Life is full of "firsts" --some we remember forever, some we never know about. Maleigha will never remember her first Christmas but it was our best Christmas ever! Not for any present or anything like that, for what it meant to our family. This was our first Christmas as parents, as a family.
It began with Sunday before Christmas because Chuck's mom, Nana Beth, was visiting for the weekend, for Christmas and for Chuck's birthday (12/21). She went to a "paint-it-yourself" party and painted a beautiful ladybug for Maleigha's room. She also brought Maleigha an engraved ornament for our tree next year.
Christmas Eve and Christmas was spent at Granny and Pawpaw's house. We stayed up til midnight just to say Merry 1st Christmas to baby girl. Needless to say, she was unimpressed as she remained asleep. Santa did pay a visit overnight bringing her a pony...yes, you read that right, she got a pony from Santa. Ok, it's a rocky-horse, but it does make a gallop sound and it neighs (is that how you spell that?) which is really cute. Doubt she'll sit on it for another year or so, but it's still too cute for words. She also got a stocking full--a pair of sunglasses from Pawpaw, a ladybug outfit, her first purse from Aunt Lisa just big enough to fit a paci!, and lots of other things. Mama Jessie & Arthur surprised her with her first luggage, a ladybug shaped rolling bag with a kid sized backpack. And, my favorite part of all Christmas---Mama Jessie & Arthur bought Maleigha her first Barbie. I'll explain more as to why this brought tears to my eyes---if you know me, you know that as a child, I was a Barbie addict. And Mama Jessie and Arthur contributed to my habit usually weekly and I had hundreds of Barbies and accessories. Since we found out I was pregnant with a girl, I've talked about how excited I was to be able to play with Barbies again, much to Chuck's laughter. Mama Jessie played Barbies with me all the time, it's some of my favorite memories of growing up. And as most know, Mama Jessie is older now, and isn't doing as good as she used to, so it means the absolute world to me that Maleigha's first Barbie was a gift from her & Arthur. It might be the only Barbie she ever gets from them, so it means everything to me. I doubt I'll even take it out of the box. Chuck laughs because the Barbie was inside the ladybug bag and when he unzipped the bag, I giggled and grabbed the Barbie almost knocking the bag out of his hands. Tickled me to death! (and yes, I'm her mother, not the child!)
Also, more sentimental notes---my parents gave us 2 pictures, 1 that says Christmas 2009 and is the pic of Chuck, Maleigha, and I from the hospital and one that the frame says something about family and it's the pic of the 3 of us at the top and Maleigha at the bottom. Yes I teared up! And we were also given Maleigha's hospital photo that had been made into a blanket by Nana Sherry and Poppa Jim, yep--teared up again! And I know I can't blame all this tearing up on hormones---I'm just weepy!
All in all, it was a great holiday, spent with lots of family and lots of memories made. None Maleigha will remember, but her mommy and daddy will forever!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Wee Hours of 12/15
It's 2:20 am and Maleigha just dozed off, unless she's faking again, as she's done since about 11 pm. We spent the weekend at mom's, in which I did get a few hours of sleep. I'm convinced that she has her days and nights mixed up and we're working on that. I'm hopeful that if she is indeed asleep now, she'll sleep til 7 or so. The bad news is it is 2:20 am and now I'm wide awake. I'm trying to be as quiet as possible because Chuck is working day shift this week and he has to be up at 7:30 and he's having a horrible time sleeping. I want him to get as much sleep as possible. I can at least nap on and off during the day with her, well sorta! I do have a day planned tomorrow, if sleeping allows! We are going to Midsouth to pick up some Avon things and a baby gift from a coworker. Then it's off to the bank and some light shopping to try and find Daddy a birthday gift. Everything he wants is wayyyy beyond my budget so we gotta be inventive this year! :)
Last night, we went to Palisades Park in Oneonta and looked at Christmas lights and sat in Santa's lap for the first time. He was GREAT Santa, very authentic and one of the nicest men! He really was Jolly! We got some great pics!
Ok, I feel some sleep coming on, because it looks like she is passed out! Fingers crossed!
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Maleigha's First Dr Appt
Maleigha saw her doctor in his office for the first time today. Her pediatrician is Dr Joseph Hamm and he is great. He came as a recommendation from a friend at work, and we are thrilled with him. He is so great with her.
Today she weighed 10 lbs, 2 oz and is 22 1/2 inches long. She is in perfect health. We've had some bad nights lately so I asked about that and he said he thinks it may just be her GI tract learning to work and her growing into it, basically, but if it continues until her next appt, Jan 17, or gets worse, then he will call her in some meds for reflux. He said the other thing it might be, and it's a long shot, that could be a mild case of colic, but he does not think it's colic. We are very hopeful it gets better on its own and she starts sleeping at night. Mommy is tired!
Also, just a note--I had my check up yesterday and I'm doing well too. My incision is healing well, swelling is down. I can now drive and lift up to 15 lbs. She released me to walk for exercise but no other exercises yet. I've lost 27 lbs since the Wednesday before Maleigha was born (last time I weighed). Chuck says I'm getting skinny, but I have never seen skinny, so I'm not holding my breath for that! :)
Hope all is well!
Today she weighed 10 lbs, 2 oz and is 22 1/2 inches long. She is in perfect health. We've had some bad nights lately so I asked about that and he said he thinks it may just be her GI tract learning to work and her growing into it, basically, but if it continues until her next appt, Jan 17, or gets worse, then he will call her in some meds for reflux. He said the other thing it might be, and it's a long shot, that could be a mild case of colic, but he does not think it's colic. We are very hopeful it gets better on its own and she starts sleeping at night. Mommy is tired!
Also, just a note--I had my check up yesterday and I'm doing well too. My incision is healing well, swelling is down. I can now drive and lift up to 15 lbs. She released me to walk for exercise but no other exercises yet. I've lost 27 lbs since the Wednesday before Maleigha was born (last time I weighed). Chuck says I'm getting skinny, but I have never seen skinny, so I'm not holding my breath for that! :)
Hope all is well!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
How a Baby Changes Things
I sit here today, on the couch, with two cats on either corner of the back of the couch, and a baby sleeping with her new paci on the cushion next to me. I can't find the remote, so the tv is on Dog the Bounty Hunter marathon since I can't turn it. I've had a half of a Mr Pibb and a handful of chips to eat today. There's a empty bottle on the coffee table. And I've learned to run to the bathroom, do my business, and run back---I've almost mastered the art of a 25 second potty break. My biggest roadblocks these days are wipes out of hands reach, a dropped paci on the floor, and a baby that doesn't like to keep her blanket over her legs. I swear she kicks harder and faster than any ninja ever wanted to! And it's the greatest days ever!
Laundry needs to be started, there are a few dishes in the sink, and a litter box that needs to be cleaned out. All of that is going to wait. I'm loving on my baby.
We had our first outing yesterday. We went to my office and met the folks there, then to lunch, then to Babies R Us to do some shopping. Maleigha did great, she rode in her Cadillac stroller and didn't make a peep. She started getting fussy about the time we were coming home, so all is good.
Of all the happiness in my life right now, it's weird that I still find myself sad sometimes. And, no, I don't feel like it's anything major. I cry. I'm hormonal. And it's not a real sadness, as in despair and the world is ending. It's almost a happy sadness. I look at Maleigha and I'm ecstatic. I'm fulfilled. I'm in love, the truest love there ever could be. She looks back at me, and my world is complete. She makes me want to be a better person. She makes me want to be the best mother and to be proud to be MY daughter. And then I get scared. What if I'm not? What if I screw up? What if something happens to her, something I can't control? What if she hates me? What if I do something to let her down? And yes, I know, all of these things will happen. I have a mother and all of these things happened between she and I and I think she's the greatest human on earth. I can only hope Maleigha thinks of me half as much as I think of my mom. Then I will have succeeded.
Chuck and I both have had a meltdown this week. Some tears and some laughs. Lots of hugs and reassurances have gotten us through. These two humans that share my home mean more to me than anything. I dont want to see either of them hurt or sad. When they are, I have to step up. Chuck is working day shift this week, so we have our nights as a family which is great. This is the life we've been wanting and waiting for.
The worst part of these days are knowing that I will have to go back to work soon. I dread it --not because of work, but because I will have to leave. We are still working out babysitting arrangements, at least until late February, when our babysitter will be available.
Other happenings this week was I won a trip to Las Vegas for New Years Eve from a local radio station. I had to turn it down though, Chuck has to work the day we would be leaving, and we don't have the money to spend right now to go. Still not exactly sure how bills are going to get paid the next couple of months, so definitely don't need to spend money in Vegas! It would be a great getaway for us, but not this time. Maybe it'll happen again!
Laundry needs to be started, there are a few dishes in the sink, and a litter box that needs to be cleaned out. All of that is going to wait. I'm loving on my baby.
We had our first outing yesterday. We went to my office and met the folks there, then to lunch, then to Babies R Us to do some shopping. Maleigha did great, she rode in her Cadillac stroller and didn't make a peep. She started getting fussy about the time we were coming home, so all is good.
Of all the happiness in my life right now, it's weird that I still find myself sad sometimes. And, no, I don't feel like it's anything major. I cry. I'm hormonal. And it's not a real sadness, as in despair and the world is ending. It's almost a happy sadness. I look at Maleigha and I'm ecstatic. I'm fulfilled. I'm in love, the truest love there ever could be. She looks back at me, and my world is complete. She makes me want to be a better person. She makes me want to be the best mother and to be proud to be MY daughter. And then I get scared. What if I'm not? What if I screw up? What if something happens to her, something I can't control? What if she hates me? What if I do something to let her down? And yes, I know, all of these things will happen. I have a mother and all of these things happened between she and I and I think she's the greatest human on earth. I can only hope Maleigha thinks of me half as much as I think of my mom. Then I will have succeeded.
Chuck and I both have had a meltdown this week. Some tears and some laughs. Lots of hugs and reassurances have gotten us through. These two humans that share my home mean more to me than anything. I dont want to see either of them hurt or sad. When they are, I have to step up. Chuck is working day shift this week, so we have our nights as a family which is great. This is the life we've been wanting and waiting for.
The worst part of these days are knowing that I will have to go back to work soon. I dread it --not because of work, but because I will have to leave. We are still working out babysitting arrangements, at least until late February, when our babysitter will be available.
Other happenings this week was I won a trip to Las Vegas for New Years Eve from a local radio station. I had to turn it down though, Chuck has to work the day we would be leaving, and we don't have the money to spend right now to go. Still not exactly sure how bills are going to get paid the next couple of months, so definitely don't need to spend money in Vegas! It would be a great getaway for us, but not this time. Maybe it'll happen again!
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