Lucky seven

(Apologies to those who have been following from the beginning, but as we've acquired many new readers since then, I thought I'd retell this timely story).

Last Christmas was our most memorable to date.

December 23, I had my routine check-up, where my doctor had promised to do a quick, unscheduled sonogram (16 weeks pregnant) to take a quick peek at the baby's gender for our Christmas surprise. My doctor put it on a card and sealed the envelope. Christmas Eve, I went to a children's store (Janie and Jack) and picked out two outfits for Christmas.

I told them to wrap up whatever the card said. Christmas morning, we opened all our presents under the tree, and then we opened this:

And I promptly burst into tears, because that is what pregnant ladies do. We put the outfit back in the box, and Skyped the Millers in Colorado so we could open the present with them. Then we re-wrapped the box, took it to my mom and John's in our pajamas, and then to my grandparents' house. Three happy reveals.

Last Christmas, we were preparing the nursery for painting, beginning to think about cribs and summoning the courage to go into BuyBuyBaby. I was starting to feel little flutters of our sweet baby girl, most memorably at church on Christmas Eve. Becoming parents was becoming real. The anticipation of it all was so exciting - magical even - and June felt like an eternity away.

The only thing that could top that magical Christmas would be this scrumptious 7-month old, wearing the dress I picked out for her, before I even knew her.

And so, here we are, at 7 months. She's talking up a storm. It sounds like real talking now, with inflections and whatnot, but of course it doesn't make any sense to us. She seems to know what it means, and is very confident in what she's saying, gasping for breath like it's an urgent matter. Everything she does these days seems to be with intention. She has looked at her Daddy entering the room and said "Hiiiii da da!" more than once, but of course we can't be sure that's what she's really saying. She also squeals when I say "yayy!" in the same pitch, and repeats tones and rhythms of what we say. I can say a line from her favorite book anywhere we are and it evokes a knowing smile. Preciosa.

(By the way...I fully realize none of you care about this level of babyhood minutae...but I have to put it here or else I'll forget. I'm terribly forgetful these days.)

I keep forgetting to "sign" with her as much as I'd intended, but we are communicating plenty. Her new favorite trick is "clucking" her tongue, especially after you do it first. She's very proud of this. Lately it's just the three of us clucking back and forth at one another. She also loves to have important conversations with herself standing up in the mirror.

In addition to eating remotes, iPhones, and chalkboards, baby girl is doing great with Cheerios and other small, easily dissolved finger foods - she has a great little pincer grasp. Will drink water from a sippy straw cup when she wants to, though isn't always terribly interested. The dogs (as I anticipated) have a newfound appreciation for their sissy, now that Cheerios have entered the picture. I have a newfound appreciation for them, as mama NEVER has to sweep up after a meal.

Suddenly it's all happening SO fast.

Eliza has two bottom teeth now. I'll give you one guess as to what she wants for Christmas:

They say their eye color settles in around now (glad something is staying put...), so here's the verdict:

Growing: Miss priss has had a major growth spurt, and is jumping percentiles in height and weight (a little longer than heavy). A few months back, we thought there was NO way this dress would fit our petite little lady, who was still wearing some 3 month clothes at 5 months. Fair, blondie hair seems to be coming in longer each day, but she rocks the bald well. Her friend Blake likes to rub it for good luck ;).

On the move: Lately she has been all over the place in her crib, including on her tummy. Today, she pulled herself up to sit from lying down, which means when we get back from Amarillo we will be dropping her mattress. She has been pulling to stand from sitting for awhile now, but we weren't worried about it since she couldn't sit from lying down. We are on the brink of a whole new set of challenges, I fear. Little E. still prefers to stand if given the option, but seems to be getting close to mobility on the crawling front. We shall see how that unfolds...but for the record I LOVE a sitting, non-mobile baby!

She is inquisitive and curious, and very outgoing when it comes to her pint-sized friends, but can also be a little reserved right now with strangers. She is friendly, never fearful or upset, but sometimes a bit quiet when she's uncertain or overwhelmed. Spunky, yet delicate, precise, dainty. Her personality seems to unfold in a different way each day. She is a DREAM baby.

I am terribly smitten with the cuddly, affectionate snuggles she now doles out; for me, they are the best part of this month (last month she was heartcrushingly, fiercely independent pre-nap, pushing away from me and fussing to be put down). She takes her thumb, and settles into my chest as I sing to her - poorly - before her nap. She gives me dazed, sleepy "hugs" when I get her up, curling in and grabbing hold of me tight. We rock a little bit for a moment, to ease her out of her groggy state. It doesn't get much sweeter.

Happy 7 months, wonderful, precious Eliza. Last Christmas, we could have never, ever dreamed up anything as perfect as you.

A very Merry Christmas to our families, our friends and our readers far and wide!

xo,
lmm

So fast

It's going by so fast. 7 months looms.
I'm trying hard to savor, savor, savor these little moments.

This is how I'm freezing time.

Babies! Christmas!

Eliza is still recovering from what I'm quite sure she would tell you was the most fun party ever. Of course she loved her sip and sees (what baby doesn't love those), but you see, all her friends were at this party and she and her pint-sized amigos were surrounded by like, one bazillion new toys. None of which they had ever even slobbered on before. Eeee! Best party ever!

While it goes without saying that motherhood changes your heart in so many wonderful ways, being a first-time mama can also sometimes be a lonely, confusing, isolating time. It really makes a world of difference having other friends who are down in the trenches alongside you, fretting about milestones and nap schedules and babyproofing, whether to switch diaper brands, what solid food combinations prevent constipation, and all the RIDICULOUS stuff I swore up and down I'd never spend my time talking about.

These people are the only ones you can share your innermost crazy mama thoughts with, because one thing is for sure: no one else cares that your baby is doing this weird thing with her arm or hasn't pooped in 72 hours. But this little network of friends does, and is ready with suggestions and texts and whathaveyou about what they did that one time that happened to them. Essentially, these women are now my coworkers. I used to ping my coworkers about an ad layout or a website idea. Now I ping them about poop.

So, my friends Katy, Sara and I decided to host a little ornament exchange party to bring all our groups of mama friends together for one big Christmas super-playgroup. Sara hosted it at her beautiful and festive home, Katy organized everything. I was without a doubt the slacker hostess who handed over a few email addresses, brought a cheese board, some brownies, an ornament and a festively dressed baby as my contribution. So, thanks Katy and Sara for including me in hosting this lovely party! We had an awesome turnout - 20+ kiddos in all, and their mamas. As usual, I didn't get quite as many pictures as I'd hoped of the whole thing...I spent most of the party on the floor surrounded by unsteady sitters and toddlers!

Sweet Blake is Eliza's very first playmate and has made an appearance a time or two before. Blake is 6 weeks older and came over when E. was just 4 screamy weeks old, and it has been so special to watch them grow up together into little friends. We were absolutely beside ourselves the first time they looked at each other and really seemed to connect. Now they talk to each other, paw each other, play together. Chew on toys in unison.

Elyse, Sara's precious daughter, is our little mover (she was also at our house for Halloween). She is 8 months and already close to walking!

Smocked baby parade!

Eliza's lovebug of a boyfriend from the pumpkin patch, Hunter, with his festive rosy cheeks and Santa longall, may have been my favorite outfit of the night.

My friend Whitney and handsome Luke (her other son, Logan, is Eliza's age). I've loved watching Luke grow into his own little person and it has been so sweet to watch him dote on his baby brother.


Kelly, a friend from way back to my St. Andrew's days, and her chill little man Bryker, another "first friend" of Eliza's. This kid has oozed happy since the day I met him.

Meghan and precious sweetcheeks Piercy. She is another little mover and is also such a talker!

Elyse, Blake, Hunter, Piercy, and Bryker are all around 6-8 weeks older than Eliza, which means I always get to see what new phase is coming up right around the corner. All the babies hung in there beautifully. Eliza sat and played for something like 3 straight hours. Here the girls are at the end, looking a little tuckered out as we helped Sara get cleaned up:




This was such a fun night! We may have to do it again for Easter. Pretty sure Eliza wakes up from every nap wondering when we get to go back to that magical land called Elyse's house. It's sooo much cooler than our house. Don't worry, Lizzy Lou, Santa told me he was taking notes, so maybe a few of these toys will find their way under the tree Christmas morning. Merry first Christmas to our precious babies and their lovely mamas!

Teeth

Eliza had her Austin sip and see for my mom's, stepmother's, and grandmother's friends on Sunday. It was a beautiful party, with lots of old family friends finally meeting our sweet girl for the first time. There was a photographer there, so I not only did I not take a single picture, but it seems I get to be in a few of the pictures myself. She had been a little off the past week, and at 4:00 - just as the party started - I discovered why. Our first tooth had made its debut, and it seems the one next to it is right on its tail. I thought that might be the issue, but since this happens to be my first rodeo, I kept questioning whether the fussiness, excessive drooling, night waking, biting mama was actually the teeth or if I just wanted to blame it on the teeth. Seems I was right! Poor little lamb.

So self, for future reference, this is what teething looks like. These pictures were taken in quick succession and for those thinking I ought to be rushing to comfort her rather than snapping her picture: she gets PLENTY of attention, trust me.

Note the sucking on her bottom lip and drooling - this is a new thing she has been doing the past two weeks.

She has an easier time in the tub. Little miss loves her bathtime.

Now please excuse my likely absence as I don my Santa hat and get down to business on Christmas. Fa la la la~