time and make sure I know that you love me... even when you are spending time in the thinking chair.  You are funny and a performer (always want to put on a show, which makes me so happy), and you enjoy bowing and clapping ;-)  You are literally my sunshine... you bring me such joy and working through the struggles of figuring out the parenting thing is something I am grateful for and feel quite fortunate to be blessed with.  

You are so smart, so kind, so funny, so energetic, so full of life and personality, you have leadership skills, and are 3 going on 30.  I don't want to squash any of that in you.  I find that I continue to gain confidence in my parenting even despite what others have to say about it.  

A lesson from me to you... people will always have opinions of you and the way you do things.  Wisdom can come in a multitude of council, but you also have to know what accept as something that resonates with you and what to set aside and advice that you disagree with.  Otherwise, you will be swayed with the wind, and that can be dangerous and harmful. This is something I am learning in a big way right now, and I am 38 years old, so I want to pass these little nuggets on to you as I learn them.  

Here are some pictures of me and you from our summer of fun!

The most important thing is that I love and adore you, you are an incredible kid and your Daddy and I know that even despite the mistakes we have made and will continue to make and learn from that we are raising an incredible kid that will do great things.  We are so very proud of you and who you are, who you are blossoming into and the relationship we have with you.  We are so grateful to call you daughter, and I am fortunate that I get to be your mommy... what an honor. Keep smiling and laughing and keep making others smile and laugh... You are treasured every single moment of every single day!

I love you my sweet monkey... stay exactly who you are, but with less yelling, whining, and spitting.  ;-) 

Mommy