Shelby is FOUR Months Old

4 Month Old Shelby June

After bath time at Memommy's house

With Aunt Lauren- matching outfits! 
(Aunt Lauren is technically holding 3 babies because she is pregnant with twins)

In her very own custom diapers

Talking and laughing with G-Pa

My sweet Shelbs.  You are four months old!  I can't believe it.  It feels like yesterday you popped into our lives.  As I am typing this post, you are sitting in my lap kicking your teeny tiny feet.  And chewing your little fingers drooling all over yourself.  You are teething and it makes mommy sad.  Here are your stats, big girl:

• You started to hold on to me while I hold you.  You love to walk around and look at everything.
• You laughed at your puppies for the first time!  You love to pet their soft coats.
• You love to hold your toys (ball, Sophie, teething ring) and put them in your mouth!
• You slept through the night for the first time.  (9pm-7am).  This is definitely not an every night occurance, though.  It's actually the exception.  Not the norm.  But we love when it happens!
• I love how you inch your hand up my chest while I feed you.  So.  Sweet. 
• You found your feet!  You love to hold your toes.
• As we mentioned above, you started teething.  So sad.  You HATE orajel so we use teething tablets.
• You love to go for walks in your harness.
• You get really excited when we go outside.  You squirm up and down and coo!
• You love to jump in your jumperoo!

Love you, sweet girl!

 

My First Mother's Day As a Mommy

Mommy, Daddy, and Shelby at PV Brunch

Mommy and sweet sweet Shelby baby

This year was my first Mother's Day as a mommy.  Last year on Mother's Day, we had been trying for a year.  I remember praying so hard that 2013 would be my first time to celebrate as a mommy.  10 days later, we found out that would be the case.  God answers prayers in His way and in His timing.  His omniscient, perfect timing. 

I never expected to love being a mommy so much.  Sure, there are really hard moments.  Sometimes Shelby cries and screams and I have no idea what to do.  I worry that she isn't doing what other babies her age are doing or that she doesn't do things exactly the way "the books" say she should.  I worry if she spits up or screams during tummy time.  I worry about leaving her with a sitter because she may scream at them the whole time.  But I love EVERY worrying moment.  I am so very thankful to be this sweet girl's mommy.  I love to rock her to sleep even though "the books" tell me not to do it.  I love reading to her and watching her little hands grab and touch the pictures.  I love to make her laugh.  I've always thought that making her daddy laugh was my favorite thing to do... until I made her laugh for the first time.  I will do anything to hear that sound!  I love that I am her food source.  I love that I have a little extra tummy fat still hanging around and eating just a little bit more than I should and knowing that I'm making food for my sweet baby.  I know that I will be sad at 6 months when she starts eating solids!  I love that we don't have to have a schedule.  We wake up when she wants to wake up and I let her set the pace of our day.  I worried about this too and then decided that I was worrying way too much.  We fly by the seat of our pants now.  And it's fabulous.

I am so grateful that God answered our prayers.  I know that so many people are hurting and trying to get pregnant and finding only disappointment month after month.  I remember those feelings.  I am immensely blessed and thankful every single minute of every day that God has given me this adventure of being Shelby's mommy.

Thank you, Lord!  May Shelby's life bring praise to Your name!

Shelby is 3 Months Old

Shelby,

You are 3 months old!  I can't even believe it!  Every minute with you is more wonderful than the minute before.  You are really starting to develop a personality.  And let me tell you- you are one silly girl!

Shelby at 3 months!

 

Here are your stats:

 

• You had your first Easter (previously blogged) at Grammie and Pops' house.  You had your very own Easter basket and the rest of us "kids" had to share one!  You got a bib, a bunny hat, some socks, some books, a chick that churped, and sunglasses!  You really racked up, kiddo!
• You met the Easter Bunny (also previously blogged).  You were so brave!
• You stopped using the nipple shield while feeding.  Mommy is so happy about this!  It makes feeding you much easier.  So proud of my big girl.
• You had your first trip to the Quack Shack!  G-Pa was so excited that we used the QS to get away.  You really loved that special time with daddy and you took great naps there.
• You love to read books.  You really love colorful pictures.  You sometimes put your hands on the colorful pictures while I am reading.
• You have started "talking".  When we repeat you, you will talk some more!  And you smile really big because you are really proud.
• You love to laugh at your daddy!  You think he is so funny!  He thinks you are funny too!
• You are beginning to try to roll over.  You can do it if we help you with your arms- those mean old arms really get in your way.

 

We love you so very much!  I can't remember life with out you!  Thank you for being our sweet baby girl!

Loving bath time with daddy!

Wye Mountain

Back in March, my sweet friend Rachel invited us to go to Wye Mountain and take pictures in the daffodils.  This was so much fun!  She and her boys go out there every year... I have a feeling we will now be joining them in this tradition!  So glad our families are friends!

Shelby June in the Daffodils!

 

Rachel and her sweet boys Dylan and Caleb

Poor Shelby, she just really wasn't excited about pictures

Sweet boys trying to help her smile for the camera

Mommy and Shelby and my sweet D man!

Shelby Meets the Easter Bunny

As promised, here is Shelby June with the Easter Bunny at PVCC.  We happen to "know" the Easter Bunny personally as he is also the Marketing Director at the club.  We ran into him at church and he told me that he couldn't actually see what he was doing through the mask.  His hands are actually shaped like mittens too.  So he basically could just hold out his arms and trust that she wouldn't move.  Pretty funny.  (After the fact.)  Anyway, Shelby's first meeting with the Easter Bunny was a smashing success!

Shelby's First Easter

Shelby's first Easter was so fun! 

 

We kicked it off by getting her picture made with the Easter Bunny. (Those had to be purchased and will post when they come in.)  Here she is with the Rogers boys- how cute are these 3?!

We spent Easter in Paragould with Grammie and Pops.  Here is Shelby in her First Easter hat and bib from Grammie.

This is all the loot she got from Grammie and Pops.  The big basket is for the rest of us kiddos.  We all shared.

Shelby and Daddy in their Easter outfits!

Close up of Shelby in her Easter Bonnet!  MeMommy bought her this sweet outfit. Thanks, MeMommy!

 

 

Here is our family!

And this is Papa Wendell!  Papa is Matt's grandfather and Shelby's great grandfather.  What a special memory to see them meet.  He was so proud!

I hope you and yours had a very Happy Easter!

Shelby is 2 Months Old

Happy 2 Month Birthday, Sweet Baby Girl!

• You love baths now!  You like to lick the water whenever I wash your face and you smile really big when I put lotion on you- which you used to hate!
• You LOVE to kick your legs.  Sometimes, you kick your arms and legs at the same time and go so fast.
• You slept through the night from 10:30pm- 7am the night you turned 2 months! You don't do this every night but you frequently sleep in long periods of time.  This makes mommy so happy!
• You cried so hard when you got your 2 month shots!  I had never heard you cry in pain before and it made me so sad!  I cried too when the nurse left the room.
• You laughed for the first time while I was changing your diaper.  This is such a special memory that I will never forget!
• You made your first road trip to see Aunt Lauren in Mobile, AL.  You did great in the car- Memommy road in the back with you while I drove. You slept basically the whole time.  We had a blast while we were there.
• You love when your daddy comes home!  You have stopped fussing at that time.  I love to watch you when he plays with you!  Your whole face lights up.  You save your special smiles for him.
• You have really started cooing and talking to everyone.  It's so fun to hear the noises you make!
• You love to be held while you nap.  It's hard to keep you asleep when I put you down.  You would rather be held- but sometimes mommy has to get things done!
• This month, mommy learned some bittersweet news.  I found out that my company that I've worked with for almost 7 years is restructuring. My job is being eliminated.  That means that I will be staying home with you!  I've loved my job, but I am really excited to spend everyday with you.  I had been praying because I was anxious at the thought of leaving you everyday.  I think God answered my prayer in a most unexpected way.  He said, "Ok, Lana!  I'll just take your job away!"  I can't wait to be your full time mommy! 

We love you so much, Shelbs!

Love, Mommy