Mia's First Time at the Pool

So today was an eventful day! I took Mia swimming for the first time. She loves bathtime so I was hoping that she would love swimming just as much. She is too little to go underwater, but I at least wanted to get her in the pool. It was great, my aunts from Colorado and Missouri were in town and so we met at my cousins for lunch and then headed to the pool. My aunt that lives in town was also there, so it was really nice to spend some family time.
Here are some pictures from the day.
Here is mommy and Mia in our bikinis on my way to Terri's. I only had prepregnancy swimsuits so this is what I had to settle with.

This is my cousin Terri's son, Dax (he is a month older than Mia) and Mia hanging out
Mia decided to be a SASS!
Mia's first time in the pool with Aunt Dolly
That tired her out, she decided she needed a nap!
After her nap we put on her sunhat and it was back in the water, here she is with Dolly again.
And here is a closeup of her and her hat!

What an awesome time we had! It was great to be outside on a beautiful day with family!

What an amazing week!

Well, Mia celebrated her first 4th of July this year...and while she was still in bed by 7:45, because that is when bedtime is, she still got dressed up in her Daddy's Little Sparkler outfit...she was too cute. She also had her 2 month well check. So we went to the Dr. and she is 22.5 inches long, which is in the 50th percentile for height and she is 13lbs, 2oz which is in the 95th percentile for weight...so Mia is a little chunky. Oh well, we love her that way! She is doing so much better on her new formula, she is actually a "happy" baby now. She is cooing and smiling and is just growing and changing everyday. Some days I just sit and watch her, thinking about blessed I am to have her in my life. I have updated with LOTS of new pictures for everyone to check out.

Here is Mia's 4th of July outfit

Look at those baby blue eyes...and her spit bubbles

Mommy and Mia on the 4th

Family picture on the 4th
Mia in her new swimsuit and shades
Big smiles...
Mia with the flowers Daddy got me "just because"! He is TOO good to me!This is what we call Mia's "Old Lady Face"
11 weeks old! She is SO bigAll by herself!

She's Getting Big!

Well our little girl is officially 10 weeks old today. Seriously, where has the time gone. In less then 2 weeks I will be headed back to work for 4 hours a day, I can't believe how fast being off work has gone. Mia is growing each day and doing new things every time we look at her...she is such an amazing baby. Last night she slept from 8pm to 5am...what a blessing...then went back to bed until 8...she is becoming a pretty good sleeper. YAY!

Here are some new pictures.

This is part of our bedtime routine...
Bathtime...

Then we read some stories. She loves it! Here she is just chillin' with her burp cloth...she loves that thing!
10 weeks old...look how big she is.
This is her with the blanket my Aunt made her...all my cousins and I have one with our name on it and now Amelia has hers! YAY!!!
She seems to love it...look at that smile!

God is Good!

So as most of you read, I've been having a pretty hard time lately. I believe I have some post-partum depression and dealing with a colicky baby is overwhelming beyond words. However, something amazing happened this weekend. I went to church on Sunday and you would have thought the sermon was written for me. I have attached the notetaking guide and audio version of the sermon in case you are interested but this is why it touched me so deep.
It talked about Failure! Ha...my biggest fear, failing as a mother, failing as a wife, failing in general. The pastor talked about how FAILING is a part of life but FAILURE isn't. It's true, at some point we are all going to fail at something, but it is how we respond to it that makes us stronger. He pointed out that in the middle of life/crisis Jesus is there. For some reason, I think I have forgotten the role God plays in my life and starting thinking I had to do this on my own. My how wrong I've been. He made a point that in times of trial and hardship is when we really learn how to trust God. This couldn't be more true. That night I sat crying in Mia's room, the only thing I knew to do was pray. I called on God to ease my pain and the tears of my daughter. It wasn't an immediate fix, but through this time God is teaching me patience and grace. What an amazing lesson to learn.
The other thing that really stuck out to me in this sermon was the question presented at the end.

What is so important that you are willing to try even in the face of the possibility of failing?

After this question was asked I just sat there staring at Mia and crying. She is so important that I will risk the possibility everyday of failing in order to love her more and be the best mother, role model and inspiration in her life.

So I have a new outlook on life, and how I will choose to look at things. This doesn't mean that things are easier, it just means that I will remember that in the middle of it all is a God who loves me unconditionally and will take the opportunity to learn from everything that is being presented to me.

Note taking guide
Audio Sermon - it is from June 21 & 22

9 weeks old!

Well, my little girl is 9 weeks old. She is getting so big. It is amazing to watch her grow. She truly changes everyday.
Here are her newest pictures.

9 weeks with her bear

A closeup of her little chunky self
This is the new bed, it's called the Amby Bed. We bought this since she refuses to sleep in her crib. It is also good for reflux and colic babies. She has only been using it 2 nights but seems to like it. This is her napping today!
And here she is napping with her burp cloth. She LOVES that thing!

2 Months Old!

Mia is officially 2 months old today!
Here she is enjoying some time in her swing.

And here is Daddy and Mia playing
And here is mommy - 2 months Post Partum

The Struggles of Parenthood...

I debated on whether or not to post this, but I decided I would...
Amelia is 8 weeks old now and while I love being a mom more than anything in the world, there are days when I think I just can't do it. After trying for 2.5 years to get pregnant, I thought that was going to be the hardest thing to endure. However, my pregnancy wasn't any easier. I vomited for 9 months, had painful Braxton Hicks, was tired all the time, planned a natural, drug-free birth and ended up with an emergency C-section. I delivered a beautiful, healthy baby though and that is all that really mattered. So I figured something easy has to follow. Then Mia became Colicky. There is nothing like a non-stop screaming baby that tugs at your heart as a mom. On top of this I planned to exclusively breastfeed but my supply couldn't keep up. And while I am still nursing I have to supplement with formula every feeding. This has led to Mia having horrible stomach problems. We have gone through 3 formulas and she is now on a hypo-allergenic formula that we are hoping works.
There are days when I just can't get her to stop crying and I cry right along with her. There are days that I feel like a failure as a mother, because I can't get her to stop crying and I know her belly hurts so bad. There are days when I wish I could just breastfeed so we wouldn't have these problems anymore. There are days when I actually wonder if I was really meant to be a mom and then there are days when I just stop and sit back for a moment, clear my head and think.
These are the days that I remember the blessing that occurred after 2.5 years of trying, the day we got that positive pregnany test.
These are the days I remember my C-section and thank God that they realized her heartrate was dropping and she was delivered healthy.
These are the days I am thankful that my husband is so supportive, always telling me I am an awesome mom and laying on Mia's floor in the middle of the night while I feed her.
These are the days that I realize God is teaching me lessons in Grace, Patience, and Love.

I know days are going to be hard, but on those days I just try to remember that God blessed me to be a mother because He believed I could do it...and on those days I remember the little gummy smile she gives me or the coo that seriously melts my heart. Because of Mia I have learned what it means to love so much it hurts. It truly hurts me to my core when she cries and I can't calm her. Because of Mia I have found a love for my husband that I never knew was possible. A love that surpasses everything, a bond so deep I don't think I could survive without him.

I am not sure why I felt the need to share all this...maybe to clear my head, or maybe because I think sometimes people sugarcoat parenthood. I am sure there are people out there that have great babies, that never cry and are happy all the time. But I also think there are people who being a first time parent is hard.
All that said this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, however, it is the most amazing, rewarding thing I have done. There is nothing like seeing a child that was created out of love smile at you, when you look at her and see Josh and I in her...Mia melts my heart!

8 weeks old!

Well, Miss Mia is now 8 weeks old. She will be 2 months on Sunday...it is hard to believe. The time seems to move so fast and yet so slow at the same time. I wanted to update with some new pictures.
This one is actually a few weeks old, but we actually captured her smile...isn't it adorable

Here is Daddy and Mia on Father's Day.

And here she is 8 weeks old!

8 weeks old...look how big she is.

Bathing Beauty

Here is the little one during bathtime! This is part of our nightly routine and she is starting to love them! I had to take picctures.

Chillin' with her hand behind her head!
Getting dried off
Mommy gave her a mowhawk! haha!

7 weeks

Here she is 7 weeks old. She is literally growing before our eyes. It's amazing.

Mom, hurry, I think I'm going to fall over!

6 weeks

Sorry I've kind of been slacking. Mia is a tad bit colicky so it is hard to find time to update with a crying baby...but all is well. She is such an amazing baby! She has started making some cooing noises and has started to smile!

Mia 6 weeks old

She was not too happy getting her picture taken.
When all else fails, put the crabby baby on the dryer...she was out in 5 seconds
Comiskey loves her "baby sister"
Her she is smiling at her daddy! Too precious!

Post Partum Check up!

So I had my Post Partum check up yesterday. After giving birth to the most amazing little girl ever I am down 32 pounds, which means I am within 6 pounds of my pre-pregnancy weight. However, I would like to lose at least another 10. My check up went great, I am healing "beautifully" as the Dr. says and all is well, but...
Here is the funny story...a little graphic maybe for some of you.



So Josh, Mia and I go to the Dr. They tell you to get completely undressed and sit on the table covered by the little sheet. Great! So we are sitting there waiting and Mia decides to wake up. well since she wakes up and is in her carseat she is not very happy. She immediately starts screaming...Josh gets her out and soothes her, finally settling down, while I sit there on the table. All of a sudden I feel really wet and cold...I look down and to my horror I have leaked all the way down the front of the sheet. Josh throws me a burp cloth and I try to wipe up, but it is no use...the Dr. comes in and I apologize for the milk all over the sheet...he laughs and says "The baby must have started crying". Oh my, how embarrassing!



Just thought I would give you all a chuckle and an insight into the joys of motherhood, however, I wouldn't change it for the world!

Just a reminder what I looked like at 37 weeks pregnant...5 days before delivering Mia

And what I look like at 5 weeks Post Partum

5 weeks old!

So my baby girl is already 5 weeks old. Can you believe it? Sometimes I can't believe how fast time is going. Sorry this is a little late...I spend so much time with Mia, sometimes I forget to update!

5 weeks old with her teddy bear! Just Mia!

4 weeks old today!

So Mia is 4 weeks old today! Can you believe it? She is growing fast and actually starting to sleep more at night. She usually (knock on wood) goes to bed around 9pm and then wakes up about 2 or 3 to eat, goes back to bed around 4, sleeps for another 3 hours, eats and sleeps another 3 to 4 hours...the funny thing is...getting all this sleep is almost making us MORE tired!! haha!!
Well here are some new pictures.
Here is Mia in her new bathtub...she wasn't too sure what to think...but she didn't HATE it. I covered her up as to not embarrass her to much later in life.

Here is our little chunky monkey all dressed up in her pretty pink dress

And here she is 4 weeks old
Another picture closeup.I think she was done getting her picture taken!

Official America's Worst Mom!

So tonight I am sure I won America's Worst Mom!! Here is why:
Mia had a really bad belly ache last night and therefore did not sleep at all...neither did mommy or daddy...then today she didn't really sleep either, I think she was overtired. So I took her to the mall, because she always falls asleep in the car and figured then she would take a "nap". Got to the mall...she was still awake...so I walked around the mall and after about 30 minutes she finally fell asleep. So I finished walking the mall and since she was still sleeping I decided to go to Borders to get a book. So I drive to Borders, open the passenger front door, where the diaper bag is, and the passenger back door where Mia is and get ready to put her in her new sling. I lock the doors and throw the keys in the diaper bag. Well, right as I go to get her out of the car seat a car wants to pull into the spot next to me. So being considerate I shut both doors and wait for them to pull in. After they pulled in, I reach for the door handle and to my horror...it is locked...I HAD LOCKED THE DOORS. I start to panic. The old couple gets out of the car and I say "I just locked my keys and my newborn baby in the car". The woman rushes over and hands me her cell phone, all the while they are apologizing profusely. I call Josh...of course tonight he is working off duty, and he doesn't answer his cell. So I call my mom and tell her she needs to go to my house and get the extra key. She tells me to call 911. I didn't realize I could call them, since they normally don't unlock doors, but it is different when there is a CHILD in the car. So I call 911 and tell the dispatcher...who knows me...that I have locked my baby in the car. She tells me they will send the fire department. So about 3 minutes later, lights and sirens, the fire truck shows up. They unlock my door very quickly, all the while I have drawn a large crowd at Borders. Once they opened the door, the came over to see Mia who was still sleeping soundly.
So therefore, I do believe I have officially won America's Worst Mom and my baby girl is only 3 weeks old. Oh my....I have a long road ahead of me!