February Sunshine

Yesterday proved to be the perfect day to take down the Christmas Lights [finally].  

It was nice to be outside, do a little pruning on the hydrangeas and see Little Girl basking in the sun.

I'm enjoying my week off, it will be my last for awhile.

Hope you are enjoying your week, too.

Clara's 2 months

Clara's 2 months

[So I'm a few days, err, a week late with this post.  In other news, I put in 48 hours in the ER this week! ]

{Warning: Photo-heavy post}

Clara, you are such a joy.  We love you more and more every day, if that is even possible.  You are continuing to grow and change before our eyes - but new this month - you are acknowledging us now! SMILING!!  And they melt our hearts each and every time. 

Speaking of growing, you hit the ten pound mark at your 2 month check up, 10lbs 3oz, in fact and you are 22.5 inches long. This ten pound mark was pivotal in another department as well, your newborn diapers were beginning to look a bit like bikinis on you and after a day filled with blow-outs - you are now in size 1s.  We are getting our first shipment of Honest diapers this month; the plan is to use these if your daycare isn't willing to use gdiapers.

Your poor little legs after 3 shots, but look at that cute Honest diaper!

You continue to love bath time and have graduated to the whale tub.  This is much better since you love kicking and splashing in the water.

The hardest part about this month was going back to 'work'.  It was good for both of us, but it made fore some lllloooonnnggg days waiting in anticipation to get home to you.  We are so thankful that family pitched in so we could keep you out of daycare this month and for most of next!  More than double the time we thought - you'll be 3 months before heading off to daycare!

You still love your walks and are starting to like tummy time a little bit more.  Despite this, your head control is improving every day.  You are eating [what I think to be 4oz] every four hours on the button, and pretty much continuing this into the night.  You did make it one night from 10:30p to 5:30a - and man, did I love that long stretch of sleep!

We ventured out of the house on a few outings this month, both with and without you, Clara.  Bo and I went to the USM v. Memphis basketball game.  We had a great time AND MEMPHIS WON!  We also went to Beer Club at Keg and Barrel, however this was not the experience any of us wanted.  A devastating tornado hit Hattiesburg that day.  We hunkered down in the basement and were safe and sound.  Unfortunately, this was not the case for many, but thankfully there were no fatalities.  This is a strong community, many groups have already begun pitching in to begin the long restoration process.  If you'd like to make a donation, here is the link to The Salvation Army.

The following is a photo stream from this month:

Mommy-Daughter Plaid-Day

A Mommy's New Groove

Over the past 8 weeks, I'm finally getting into my mommy groove.  I'm figuring it all out, well most of it, anyway.  So, I've put this little post together - 8 weeks and 8 things that have made my life a little bit easier.  Just like a Spoon Full of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down...

1. These little puppies are all over the house: on the back of every chair for easy burping, on the changing table for spillage, in the crib for propping little girl on her side...  Thank goodness my mom saved all of these - they have been a lifesaver.

2.  I guess every nursing mom knows how important The Boppy is.  In those first few weeks, I felt like I had a permanent inner- tube around my waist, but it saved me.  This is one amazing pillow.  How did our mom's use a regular one?!?

3.  We did not start using these soon enough!  Little Girl is addicted to the swaddle and these have saved me many a trip to the nursery to re-wrap her.  And it's worth the extra bucks for the organic ones, the fabric is softer and thicker.  Who knew I'd be putting my child in a straight jacket before her teen years?

4.  A friend of my mom recommend using an exercise ball during fussy times or if you have a colicky baby.  For us, this was like the Golden Ticket.  We sat on the ball with Miss Fussy Pants and she was somehow lulled to sleep almost every time.

5.  Who could pee without one of these!?!  Need I say more.  We don't use the vibrate feature, but I know some babies love it.  Though I do like the music it plays.  For some reason those short little tonal songs are a favorite of Little Girl.

6. This gadget, too, will help save you a few trips to the nursery in the middle of the night.  Little Girl had 2 weeks in the room with us.  Then, on Christmas Night, she spent her first night in her crib.  I can't believe how much better I slept without having to peer in on her for every grunt!

7.  This was the best little shower gift and I really though nothing of it at first glance.  It is awesome.  Just the right amount of light for keeping on all night long - no need to turn on anything else for 2am nursing and diaper changes.

8.  Well, enough said.  He's just truly the best.  I've even started calling him The Baby Whisperer - he burps her, changes her and puts her to bed. 

 Who could ask for anything more?