Thursday, July 21, 2011

Nakey Baby Time

No this post doesn't include any nakey baby pictures, but nakey baby time sure is good for the baby 's and mommy and daddy's soul. Little one is always hyper and on the move, but omigosh take all her clothes off and she is on overdrive. About 15 minutes before bath time little bit decided to take a massive poo (TMI I know). Since Eric hadn't changed a diaper all day I told him this one was his. With only 15 minutes before bath time I didn't want to waste another diaper so Claire got to enjoy some naked time. We laughed non stop at her. We kept her contained to her room so we didn't have to clean pee up all over the house. I told Eric she hardly ever pees this late in the day and when she does she waits to do it in the bath tub (which is why I have been putting her on the toilet before every bath and 9 out of 10 times she actually pees). Of course she proves me wrong and pees, lol. Anyway she loves I mean loves nakey baby time.

I mentioned the other day a blog I was following that really impacted me. If anyone is interested in reading it here is the link. I highly recommend that you read the first entry in June first. It is nearly a month to catch up on and long, but please read the story from beginning to today's entry. Their journey is amazing and you will be touched by their story even more if you read every entry in order.
http://jamescamdensikes.blogspot.com/

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Love my little girl

I sure do love my little girl and my little family. Each day I stand amazed at the blessings God has given to me. I somehow have stumbled across several blogs of people I don't know in real life. One I came across on a parenting board I like to read on. I now find myself reading their blog every few days. This one in particular lost her little girl to SIDS in February at only 4 months old. They live somewhere in Houston and their little girl was only a month younger than Claire. Reading about their family, lifestyle, hopes, dreams etc. hits home for me at how similar our families core values are.  They are Christians and their strength amazes me. They are able to praise God through it all. Yes they have terrible horrible days and try to make sense of their terrible loss, but they never cease to know God needed their little girl more than they did and has a plan far greater than they could have imagined.  

The second blog I have started following only a few days ago. They too are close to home, live in Dallas,are fellow Baylor grads and Christians. Only 20 something days ago they took their almost 8 month old son in because he had been vomiting for several days they were sent home told it was only a virus. Several days later and still vomiting they finally admitted him to do further testing. Long story short he has a very aggressive brain tumor. They were able to do surgery and remove most of the tumor. They were told he would need aggressive chemo for the next year and were given a 50/50 chance of survival. Less than 2 short weeks after removing the tumor they discover the tumor has grown back bigger than it was 2 weeks before. Given the option to start chemo immediately with little hope or bring their sweet boy home for his last few days or weeks they opted to bring him home and show him as much love as they can. They too amaze me at reminding themselves God has a plan and praising God for giving them 8 months with their sweet boy.

Why do I insist on reading these blogs I dunno. I end up in tears almost every time I read them. I pray for these 2 families who I have never met daily. It reminds me how precious life is. It reminds me to hug my precious baby girl a little longer and to cherish every moment even when I want to pull my hair out. It's only 2 months away from her first birthday. I have been having a really hard time coming to terms my "baby" is almost a year old. I don't know why. I guess I feel like my "baby" is no longer a baby after she turns one. Of course she still is. For some reason I never thought much beyond her first year. I prayed for so long for a child that when I got her my focus was on growing her both in my tummy and out. Now that she is almost a year I know I will still have to "grow" her, but it will no longer come from my body. I know just because she turns a year I don't have to stop nursing her, but I do know it is the natural progression of things. I will miss our morning cuddles when I feed her in bed with me and I get a little extra sleep while she eats her breakfast and the way I can sneak off with her for a few minutes no questions asked because only I can feed her her milk. After reading and following these 2 blogs I am feeling much better about Claire turning one. I feel so blessed that God willing I will get to see her first birthday and hopefully many more. Something these 2 families would give anything to see. That I get to watch her grow into a little giggling girl. I am excited for the next stage in our little family. I will miss my little baby, but I have come to learn that every stage has been my "favorite" stage. I know that trend will only continue. These stories also remind me to be thankful for everything God has given me. To not worry about tomorrow that God will take care of us. So hug your babies a little tighter and a little longer and look for the miracles in your everyday life. I promise there are so many every day we take for granted.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Time with family!

This week I am spending time back home with my family. My poor Mommy fell and broke her arm last weekend and there just isn't much you can do one armed. Eric is working all week due to some employees on vacation so Claire, Cooper, and I are hanging out in the country. Claire and Cooper have the best time at Nana and Pappaw's house. Claire loves crawling all over their big front porch and Cooper explores all 15 acres discovering new scents. Both of them are so worn out by the end of the day.

2 weeks ago was Claire's first VBS and my first time actually teaching VBS. Those children were such a blessing and so were the other teachers. Claire has a bit of a Mommy attachment and VBS did her so good. The other ladies loved and played with her and she really has been a much more secure and happy baby since then. I just hope she will keep up her feeling of security because it is a much happier Mommy too without a screaming baby whenever Mommy walks two feet away. Don't get me wrong we still have our moments, but I can actually get a few things accomplished during the day.

Speaking of Claire Bear she had her 9 month check up on the 20th. She weighed 15 pounds 11 ounces which dropped her to the 5%. Doctor wasn't all that concerned about her drop in % since she has always been between the 10-25%, but did tell me to work on feeding her more fattening foods. She suggested adding butter to her food, but I just don't think getting her used to butter on her food is the best idea so I am just upping her cheese, avacado and "good fat" foods. Her length % hasn't changed any she was 27.25 inches long and between the 25-50%. I told the doctor she truly does eat all the time she is just so darn busy she doesn't have a chance to gain weight. She had a cold which moved to her chest I also found out at her appointment so the doc put her on a nebulizer with albuterol. That albuterol is like baby speed! Her already busy self turned into super fast baby! We cracked up at her every day she was on it. On Friday the 1st I took her back for a lung recheck and everything was clear. She even appeared to have growth spurt and had gained 7 ounces.

Since Mom is down with her arm Daddy is having to actually do some cooking and cleaning. He cracked me up the other night showing Claire how to vacuum. So here is a picture you won't see very often Daddy vacuuming and explaining to Claire how the vacuum works. She was less than impressed.