Aunt Emily and Uncle Mick's Visit

Emily and Mick flew into Birmingham on Friday (2 Friday's ago) and my Dad drove them down to Fairhope for a visit on Saturday. They stayed with us until Tuesday and then we headed back up to Birmingham for the rest of the week. It was so great to have them here and I know they were so glad to finally get to meet their niece! Before we know it, Hannah Cate and I will be making the trip up to Eugene to meet Aiden James (AJ) when he is born in October....we can hardly wait!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from their visit in Fairhope

While they were here we took them down to the beach. Hannah Cate had her first "meal" at her Daddy's favorite place, Tacky Jacks, and then we headed to the beach. She was quite the trooper and looked so cute in her little sun hat. We were glad Emily and Mick were here to experience her first trip to the beach!

This was Matt's way of protecting her face from the sun....not bad!

We got some great time with Granddaddy too, and as you can see by the smile on Hannah Cate's face, she already loves him and thinks he is so funny!

We loved having them here and looked forward to another visit....next time with AJ too!

Stay tuned for more on our trip to Birmingham....

We're Back!

Sorry I have been so quiet, but we have been busy! Aunt Emily (my sister) and Uncle Mick (her husband, my bro-in-law) came for a visit....all the way from Oregon! They came here for a few days and then we made the trek back up to Birmingham....Hannah Cate's first road trip. She did great both ways and was a wonderful baby in between! We are tired, but would not have traded our time with Emily and Mick, the rest of our family and the many friends that we visited.

I'll put up more pictures tomorrow, but for now I will leave you with how we felt when it was time to leave!

Never Have I Ever....

Before June 10, 2008 I would have said:

Never have I ever had someone toot in my face and think it is hysterical

Never have I ever cheered someone on as they try to burp and then issued a proud "good girl" at their success

Never have I ever been so glad to see a poopy diaper after a few days without one

Never have I ever allowed someone to scream at me for no good reason

Never have I ever wanted to buy clothes for someone else more so than for myself

Never have I ever bitten someone else's fingernails

Never have I ever been more willing to carry around a few extra pounds for a little while

Never have I ever woken up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason and felt compelled to go make sure another human being was breathing

Never have I ever taken so many pictures of one thing

Never have I ever been so quick to forgive and forget

Never have I ever been so content just being at home

Never have I ever loved someone so much, so quickly

Never have I ever felt so responsible

Never have I ever wanted someone to smile at me so badly

Never have I ever lived on so little sleep

Never have I ever appreciated my parents so much

Never have I ever loved my husband more

Never have I ever understood the miracle of life in such a tangible way

This baby girl is taking me to new places each and every day!

What We've Been Up To

Getting a full belly and feeling really good afterwards! She had a great report from the pediatrician at her one month visit. She now weighs 8 pounds 12 ounces and is 20 1/2 inches long. That's a 1 pound 5 ounce difference from just 10 days earlier and an inch longer in two weeks. We are so relieved to see the weight gain finally kick in!

Trying to suck her thumb....

And finally figuring it out!

Visiting with Aunt Sharon (also known as Aunt Shashi).
and cousin Lucy who did such a great job holding Hannah Cate and making sure she always had her paci and burp cloth!

and visiting with cousin Smith who really just wanted to pet her (like he pets Shashi's cats)! Sharon is my Mom's sister and Lucy and Smith are her grandbabies from Martha Anne (her daughter) and Bill. We loved having them here for the weekend and are excited that they have moved back to Birmingham from all their medical school/residency travels! While Aunt Shashi was here, she helped us with our very first bath (her cord finally fell off on her one month birthday!). I was so glad she was here to help! Hannah Cate was not thrilled with us at first as we were putting her in the water.....

but once she felt the water and the warm wash cloth, she was much more content and loved her bath.

We've also been doing lots of sleeping! The night before her 4 week Birthday, she slept through the night for the first time and she's been doing it pretty consistently every other night. Last night she slept for 7 and a half hours straight! Keep it up baby girl!We've been on the go, so she's getting very accustomed to her car seat. She rides in the car very well and usually looks just like this. We hope she keeps this up for our first trip to Birmingham in a couple of weeks!

One Month Old

Dear Hannah Cate,

Today you are one month old and you have brought us so much joy in your short little life. I often find myself just staring at you and watching your every move, and I stand in awe that we made you. We are so thankful that the Lord has entrusted you to us and we pray that we honor the calling as parents.

As I look back over my journal, I am realizing how much you are changing. Not just in your appearance, but your personality. Over the past month, here are a few things that we have come to know about you:

-In the beginning, you hated having your diaper changed. You would cry the whole time, even when there were two of us tending to you (one to actually change your diaper and another to talk to you). Your legs would tense up so much that I could hardly get your diaper on. Over the last week or so, you have realized that changing your diaper is actually a good thing and makes you feel much better once it's over. You have stopped crying the whole time and seem to be quite content looking out the window into the back yard while I change your diaper.

-In the beginning, you also hated your sponge bath. I think in general you just did not like having your clothes off (which Daddy and Mimi say we will remind you of as you get older!). You are more comfortable with your baths now. I wouldn't say you really like them, but you tolerate the cleaning and are always so thankful when we pick you up at the end. No more sponge baths though, your cord FINALLY fell off last night as I was drying you off. We'll graduate to the real bath now and I cannot wait to see how you like it!

-One thing that you have always loved about your bath is that it meant that you got your hair brushed and you love having your hair brushed. I will never forget our first experience with brushing your hair. You were laying on the changing table after your bath, I was changing your diaper and Mimi was talking to you and trying to console you because you were screaming your head off! She pulled your little brush out of the basket and started to brush your hair and you immediately were quiet and so content.

-I know this is true of all babies, but you especially love being held and we have not deprived you of it! When Granddaddy and Mary Rose were here to visit I don't think you ever were put down! We are so glad that you love to be held because we love to hold you!

-You smile in your sleep and just after you eat and it is a highlight in my day. The other highlight is when your Daddy comes home from work and is beaming to see you after just a few hours away from us.

-You don't especially like being put in your car seat, but as soon as you are settled you fall quickly to sleep. You are a great car rider and have only had one melt down in the car so far.

-We love to take you on walks in your stroller, either around the neighborhood or down by the bay. When I was pregnant with you, we walked by the bay a lot and I think you remember because you are very content.

-When you get startled you throw your hands up over your head and Daddy says you are praising Jesus. We can't help but laugh at you.

-Two days ago you slept all the way through the night for the first time! I woke up at 5:15 am and quickly realized that you had not woken me up at all. I ran into your room thinking something was surely wrong. I found you soundly sleeping. Once I got over the initial scare, I was so proud of you (and so thankful)! You slept through the night again last night. You are such a good girl!

The truth is that you could do nothing and cry all day and we would love you the same. We think you are perfect and cannot wait to spend the rest of our lives loving you.

All my love,
Mama

I have seen several other people take pictures of their babies each month in the same spot, next to the same stuffed animal in an effort to watch their growth. So, here's our attempt. After a few months, we'll compare the pictures!

Mimi

My Mom, now also known as Mimi, has been my lifesaver since the day Hannah Cate graced us with her presence. At a time when everyone's focus was on my new baby, Mom's focus was on her baby....me. She made the four hour trip to Fairhope as soon as I called and stayed for 11 days. I didn't want for anything the entire time she was here. She cooked, cleaned, organized, did laundry, played with our poor neglected dogs, helped me develop my Mommy skills, loved on Hannah Cate. I have no idea what we would have done without her. I cried when she left....for an entire day! She loves Hannah Cate and I know that they will have such a special bond. I have the fondest memories of my Mom's Mama (my Grandmama), I wish she were still here to see what a great "grandmother" Mom is and what a precious baby Hannah Cate is.

We were so glad to see Mimi come back for a second visit last week. She came and stayed for another few days while Matt went up to Birmingham to help his parents move. The timing could not have been more perfect. She was able to go with us to the pediatrician's office for a weight check, where we found out that Hannah Cate wasn't gaining the weight she needed on my breast milk alone. We had to start a formula supplement, much to my disappointment. I never would have made it without Mom here. I know the Lord ordained her trip and took care of us. Before she left, she went with us for a second weight check and we rejoiced over a 9 ounce weight gain!

I was terribly sad to see Mom go (both times) but would not have traded her time here for anything! I feel like Hannah Cate has given me new eyes and new appreciation for so many things in life. One of which is a new kind of love and respect for the mother Mom has been to us. She's given me so much and lots to live up to in the world of motherhood.

Thank you Mom for all you have done for us! We all love you so much and look forward to your next visit!

Happy 4th of July!

...From our little "All American Girl"

Thank you Aunt Janet for the festive attire!