mother's day

it's taken me almost a week to write this post i started about my first mother's day. mostly because every time i start to think about it i get all weepy. what can i say, thinking about this perfect baby of mine gets me that way.

the other day, my boss, of all people, told me that he'd noticed a change in me since i'd come back to work. that he and his wife had noticed a change. that i seem more (and i quote) "happy, calm, and confident" than before i had a baby. i tried not to, but i smiled from ear to ear. because he's absolutely right. this guy that really doesn't know me very well because i'm not extremely open at work, could tell that i'm a happier person. {ok let's be honest, i'm pretty open even when i try not to be. i'm fairly annoying. i never mastered the mysterious thing}

it's like i've been waiting for motherhood since i was born. and now that it's finally here, my life feels more complete.

being a mother is the most important thing i've ever done. i tried to go a few different directions with this life of mine, but the Lord helped steer me in the right one. i can't believe He found me worthy and capable of raising this amazing girl, and i hope i can do right by Him.  i love my girl an awful lot.

april on instagram

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goofy faces and updates

i'm feeling particularly sappy about being a mama today ... you've been warned. sheesh, does this blog have anything but babies in it anymore??! no. because neither does my life.

gosh am i obsessed with this beautiful girl of mine. due to babysitter illness, i had an entire week  at home with this girl, uninterrupted by work. i was completely spoiled and it was hard getting back to a normal work week. we are lucky enough to be able to get by on a half-time salary for me, so i only work 2 1/2 days a week but it's crazy how much i miss my pearl on those days! it's like i completely forget about her delicious baby smell and her long eyelashes and her slobbery smiles.

i've been waiting just about my entire life for the day when my baby reaches for me and nuzzles into my neck for comfort, and i think we're getting there quickly. she's been trying to fight sleep lately (seriously kid, you're too young for that!) but if i rock her just so and sing to her at the perfect volume, she will push her face deep into the crook of my neck with her ear against my skin so she can hear my voice from inside my chest. second only to nursing, it's one of my favorite moments with her.

this girl's personality develops more and more every day -- still waiting on that first laugh, she's holding out on me -- and i can tell she's a lover. although i know i'll eat my words when she throws that first huge tantrum.

other things to note:

>she still doesn't cry real tears yet. i'm not looking forward to that day because i'm sure i'll have some of my own.

>she finally feels like an armful! not heavy, but it feels like you're holding more than a blanket now ;) she's around 11 pounds, and has caught up in clothing sizes. funny note, she fit newborn diapers til she was 2 months.

>she toots every time she coughs, sneezes, stretches, smiles, blinks... but really. and if you're changing her diaper when she sneezes, duck and cover. i pinched her nose closed once when she was about to sneeze in the bathtub. it didn't work. this is also embarrassing in church.

>she loves talking to her daddy. i get a little jealous because the minute he gets home she is daddy's girl all the way.

three months

two months:

 one month:

 one week:

somebody pinch me

....i have the perfect baby. not to make you feel bad about yours, but really. not to put on the pressure for your babies to come, but really.

she's perfect.

all right, there was that one time she pooped on the curtains. from four feet away. she also got the wall, and the dresser, and the changing pad, and... but grandma was babysitting so, hey! she's even more perfect ;) i'm sure even grandma would agree.

but let's get down to why i'm really bragging about her today.

she's always had a problem with being put down. hey, i would too if i had so many awesome people around to hold me. she couldn't stay asleep for more than 3 minutes if she wasn't in someone's arms, even at night, even in a swing, even with a warm rice bag, even even even...

but one day, and that one day was wednesday, she decided she was just much too old for that baby nonsense, and just stopped. yep, suddenly i put her down in her bouncer and she was happy as a clam, cooing at the mobile and kicking her legs. then later on she fell asleep in my arms and i laid her down on the bed so i could run to the bathroom (as fast as i could because any second she would wake up crying because i wasn't holding her). but she didn't wake up! she slept like a rock there on the bed!

i know why she chose wednesday. it's because tuesday night we found out she has a milk allergy and that mama can no longer eat ANY dairy. but this perfect baby chose the perfect allergy because she knew that her mama has a problem with chocolate and cheese and she was really helping me out. she also knew that if she had been allergic to coke zero or gluten, heaven forbid, her mama probably would've shut herself in a closet to cry for the next two days. nope, she chose dairy which i will happily give up for the perfect baby.

so thanks, pearl. for being the best thing that ever happened to me, in more ways than you can imagine.

march on instagram

 

march was such an exciting month for us! pearl graced us with her first smile and then kept 'em flowing from there. we blessed her at our home on her 2-month birthday with lots of friends and family. i nursed  pearl in public for the first time! at a park, fairly secluded from other people, but still! no cover! we did an easter egg hunt for ruby in our backyard, and welcomed baby hudson into the family! he was 5 lb 10 oz, just a little squirt like pearl. and he's got the cutest blond hair i've ever seen. we're so excited to call him our nephew.

two months

one month:

one week: