4 Month Check-Up

Today was Annabelle's four month check-up. I always enjoy taking AB to her pediatrician because I look at it as a learning opportunity as she grows. Never being a mom before, I have a lot to learn about what to expect with every new month and so I always come equipped with my list of questions in tow, ready to ask Dr. Straughn, and who else was there but our most FAVORITE nurse in the whole world:

We were so excited because at AB's two week check-up, Cousin Chana was on maternity leave. For her two month check-up, Chana was called into the Plano office. So, FINALLY Cousin Chana was there to give AB her shots and love on her a little bit. I trust anybody at that office, but it's so much more comforting when you know family and someone who loves your baby is tending to her. It was a fun visit, especially because that is what we spent a lot of our time doing - visiting and chatting! Chana gave AB her shots and she didn't cry as much as she did at her two month visit, but it still breaks her mommy's heart when she bursts into tears. Dr. Straughn said that AB looked great and he was pretty adamant that she shouldn't be swaddled anymore and I should stop using the wedge. However, after advice from several experienced mommies, I decided that I would continue swaddling AB for a while longer and slowly wean her off instead of quitting cold turkey. I knew this would make for a long night, and my wonderful baby who sleeps ten to twelve hours a night, would not continue to do this for a while. We've done away with the wedge, for the most part, but swaddling, we just can't give up completely yet. Annabelle was in the 25th percentile for weight, the 12th percentile for head circumfrence, and the 65th percentile for weight. So far it's looking like she's going to be a long, lean little thing. It was an overall very good visit. She was a very happy girl and "talked and sang" for the doctor the whole time. A good doctor's visit always makes mommy very happy.

Four Months Old - On Christmas Eve!

Happy Four Months, Sweet Angel,

Not only is it happy four months, but Merry Christmas Eve to you! Your four month fell on Christmas Eve! How fitting, because I can't think of a better Christmas gift than you! Mommy and Daddy are so excited about this Christmas because you are here, Love. Christmas shopping has been a piece of cake for you this year. I can just drop your Christmas presents in the shopping cart with you right there. How easy is that? I think this last month has definitely been the most fun of all the four. You have done a lot of growing and changing and your personality is definitely starting to show. You are becoming so aware of your surroundings and your family. Here is one person you absolutely adore. This picture says it all.

One of the things I live the most for is to see your smiling face. You smile 90% of your life. You even wake up that way. Daddy and I are amazed at that because we don't wake up smiling. You are definitely what I would call, a "happy baby". You are so content and easy-going, and I'm pretty sure you have this whole "taking pictures" thing figured out. You know to look at Mommy now when I take your picture, and most of the time I get the cutest faces from you.

You're starting to grow and change in so many ways, and I've noticed a lot of growth this month. One thing I've noticed is you are starting to look my way if I'm calling out your name. This makes me so happy. Mommy and Daddy put a lot of thought into your name, and you're finally responding to it! You will also respond to a, "hey" or a whistle, but still! I love you will look at me when I call you by name. You are really starting to notice people and become a little more aware who is not Mommy or Daddy. However, you aren't to the stage yet where you cry when someone else has you. I'm not looking forward to those days because a) I hate seeing you upset and b) I love it that you let other people enjoy you. Including Santa!

Last Saturday, we were at Cousin Carter's house for an early family Christmas. You reached two milestones that day. The first was, when we were changing your diaper, you grabbed both feet. This was the first time you found your feet and you held on and didn't let go. The next was, when Daddy was giving you a bottle, you put both hands around that bottle, held on and fed yourself. Way to go, AB! This makes feeding time just a little easier for Mommy and Daddy. Although, it makes me sad because you're growing. I'm going to miss the days when I could scoop you up in my lap and give you a bottle, but you're feeding yourself so well. This is also a bittersweet thing for me because I, pretty soon, will have to stop nursing completely. This last month has brought some challenges on the nursing front. I had to stop pumping during the day and would feed you in the morning and at night, now I'm lucky to get a morning feeding in. Any other time, you prefer a bottle and Mommy isn't producing enough when I pump to give you breastmilk in a bottle. I'm trying not to feel like an absolute failure (which I know this is not the truth), but it was such a special time with you, AB, and I hate that it will have to end sooner than expected. But girl, you love yourself a bottle, so I take comfort in that.

Oh goodness how you are such a happy girl! Don't get me wrong, you have your moments where you aren't the most pleasant to be around, but that definitely doesn't happen nearly as much as when you are happy. The other day we were in Target (which we have frequented a lot, lately) and I was frantically rushing around trying to finish up Christmas shopping, when I looked down at you, you were giving me the biggest smile completely unprovoked. Oh, how I live for that!

This Christmas is going to be such a fun one with you here, AB. It's already been fun doing Christmas-y things with you. Grammy bought you the most gorgeous dress from a darling dress boutique and you look so precious in it. We took your picture in it for our Christmas card. You LOVED having your picture taken by the tree and were particularly fascinated with the ornaments.

Your napping schedule has been that of an inconsistent one. Miss Andrea thinks you are the funniest thing, how you can thrive on 30 min to an hour of sleep a day! No joke. You are definitely a champion power napper. You may have one long nap a day, but other than that all you need is about 20 - 30 minutes and you're ready to roll. Mommy does NOT complain about this though, because you sleep through the night like a champ. This month you have started sleeping about 10-11 hours through the night. Mommy and Daddy LOVE this!!!! I have been off for Christmas vacation, so I'm allowing you to sleep through instead of waking you up at about 6 am to feed you. I've found that you can go the full 11 hours, but I'm still going to be selfish and wake you up in the mornings when I go back to work, as this time is extremely important to me and I need it. Probably more than you, but still...

This month has proven to be the one that I've noticed the most changes in you. You are definitely getting to be more fun and are developing this awesome sense of humor. You definitely get it when Mommy is playing with you and trying to get you to laugh. You used to just stare at me blankly, but now you are all smiles. Oh my, you are so much fun!!!

Even though you are growing and changing so much, we still haven't completely moved on past being a newborn. You still have the need to be swaddled at night. Otherwise, you are knocking your pacie out of your mouth and hitting yourself in the face. This makes you extremely frustrated...I can imagine why! You still sleep in the bassinet in Mommy and Daddy's room. Yes, yes I know. I've heard it from lots of people..."she should be in her own room by now." Well, easier said than done. Don't people know how far your room is from mine??? I'm just not comfortable with it yet. Yes, we have a video monitor, but it just doesn't suffice. One day Mommy will get the guts to do it...but not quite yet. Maybe in another three to four weeks. It isn't just me, Daddy feels the same way. We like knowing you are right beside us. I guess it better be soon, because you are slowly outgrowing that bassinet. Speaking of growing, you are four months, but still in 0-3 clothes and in some cases you can still wear newborn. You are a petite thing and all of your 3-6 months clothes are still too big. I'm hoping you will be able to wear them before it gets too warm because, girl, you have some darn cute winter outfits in the 3-6 month size.

After seeing all the growing you've done over this last month, I can't wait to see what the next month has in store. I really feel like things are starting to take off and you are becoming your own person. I can't wait to see who you become and what you'll be like. I'm already so proud of you. Thank you for making Mommy and Daddy so happy and giving us the best Christmas present we could ever ask for.

Love you,

Mommy

A 30 Year Tradition and Baby Dedication

This year marked nearly 30 years that the Williams, Davies and the Hamlins have had their annual Christmas party together. This year was a little more special because the third generation from each family is here, or on the way, to continue the tradition. This was Audrey and Annabelle's first Christmas party and baby Freeman is on the way! We will find out in a little less than a month if baby Freeman is going to be Ava or a boy (no boy name picked out yet). This was the funnest party we've had in a long time!

It was fun getting to love on eachother's babies and getting to manhandle Jenna's baby bump! Austin loves this sweet Audrey!

Jenna was awesome! She held and rocked AB until she fell asleep, which was a good thing because this girl was getting fussy! Jenna's ready to be a mommy already!

Audrey, Baby Freeman and Annabelle's first picture together! We were having such a fun time, even the babies enjoyed it! Even though we can't tell, I'm certain that baby Freeman was smiling and having as much fun in his/her Mommy's tummy as we were at the party!

Sweet Alyssa was an AWESOME babysitter! She held AB for a good hour and kept her occupied! AB loved her! At one point we were all talking and I noticed that Alyssa was singing to AB. I leaned in a little closer to hear what she was singing, and it was the Star Spangled Banner!!! I could hardly keep myself from busting out laughing!

The next morning was Annabelle's dedication at First Baptist Garland. It was such a fun morning and especially because Annabelle got to meet, for the first time, some very special people to her Mommy and Daddy. I grew up at this church and have such fond childhood memories here, that it meant a lot to me to have AB dedicated here. Annabelle got to meet Jackie, Rachel and Liza for the first time. I was Liza's MDO teacher when she was two, and started babysitting her and her sister, Rachel. It's so hard for me to believe that Rachel is a freshman in high school and Liza will be in middle school next year! CRAZY! They are such sweet girls, they must get it from their sweet Mom.

And, of course, we cant forget about "Aunt" Amanda. She is the one who bought AB her BEAUTIFUL dedication dress. I've been looking forward to this day for many reasons, and one of them being to put her in this dress that Amanda bought her when she was in the hospital.

How cute. A baby looks so good in Mark's arms, I think they need one more! Here is the sweet Hill family. We love them. Mark married Austin and I and sweet Darcie sang "How Beautiful" at our wedding. Their beautiful girls Callie and Abby are super precious!

"I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow..."

Happy Two Year Anniversary to the love of my life and my very best friend!

As I look back over the last two years I am just blown away by how much has changed, and how it's definitely changed for the good! I couldn't picture my life any better or have any more meaning than it does now. I am so lucky to have married the man I always dreamed about and I am even more in love with him now than the day I married him. What an amazing husband and father you are, Babe, and I'm so happy to be your wife and I look forward to many, many more years together! I love you so much! Happy two year anniversary!

I love you,

Jen

Merry Christmas!

AB's First Thanksgiving!

I'm disappointed and a little ashamed to say that I didn't photograph our first Thanksgiving with AB like I would've liked. I guess that's what happens when you are hosting Thanksgiving at your house. From the time we got up until it was time to eat, we were busy cooking, cleaning and, this year, tending to our sweet baby! It just seems there wasn't a lot of time for pictures...which makes me sad. However, we did so happen to take pictures of Annabelle and her new lovie on Thanksgiving day. The day before, Annabelle got a package in the mail from John and Robin, our insurance agents. They sent her an adorable blue elephant (very soft!!) lovie. AB had to spend a little bit more of her day in her bouncy because Daddy and I were preparing for our guests all day. So, we made sure to put football on the t.v., because just like her Daddy, AB can sit and watch football all day!! While she was watching her favorite sport, we gave her her new lovie. She immediately grabbed onto it and started rubbing her hands and face over the soft material. It was very sweet. When she got tired, she'd have her paci in her mouth, and then she'd hold onto her sweet lovie.

It made her very happy! Unfortunately, it didn't work too well later on that night. Thanksgiving is usually hectic when we host it, but I love the chaos. I love the rush of getting everything ready on time and cooking all day long, but on Thanskgiving night we experienced a new kind of hectic. After family had been there about an hour or so, AB started getting a little fussy. This "little fussy" turned into an all out "screaming bloody murder" fussy. Nothing would calm her down. She had been passed around from person to person and her routine was thrown off a little bit and she didn't nap and I think she went past the point of tired, straight to pure exhaustion. She let us know about it, too! Austin and I tried all we knew to do: swaddling, swinging, shushing, sucking/pacie (all tips from The Happiest Baby on the Block). Finally, after nothing worked, I nursed her and she went right to sleep, and I just let her sleep. I didn't bother waking her up for her 9:00 feeding...this kid needed the sleep. She slept from 7:00 pm - 3:30 am. Bless her heart, she was tired! Needless to say, we have LOTS to be thankful for this year!! Even though, Thanksgiving this year presented us with a new set of challenges, but I wouldn't trade them for ANYTHING in the world!

Three Months Old

Happy Three Months Little Love,


It seems like just yesterday I was writing your two month post! Where does the time go? I've seen much more growth this month than I have in the first two. You continue to amaze Mommy and Daddy everyday. It never fails, you are always doing something cute or funny and we just stare at you in amazement. Although I don't want you to grow up, I am looking forward to putting you in your adorable 3-6 months clothes. You, believe it or not, are still wearing newborn sizes!! Here I thought I was going to have this big 'ol baby, but you have managed to stay pretty petite. That is always the first comment that people make when they see you, "Oh, she's still so tiny!" Yes, you are a dainty little thing.

This month your smiles have doubled! You've been smiling for a couple of months now, but recently your smiles are a lot more frequent. You and I will just be sitting around, watching t.v. or snuggling and I will look down at you, and you will be giving me a huge smile without me trying to get one out of you! You have really started following Mommy and Daddy with your eyes! We will walk in and out of the room and you are watching every move we make. And oh, how big and beautiful those eyes are! I could stare into your eyes all day.

You hold your head up like a pro! It's getting more and more fun to carry you around because you are able to hold your head up and look around when I carry you. Last weekend your Daddy and I took you to Salado (your first out of town trip). Instead of dragging your carrier in and out of the little shops, we decided just to carry you around. How much fun that was. You were so alert and into all of the decorations and things you saw. You rarely need us to support your head anymore. You are holding it up yourself about 90% of the time!

You have just recently started reaching and grabbing things and becoming aware of your hands. A couple of weeks ago, you grabbed onto Mommy's hair and would not let go! Ouch. I couldn't help but think it was cute, though. You've started really focusing on your hands, particularly your right one for some reason. You will make a fist, and stare intently at your hand and then attempt to find your mouth with that hand. I love to sit and watch you concentrate so hard on it. Daddy and I were in amazement a couple of weeks ago when you grabbed your passie that was in your mouth, took it out a little ways and then put it back in your mouth!

Here are some choice phrases and questions that I hear all the time from people, "Is she always this content?", "Oh, look how alert she is!", "What a happy baby!", "Listen to her talk!", "Look how tiny she is!". I, of course, could listen to the wonderful things that people say about you all day long! You are a good baby, AB. You can sit in your bouncy and entertain yourself or watch t.v. Yes, you are still a t.v. watcher. You will be sitting in Daddy's lap and you two will be watching football, and I swear you'd stay there all day if you didn't need to eat or sleep! You are most definitely your Daddy's daughter! You are just very content most of the time.

Today, I was feeling particularly sentimental and watched the DVD of the day you were born that your Daddy made for me when you were about a week old. I've watched it about 100 times since you've been born, but tonight when I watched it, it really hit me that you are growing. You've lost that "newborn" look and are developing your own beautiful features. As much as I'm enjoying watching your growth, I will always miss that sweet newborn look that you had. You are growing, but how beautifully you're growing! Your smiles, your coos, your laughter...all of it is so amazing.

I can't even begin to tell you all the things I want to say. I can't begin to express how much love I have for you. It is an INSANE amount of love. You brighten my day and give my life a whole new purpose. You bring so much joy and have brought a whole new meaning to the word love. It's not only love for you, but love the love I have for your Daddy, too. I knew I loved him...a lot...but seeing how amazing he is with you, AB, Mommy loves your Daddy more and more everyday, and I'm not the only girl in this house who loves Daddy. You are absolutely crazy about him. When you smile at Daddy, it is definitely a very adoring and loving look. Daddy is also very crazy about his little girl. I've never seen his eyes light up so much then when he looks at you. He loves you so much! Who couldn't??

Oh, AB! The months are already going by so fast. I don't want you to grow up, I want you to stay a baby forever! BUT...I know that God has great things planned for you AB. You are such a blessing, and as we are quickly approaching our first Thanksgiving with you I have so, so much to be thankful for. God knows my heart and He knew just how bad I've always wanted to be a Mommy. He blessed me with such a beautiful baby girl and I love you so much! These last three months have been a blast! I love watching you grow and enjoy all the little things that you do. I can't wait to see what the next month brings! I love you, baby girl!

Love,

Mommy