5 Months

Noelle-

I hope you don't take after me in regards to procrastinating. Again, I have lots of good excuses for my tardiness..but let's just jump right in to a recap of your 5th month.
April is going down as the month of "firsts". Here are all the firsts we got through this month: first day back to work, first day of daycare, your first time being sick (which coincided with my first night of staying up wondering if we should take you to the ER - we didn't), first taste of "solids", first time sleeping through the night (and then no longer STTN), and your first Easter. It was also my birthday and we had a visit from Granny Annie! Whew!
The biggest event was me heading back to work and you heading to daycare. I was actually excited to be working again, but leaving you with someone else that first week was really difficult for me. The "drop off" took at least 20 minutes each day because I kept coming back for one more kiss, one more "I Love You". Your teachers told us that you did really well and after that first week, I felt much better about the whole thing. I know it is a hot topic - but I believe that daycare is a better option for you as opposed to a nanny as it helps you to acclimate to new places & people, plus you get to play with other babies all day and learn new things from watching them. By the end of April, you were smiling at your teachers when you arrived and didn't seem to care whether I was in the room or not because you were so occupied with all the toys and the other babies.
The one downside of daycare is getting sick. It took only 2 weeks of you being there before you came down with a cold. The congestion freaked this first time mommy out and I literally had you in bed with me all night the first night (and many nights thereafter) so I could listen to you breathe. We rushed you to the doctor in the morning and they told us that it's a cold...and then I think secretly checked the box on your chart that said "first time parents freaking out about sniffles". However, this did eventually turn into an ear infection which was awful for you and heart-wrenching for me when all we could do was hold you and pray for your meds to start working. But, we made it through and you did get better and back to normal.

Our first foray into solids was somewhat successful. Although, I think you were really into chewing on the spoon rather than the food that was on it. Subsequent attempts resulted in a very large mess and you making a face that is better suited to someone sucking on a lemon. We are still trying on occasion, but we're letting you decide when you are ready.
Your sleeping schedule was pretty great for a while - waking up once during the night during a 7pm - 5am sleep. You even had THREE GLORIOUS NIGHTS of sleeping through then night. Then you got sick and sleep for all of us became a thing of the past. We aren't ready for sleep training yet so we still cater to your every whimper and you were a fixture in our bed for about two weeks while you were sick.

My birthday was wonderful! It was a simple night with you, Dad, my mom, and some cupcakes. Perfect night to celebrate the best year of my life! Dad bought me a beautiful necklace with your birthstone and I wear it every day.

Easter was fairly good. You were sick so you weren't the happiest girl, but you still enjoyed looking through your Easter "bucket" and checking out your goods! When I was growing up, it was a tradition that I got a Disney movie every Easter in my basket. This year, the Easter Bunny gave you Bambi!
You are such a happy baby (except when you were sick, obviously) and you make me smile all day long. I love waking up to your huge smile in the morning along with your excited kicks and crazy arms! I am so proud of how quickly you have adjusted to our new routine and how well you have done at daycare. Time is really flying now that I am back to work and while I am so happy to see the new thing that you do every day, I want to sometimes just hit pause and hold you in those happiest of moments.
This entry is so long, so I'll try to wrap it up, but I'm a mom - we gush - even if nobody else is reading :) Your new skills this month were rolling back to front (and then you didn't stop), discovering your toes, you have fine tuned grabbing objects and can now easily grasp something with one hand in one attempt, babbling and blowing raspberries more frequently, and a large amount of smiles and giggles!

5 Month Stats:
I'm guessing around 15 or so pounds.

Loves:
Your toes! Rolling, grabbing everything in sight, banging things together, the cats, Daddy tickling you, playing independently, watching the other babies at daycare

Dislikes:
Napping (still), having a toy you want out of reach (you have developed a sense of which specific items you want)

I'll write again two weeks days for your 6 month update!

Love you, love you, love you,
Mama

4 Months

Noelle-

I am so sorry this is so late! You are closer to 5 months than 4 at this point, but I'm going to try my best to only gush about your March activities. I have good excuses for my tardiness - my birthday, grandma in town, and going back to work all took place the weekend I would normally write. But anyway, that's next month's blog so let's begin...

The month of March was fantastic for us. During February you had turned a corner from being a shall we say "fussy" baby to being more happy. During March, you were an absolute doll. I kept telling others that you were so much fun and it was a nice way to end out my leave from work, but also made it harder to leave you.

You smile so much and giggle when you hear new noises. You LOVE playing on your tummy and grabbing at your toys in front of you. You are now coordinated enough to pick up toys and get them to your mouth, which is where everything ultimately ends up. It might take you a few tries, but you get there eventually. You also we through a phase with your tongue where it was constantly out of your mouth. It only lasted a week, but it was hysterical. Everytime we looked at you, there was your tongue, just hanging out. I'm sad I didn't get a picture, I didn't realize it was a passing fad (but thank goodness it was).

During March we celebrated Dad's birthday with a simple night at home and I know that having you around made it his best birthday yet. Our St. Patrick's Day celebration was limited to dressing you up in green and having dinner with friends and their kids. Mom and Dad's days of going out and acting like fools passed a few years ago, but this year I felt really old when I was in bed early cursing the loud "kids" walking by our house on the way to their next bar. You'll never be one of those kids, right? I'm sure you won't...

In early March we transitioned you from your pack & play in our room to your crib in your room. Suprisingly, you didn't bat an eye. You slept the same you had been in our room, which still consists of 2-3 wakeups during the night...which leads me to our next new activity together - napping! Kid, you don't like to nap. However, if I cuddle up with you in my bed and nap with you, you can sleep for two hours. March was the month that I gave in and started napping regularly with you. It's the best feeling in the world to have you next to me, feeling you breathing and hearing your little sounds while we sleep. I don't want you to get too attached to sleeping with us so I limit it to one nap a day and some time in the morning if you wake at 4 or 5 and we bring you in with us to get a little more sleep. However, if I wasn't afraid of eventually trying to convince a 4 year old that it's time to leave our bed, I would have you with me during the night as well.

Your Grandpa Schumacher came for a weekend visit and you loved your time with him. You were smiling and loved when he tossed you and caught you. You have him wrapped around your little finger and it's so special for me to see him so in love with you.

Little one, things just keep getting better with you and this month has made me happier than I have ever been. You continue to grow stronger, smarter, and sweeter every day. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I love you so very much!

4 Month Stats:
13 pounds, 15 ounces and 25 inches

Loves:
Anything and everything that you can grab and put in your mouth, things that make noises, people's faces, watching the cats, going for walks and watching the dogs at the dog park

Dislikes:
Napping alone...that's about it! See, I told you that you've changed!

Love,
Mama

3 Months

Noelle-

How has another month already gone by? I can't believe you are already three months old. I find myself seeing smaller, newborn babies when I am out and thinking "ohhh, I remember when my baby was that small". I know you are still tiny, but your personality makes you seem so much older. We are constantly told by friends, family, strangers, and doctors how alert you are for your age. You are always looking around at everything and want to be everywhere all the time. I'm guessing this is why you started rolling over from tummy to back at 11 weeks. You do it about 50% of the time you are on your tummy so it isn't a fluke thing.

Speaking of tummy time, you have rounded a corner and actually enjoy it now (for a reasonable amount of time). You can lift your head all the way up and look around at toys or me making funny faces at you.
This month we celebrated your first Valentine's day by dressing you up and taking pictures to send to daddy, who was in Barcelona. He loved them and showed all of his coworkers his little girl. He loves you so much and you are the apple of his eye. The feelings are mutual. Whenever you are with me and hear his voice, your head whips around until you find him and you always smile or giggle when you see him. It's the sweetest thing I have ever seen!

We had very special visitors this month. First was my mom and my grandma who came to stay with us while daddy was away. Four generations of us girls under one roof was such a wonderful experience and I know we all loved the time together. You were in the middle of a "mommy" stage at the time though and would only tolerate being held by others for short periods of time. No matter, they soaked up thier moments with you and happily handed you back to me when you fussed!

Next your aunties came to see you. Lindsay came in from California and Kellie from Washington DC to see you for a long weekend. Auntie Lindsay is slightly obsessed and came with a suitcase full of gifts! You are one lucky kid to have such a great extended family - all of whom love you (and live in wonderful places to visit!)

We are down to our last month with me home and it breaks my heart to think of leaving you during the day. Oddly enough though, I'm also excited to get back to spending time with adults and challenging my mind with work. This past month started out pretty badly with you being extremely fussy and not wanting anyone except me. However, the past 2 weeks have been wonderful and I'm hoping this is here to stay. You can play by yourself for small amounts of time and you are happy to be held by anyone. Your smiles are contagious and that little laugh of yours is getting bigger and bigger. I don't know how I could love you more, but somehow I do each and every day.


3 Month Stats:
12 1/2 pounds - we don't have height as you didn't have a dr appt this month

Loves:
Dad, mom, the t.v., your hands, your stuffed animal Scout, singing

Dislikes:
Laying on your back when not asleep (ie - your stroller), being tired (you start to lose your mind and don't know what you want - bottle, paci, hand), naps

Love you so very, very much -
Mom

2 Months

Dear Noelle-

Month two has been quite an adventure. Dad went back to work so it has been just the two of us at home. It has been a big adjustment for both of us, but we have made it through and gotten into a groove now (most days). We've had some hard days along the way but also some really great days.

On your 6 week birthday you gave me your first big smile that was just for me! You had smiled previously for different sounds and even for your Grandpa Shue (you really LOVE deep voices), but never just for me until that day. I tell you what, it made my heart skip a beat to see that I made you so happy just by being with you. Now you are smiley every time you wake up from a good sleep. I spend so much time sitting with you and doing all kinds of silly things to see that grin - funny faces, new noises, playing music and dancing in front of you. Unfortunately, when I bring out the camera, you focus on that and forget all about smiling for me!

You also squeal with excitement now and have started the beginning of what will be a laugh one day. You mostly do it when I play "bee" with you and "get you" with my hands. The anticipation of my hand tickling you is just to much and you usually squeal, smile, and shake your head back and forth. It's absolutely adorable and my favorite part of each day.

You have also began a love affair with your hands. You have always liked them, but you are now able to get them to your mouth on purpose rather than the occasional accident. You can spend endless amounts of time sucking on your fists and it can be very loud. It is a testament of my love to you that I can stand to be around it b/c I am notoriously disgusted by mouth noises - chewing food, sucking candy, gum, etc.

Your patience, or lack thereof, is not from a growth spurt...it is who you are. When you want something, you want it now. You demand to be carried around when you are awake and tricking you by sitting and bouncing is a no-go. This has gotten better in the past week so I hope that was a passing fad because I am exhausted. On the plus side, I only have 10 more pounds to lose due to the constant walking and carrying. I'm also sprouting some pretty sweet arm muscles.



Lastly, I don't understand how I gave birth to an early riser. Neither myself or your dad are early birds but somehow you rise consistently at 5 AM and think it's the most wonderful thing every day to be awake. In the midst of my foggy sleep vision I see you smile when I come to pick you up and it makes the walk downstairs to start our day bearable, well...almost.

Time is flying by too quickly. I only have 2 more months of maternity leave and it makes me so sad to think of leaving you for someone else to enjoy all day while I work. I never had any intention of being a stay at home mom, but I can understand now why people do it. I still don't plan to stay home, but I know going back will be tough.

2 Month Stats:
10 pounds, 15 ounces (50th percentile); 24 inches (95th percentile)

Loves:
Mom, Dad, men's voices, being carried everywhere, rattles, bright lights

Dislikes:
Tummy time, sitting still, swing

I love you so much little one and I can't wait to see how much you grow and change over the next month.

Love you-
Mom

1 Month

Dear Noelle-

It has been one month since you arrived. I think what I am suppose to say is that I can't remember life without you. But the truth is that I do remember - and it involved full nights of sleep, completed tasks, regular showers, jeans that fit, and wine...a good amount of wine. What I want to say is that despite what I remember of the perks of life before you, I wouldn't change a thing and I don't want to know a life without you.

In one month you have already changed so much. You are no longer the sleepy little baby we brought home weeks ago. Instead, you have been replaced by a more alert, more hungry, demanding baby. You are still mostly pleasant, but we need to work on your patience. I understand you are hungry when you wake up so no need to scream before even opening your eyes to see that I am getting you in to place for your meal. I've been told this could be a growth spurt, but I'm guessing this impatience is inherited for me so I have no-one to blame but my genetics. Speaking of growth spurts, at your one month appointment you weighed 9 lbs, 4 oz and were 22 1/4 inches long. The dr. told us you are in the 50th percentile for weight and 75th for height! You are already out of your newborn size clothes (and have been since about 2 weeks!).


Your dad and I have an array of nicknames and phrases to describe all of your Noelle-"isms". Dad calls you Nugget most of the time, I call you Baby Girl, Little One, or Tyrant. Your startle reflex makes us both laugh every time and Dad calls it your "praise Jesus" move/position (see pic below for example). We also have the pirate, the stiff leg, crazy eyes, fish hook, and the poop-shooter (unfortunately, earned during the middle of the night and my pjs and our bed linens fell victim to this move).


I hate to see you cry, but admittedly laugh when you fuss with your pacifier in because you make the most amusing sound. You like to blabber during tummy time and cannot get enough of looking at yourself in the mirror. You are pretty cute though, so I get it :)

Dad and I are doing really well. This past week was our longest stretch of days without a grandparent to help and I think we coped really well. Lucky for me, your dad is extremely helpful. However, he goes back to work in two days and you'll be stuck with me all day. I am excited to have you all to myself, but also worried about being alone all day and being lonely. We'll get through it though with the help of two ladies whom I love - Oprah & Judge Judy (yes, really).

Word on the street is that I should see your first real smile in the next few weeks. I'm pretty sure that smile will be able to get me through any trying moments that we have ahead of us, and that it always will.

I love you Little One-
Mom

Two Weeks (plus 1 day!)

A day late on this one! My mom and Nick left today so I was trying to soak up as much time as possible with them yesterday and made peace with my lack of posting on time.


Week two has been much better than week one...and week one wasn't even bad! Cassidy and I are more confident in our skills and don't worry as much about accidentally killing the baby. I am not yet totally comfortable leaving her to sleep in a room on her own for naps (bedtime in her own room is at least a month away). I like to periodically look at her to make sure she is breathing and that is hard to do when she is all the way upstairs. I have heard this gets better, but until then Noelle is pretty much stuck with me.

Noelle also had her first real bath and she seemed to like it. If she is anything like her mother, she will soon love bath time! She also had a perfect two week checkup - she has grown an inch since birth and is up to 8 pounds, 2 ounces! The weight gain was not a shock. Noelle is quite the eater and at times she goes from sleeping to "FEED ME NOW!" in about 2 seconds flat. Other times she has a 5 minute stretching/yawning routine that is absolutely hysterical. She has mastered following things with her eyes and really loves to look at the Christmas tree lights, TV, and people's faces (especially mama's!).


As for me, I am doing really well. I am back to feeling 100% and actually have a lot of energy sans napping. As for the baby weight - I gained 45 pounds total and have lost 25 so far. I am pretty happy with progress and know that things will happen quicker once the goodies that my mom has stashed in the house are gone! I was lucky not to have suffered from the "baby blues" but as of today am a bit down because my mom has left. It's not only the help I will miss, but just her company. Something about having "mom" around always makes things better and brighter and it is hard with her living so far away and not knowing when we will next see her.

Can't wait to see what week three has in store for us!

One Week

One week ago, on December 1st at 3:50 am, Ms. Noelle Elizabeth made her entrance into this world. She weighed in at 7 pounds, 14 ounces and was 20 inches long. She was (and is) perfect.

To answer some of my own questions from my last blog - she does have lots of dark hair, she seems to have my nose and my eyes (but it's hard to tell so early on), her cry is more of a high pitched screech that goes as quickly as it comes, I only shed a few happy tears when she was placed on my chest, and Cassidy stayed dry-eyed but the joy he felt was a beautiful thing to witness.

I am going to do a separate blog about labor & delivery (not too detailed, promise). But here are pics of us holding our bundle after she was cleaned up. Unfortunately, there are no pictures of when I first saw and held her because we were so caught up in the moment that the camera didn't even come out.




Noelle has been an absolute dream for us first time parents. She rarely cries or fusses and when she does, she typically just wants to be held. No problem for me considering I am adverse to sleeping at night because I miss her. No joke...I actually miss her when she is sleeping an arms length away. So many memories are forever ingrained in my mind already and I will treasure them always. One of my favorites is waking up in the hospital in my recovery room and seeing her being wheeled into the room, eyes wide open, with a little hat on, and my feeling of "I can't believe this perfect little person is mine." However, the best part is the love I feel for her. I've heard it said by others, but "love" doesn't really explain it. My heart leaps out of my chest with each new facial expression, coo, kick of her leg, and grasp of my finger. Breastfeeding, while exhausting, is such a special bond and I am so happy I made the decision to do it and that the two of us (Noelle & I) caught on within a few days.

I have to say that Cassidy has been the best support I could have asked for. He is up with me every time she is up - whether it is to get me water or chat with me to keep me awake, he runs errands, cooks, cleans, took the brunt of diaper duty, and tells me I am beautiful every day. It's so wonderful to watch him with her and see how much he loves her and cares for her. He is a protective papa bear and I'm nervous for the boys that come around in her teens :)

As for her 1 week birthday, we took some pictures today and as you will see, I captured a few of the many faces of Noelle...and they are all cute, if I do say so myself!