Our Last Day of All Day Everyday Togetherness

I'm going to make sure this smile NEVER goes away!

I'm going to keep this post short, because I'm already tearing up writing this first sentence!  So where do I begin??

Words cannot describe the love I have for the little girl who grew perfectly inside me for 40 weeks and 4 days.  She was perfect to me in utero.  I had no morning sickness, food aversions, nausea, excessive weight, etc!  She was perfect to me in delivery, as I had a medicine free delivery and 2 good pushes to finally meet her and perfectly allowed me to get quickly back into my pre-mommy physique.  And now she's been perfect to me for the 11 weeks and 4 days of her life that we shared together daily!

As I go to work tomorrow and take you to day care, I think of how you adjusted to life in the Lavender home.  You have been a healthy, happy and extremely hilarious baby!  I've enjoyed every moment of lost sleep, every diaper I had to change and even every cry that you shed to let us know you were in need.  I would have to be honest and say that it hasn't always been easy adjusting to motherhood, as breastfeeding certainly came with its share of pain, and lifestyle adjustments are still difficult to accept and endulging in my wine and spirits seem to be few and far between!  But it is all so worth it!

As I look back on these past weeks, some of the moments I cherish most are going to the mall and strolling you along as you took in every image you came across.  I enjoyed establishing feeding/play/nap schedule for you and feeling like my Ah-ha moment came when I finallly got the confidence to decipher your cries and anticipate your wants.  You enjoyed your activity time just as much as I enjoyed reading and playing with you.  Bathtime wasn't always friendly, but I finally found out how to make the experience enjoyable for both us!   Of course I can't forget you allowing me to photograph you at every chance I got!  You amused me long enough to get my money shots before you let me know "enough is enough"!  And lastly, I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Shreveport, just you and me and you traveled like a pro!  I was certainly nervous about the trip, but you quickly allayed my fears with your consistent demeanor!

If I had it my way, I would be a SAHM (stay at home mom).  I thought I would NEVER say that, but having had the opportunity to stay home and nurture my child, it embed a brand new feeling of responsibility that I never had before.  But since that is not my reality, I feel even more responsibility to excel in my career and provide a life for her that she deserves and more!

The love for your child is the type of love that never goes away.  I will love my child to the day I die!

Thank you JSL for being as perfect as God has intended you to be!  Though I'm headed back to work, my evenings will be all about our family!  Please know that the sacrifices being made are ALL for you!

Turning Cards into Decor

I knew that after my baby shower and after seeing all of the cute cards I received, I wanted to somehow preserve them or keep them as keepsakes for JSL.  For a while, I just kept them in a box until I decided to buy some frames and make a card collage for her room.  So I moved the pictures I painted for her and added these two frames for the other side of her wall.  The frame size fit the cards perfectly.

Unless I decide to change her room look by the time she can read, she will see all of the well wishes and love she received before she even arrived!

Bless My Baby!

I know that we went home to Shreveport the other week, but it was solely to check on my father in the hospital.  We were already planning to have JSL's baby blessing on May 22 at my childhood church in Shreveport, but we made the trip home a little earlier.  I pray that my daddy is healthy and strong by then, so now, I'm on with the planning for May.

I got confirmation from the church that the date is good, I sent out the invitations yesterday to many of my friends and family at home, bought our tickets to fly home and now the blessing is all set!

Next thing to do now is to secure the reception site and menu and of course, find a precious white dress.  I thought it would've been easier to do, but I seem to be pretty picky about the style and fabric.  Also, she will be 3 months next week and her 0-3 clothes are still big on her, so I'm cautious about the dress size as well.  Maybe size 3-6 will work, but I don't want it to look like a wedding gown on her!  Stay tuned to see some of the dresses that may make the short list.

I'm extremely excited about my childhood pastor doing her blessing because he baptized me when I was 7 years old!  Life sure has come full circle as he will now be officiating the blessing of my child!

Moving Her to Her Bed

In a nutshell...I'm NOT ready for her move out of our room!  Fortunately, we've gotten her to sleep in her bassinet with no problem, but I love her being beside my bed at night.  D.L. keeps saying that once I go back to work, she should go in her room, but I've been pushing back to say that she can go in her room when she's 15 lbs.  By my calculation, that buys me another 2 months.

Occasionally, I put JSL in her crib, but she's never been in it for more than an hour since she's been born.  As a matter of fact, the only time she goes to her room is to change her diaper and get her dressed.  However, I plan to gradually begin introducing her to her crib and room even if it's just take a nap.

Wish me luck.  Again, I say, wish ME luck!