Merry Christmas!

What a wonderful Christmas as a family of three!

Having Lucy this year made the day all the more magical and she must have enjoyed herself too because she was up until 10:45! We were able to relax all morning since both Jameson's parents and my parents came to visit us at our house to see Lucy's new toys. She got a teapot set, knitted bunny, weebles, stacking cars, shoes, and a music set from Santa, Jameson, and I and loads of other fun toys and adorable clothes from all of her family. I think she was a little overwhelmed because after she opened her presents she went back to her nativity set she got a few weeks ago to regroup.

Despite all of her own things, Lucy really just wanted my mascara and Heath bar...

Later in the day we went to Jameson's parents house for presents and dinner with his sister, her husband and Lucy's cousin Hunter. We rounded out the day, very late, at my sister's house with all of my family. That night Lucy slept for 6 and a half hours straight so that was my best present of all! I hope everyone had the chance to spend their day relaxing with family and enjoying the magic of Christmas!

Lucilles's 9 Months!

Wow! That went fast! I feel like I just finished writing about her being eight months and here I am back at it again. We have had so much fun over the last month! Lucy celebrated her first Thanksgiving at my parents on Thursday and Jameson's parents on Friday. It was so nice being able to relax at each house without having to hurry off to the next dinner. My family kicked off the Christmas season with our tradition of watching National Lampoons Christmas Vacation and a forced game of Outburst by Allison. At the other dinner, Lucy was able to play with her youngest cousin and we were able to get a few pictures before she attacked him.

That same weekend, Lucy went to look for her first Christmas tree. Jameson and I always go out to look and cut one down ourselves, and by ourselves I mean Jameson, so it was so much fun being able to take Lucy out for the first time. Luckily the weather was beautiful and we found the perfect (HUGE) tree!

Another Christmas tradition is the Centreville Christmas Parade! We all bundled up and made the walk into town to our spot. Lucy LOVED the firetruck sirens and lights and danced along when the marching bands came through.

Lucy has gotten another tooth over this month, her top right! The left one is days away from breaking through and has really been causing her some pain. The past few days she has been happy just to lay on my chest and be rocked. I feel so badly she doesn't feel well but am loving the snuggle time were getting in. Can you see them shining???

Her sleep has also been WAY OFF which I'm attributing to teething. Her naps are usually no longer than a half an hour and at night she has been getting up anywhere from three to five times. Oh, but when she does sleep there is no sight more beautiful

Like I mentioned last month, Lucy has no interest in crawling. She has perfected the side to side leg kicks while she sits on her bottom to get across the floor. Jameson just thinks she doesn't want to get her hands dirty crawling so she found another method. She also has started pulling herself up on the table or her toy box in no time so I think very soon she will be walking!

Thankfully we have had a few warm days over the past month so we have been able to spend some time outside which Lucy loves. She falls asleep in no time when she is in the stroller and looks pretty adorable if I do say so.

We continue introducing new foods and have moved to a three meal a day routine. Her favorite foods right now are peaches, oatmeal with agave, and vanilla yogurt. She also has no problem chowing down on greenbeans, carrots, summer squash, butternut squash and pumpkin. Hopefully she will like the beans and legumes well start introducing now that shes a little older.

Having Lucy with us as we prepare for Christmas is a dream come true. I remember being pregnant with her last year and looking forward to all the traditions we could start and share with her. I cant wait to see her on Christmas morning playing with all her new... wrapping paper and boxes! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

A Little Surprise

SURPRISE!!! Hunter Baby #2 is on the way!

 I had a feeling about two and a half weeks ago that something was going on so I took a pregnancy test and sure enough, there were two lines. I immediately started crying and just stared at Lucy as she smiled back at me. Since last pregnancy was such a shock and I was not able to come up with something creative, I thought a little more about how to share the news with Jameson this time. We had gotten our tree the day before but had not had the chance to decorate it yet. Oddly enough, I had purchased a "gift ball" ornament that unlocks with a key and after a few modifications I was able to fit my positive test in the little ball. When Jameson came home, there was a single ornament hanging on the tree.

That week I called the doctor and was sent for blood tests. My results came back positive but with a very low hcg count. I was sent for another test and after a loooonnnnnnngggggg weekend of waiting we learned that my levels were still low but had doubled so it seemed that things were progressing. Jameson and I knew that we had to tell our family soon because I already had a little belly...

4 weeks

We told Jameson's parents, who were not surprised AT ALL!, one night at their house. Since tattoos are rampant in my family I told my parents that I had gotten one myself that week. When they asked to see it, this is what they got, a preview of grandchild #8...

5 weeks

Our entire family is beyond excited as we anticipate the arrival of the 8th grandchild for my parents, 3rd grandchild for Jameson's parents and baby brother or sister for Lucy :)

 So, today we saw the newest member of our family for the very first time! I did not know how far along I was prior to the appointment so it was wonderful to learn baby's due date, August 9, 2012, which makes me six weeks as of yesterday. Jameson and Lucy came to the appointment too so we were all able to share the moment of seeing that little blurb and the fluttering heart beat. What a beautiful sight! After so much anticipation and some stress leading up to the appointment it was such a relief to hear that everything looks great.

As for me, I am already back in my belly band over my jeans and beyond exhausted. I am eating A LOT since I am eating for three now- me, Lucy, and baby- and it helps with the nausea. But mostly, I am overjoyed to be expecting again and feel so blessed to already have one beautiful baby.

6 weeks

Without further delay... BABY HUNTER #2

Babies, Babies, Babies

   This week was the beginning of a new routine for Lucy and I. Two days a week, we will be having Hunter at our house for visits. I am so happy that these two will grow up together and that I get the chance to spend some time with my nephew. I am also thinking this may be a good introduction for Lucy to not having 100% of momma's attention all the time. She did better than expected these first two days and I can already see she is going to be a big help with him and with her own sisters or brothers one day. She is very sensitive to his crying and likes to help pat his back after he eats and when he is upset.

    I was also excited to see how I would handle having two kids under my watch all day, and I must say, it only makes me all the more anxious to have more babies! Yes, I know, I am not normal. I love babies, especially my own :) The nurses at the hospital were shocked when I told them "We will be back!" as I walked out with a smile two days after Lucy was born. Jameson and I are both ready for another baby. We talk about it 6 days out of 7 and can't help but wonder who will join our family next. We both see pink in our future, lots of pink! Every time I pack up clothes Lucy has outgrown I have this strong feeling I will be unpacking them for another baby girl soon. Obviously Jameson would love to have a boy but I have told him multiple times, God gives you what you can handle. He has the laid back personality that just may be what a dad of girls needs. The anticipation of having more babies fills me with a constant hope and excitement.

   As we approach Thanksgiving, I am overwhelmed with all that I have been given. A husband who loves me and is the most dedicated father I could hope for for my baby. A beautiful, healthy baby girl who shows me everyday that I am the luckiest momma in the world to have been given her to love and raise. Brothers and sisters that offer endless hours of entertainment and a distraction from the stress of everyday life. Parents who have showed us that parenting doesn't end when we move out of the house and that there are endless ways to show support to your kids and their families. I am blessed, everyday.

 

 

           

                                                      

  Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

Lucy's 8 Months!

Busy Busy Busy! Those are the three words I would pick to describe Lucy the past month. Our little girl is constantly rolling and talking and pulling herself up on the table and wanting to eat and twisting out of our arms and the list goes on. By this point, I am fairly convinced that Lucy won't be a crawler. She gets herself up on her hands and knees, rocks back and forth, then lays down and rolls to where she needs to be. She rolls into other rooms, under the couch, over to Otis, anywhere she wants to go. Just this week she pulled herself from seated to standing on the coffee table so I think she will go straight to walking, or running that is.

At the end of my last monthly update I mentioned Lucy was close to a tooth. Now she has two! And the first top tooth is days away from breaking through. I have definitely seen a change in her temperament this month but I know it's only because her mouth is hurting her. I found a homeopathic gel that she reaches for when I bring it out so I am hoping these help make her feel a little more like her bubbly self.

Lucy also celebrated her first Halloween in the past month! Given a choice of three outfits, Lucy decided to be Snow White. Mommy decided she would also be a pumpkin for some pictures...

We were able to do some fun family things too. We had a German day with our extended family and went to the Oyster Fest in St. Michaels with Brian, Allison, Jonah and Henry. Lucy now rides around in a stroller on some of our outings despite me still wanting to carry her in the Moby.

Lucy is an extremely light sleeper and most days wakes after 15 minutes from naps. At night, she is falling asleep earlier but waking every 15 minutes in her crib until I am in bed beside the crib. She wakes up 3-5 times every night but is only eating once, being rocked back to sleep the other times. I truly cherish every time I get to rock and sing to her as she falls asleep. I always sing her "You Are My Sunshine" and am brought to tears whenever I think of her not wanting to do this routine anymore.  

     Lucy has become my little companion and I couldn't imagine doing anything without her. We shop, visit, play, run errands, clean the house, cook dinner, take Otis for walks always by each others side. Looking in the rear view mirror and seeing her face still brings a smile to my face every time. I am still as amazed and intrigued by her as the day she was born. She wakes every morning and from every nap with a smile and the times she is acting herself more than make up for the cranky spots from teething. She loves to make people laugh, give kisses, and spend time with her cousins, grandparents and aunts and uncles. She is a joy to our family and continues to challenge and change me every day to be the best mom I can possibly be. I love you Lucy, you are my sunshine.

Happy Halloween

    Today was Lucy's first halloween! Given a choice of three outfits, Lucy decided to be Snow White. She loves dressing up and got the biggest smile when I showed her the final look in the mirror. She was able to get some pictures with her cousins and hand out candy to some neighborhood kids.

   The day before, we made the most of her size and got some adorable pictures...

Oh! Wait! I said adorable right???? Here we go...

On to Thanksgiving!

German Day!

   I absolutely love that both of our immediate families are so close to us. Both sets of parents and all but one sibling are within 15 minutes of our home.
  Last weekend, my side of the family got together for a German day! Of course, food and drink were the main focuses. I got to do desserts, vanille kipferls and schwetche kuchen and gummi bears, and make pretzels with Jonah and Henry. Allison made schnitzel, sauerkraut, and german potato salad and hosted. Jameson made bratwursts. Ms. Cindy made potato leek soup. To drink? Cider and Oktoberfest. Lots of Oktoberfest :)

    Lucy loved playing with her cousins. All of her boy cousins are very protective and like to make sure she is happy and entertained.

Never a dull moment...

AUF WIEDERSEHEN!