Two Months Old

*Cora turned two months old on Saturday.  Her doctor's appointment was today, so I waited to have her official weight to do the post.  The pictures were taken on Saturday.  

Cora, you are two months old!  You become more you, and we love you more and more, each day. You've experienced so many "firsts" this month, and it's been a joy to watch you do so.  You're surrounded by family and friends who care for you.  I hope you will always know how much we all love you.

I still call you my itty bitty baby, but you're growing at a very fast rate.  When you were born, we struggled to get you to eat.  That is definitely not the case anymore!  I love how strong and alert you've become. You still enjoy cuddling, though, thankfully.  I think I enjoy it even more.  I'll never forget the way the weight and warmth of you on my chest feels.

You are smiling, which is just about the most beautiful site in the world.  It makes my heart melt each time.  The smiles are still so special and fleeting, however, that they've barely been captured in picture or video.  Most of the time, I'm too busy enjoying that moment with you to try and record it.  Soon, though! I promise.

Two Month Stats:

Weight:  9lbs 11.5oz (twenty-fifth percentile)
Height:  22.5in (sixtieth percentile)
Diapers: size 1
Clothing: newborn and 0-3mo

All About You:


Hair:  brown hair, that has thinned somewhat but not much - also, we see hints of auburn in your hair
Eyes: blue

-Your sleeping patterns have changed quite a bit.  You always have one long stretch at night now.  That stretch is getting longer the bigger you get, as well.   The "long" one is usually six hours between feedings.  You've slept through the night about three times (from 8:30-4:30, in those cases), but that is not a consistent pattern.  The better your daddy and I do about getting you to bed at the same time, the better you do with sleeping through the night.  During the day, you still feed every three hours.  You usually take one long nap in the morning or early afternoon, though, that will sometimes extend that feeding to four hours apart.

-Your feeding schedule still goes along with your sleeping schedule.  I feed you about every three hours during the day, and only when/if you wake up at night.  You are eating a lot.  You breastfeed very well, now that you are bigger and stronger.  Whereas you used to have a bottle of breast milk after every feeding, you now only do so at your bedtime feeding.  You also feed faster.  Your reflux is still bad, but we are all getting better at handling it, and now that you're gaining weight well, it is not as big of a deal, either.

-Some sounds and motions you make are to coo, to bat at toys, to sigh, gurgle, and smile.  As I mentioned earlier, your smiles are so precious.  You also kick and hold your head up for small lengths of time.  You're quite the "scooter," when your swaddled in your crib.  A week ago on your activity mat - and this could have been a total fluke, but it happened - you rolled from your back to your tummy.  You are still crying sometimes, but I'm sure that will stop soon :).  In fact, you have a new cry. You rear your head back and scream a hoarse cry.  It's very pathetic...and cute.

-This month you especially enjoy being talked to, laying out on a blanket or mat, sticking out your bottom lip in a sad face, smiling, and sleeping.  You still love to be held, unless your extra tired, in which case you love your crib.  You love when your daddy comes home from work.  You always smile most for him and will calm down for him, too.  Lucky daddy.

-Your dislikes are your swing and the hiccups.

-Your favorite toys and games include peek-a-boo, an elephant toy that hangs behind your diaper table, your activity mat, and you can't get enough of that binky.

Here is a list of many of the experiences you had this past month:
very first smile (May 24th)
started cooing
started sticking out bottom lip
moved to size 1 diapers
first swim
first weekend at Jama and Poppy's (with me, too, of course)
playing more, following things with your eyes more
first weekend at the lake
fitting into 0-3mo clothes
first car trip (to Houston)

We love you, Cora!!

Miles' Birthday was Yesterday!

Happy 28th Birthday, Miles!!

 This age isn't significant in any milestone way, but I just know its going to be a wonderful year for you.

Simple reasons being twenty-eight is great:

1. You got to celebrate the weekend before your birthday with your family at the lake.

2. You will be able to cuddle your baby girl all year long.

3. You can enjoy the weather like an old man.
4. You can still be silly like a little kid.
5. You know how to enjoy the sweet feeling of relaxing after a hard day's work.
6. You get to go fishing in Mexico.
7. You can go on dates with your wife, or stay home, and enjoy being a couple.
8. You are still young enough to have guys night out.
9. You're old enough to opt out, too, if you'd rather.
10. You might find a new hobby...(Fathers Day gift hint!)

For your birthday this year, I wish you all of the simple pleasures life has to offer! Love you!!

Attack of the Killer Ground Hornet

Last week, this happened overnight...




So, this happened...




And, we were all, "Take that, you stupid Australian cockroach!" Because, I had determined that's what it was after seeing the monster and consulting google. (As I scientifically described to Miles, this thing was big and looked like a cockroach with yellow.)
But two things have occurred since that victorious moment.
We learned that the culprit is really a ground hornet, and, more recently, we were once again attacked...




And, he was not as neat this time. Rude!

This past weekend my sister and her family came in town.  We loved visiting with them, and Cora got to be spoiled by her Aunt Joanie!  We already miss their smiley faces and tans.  Can't wait to be in Mexico together, this July.  

Joanie with her girls and mine.

 Ava was a big help, holding and comforting Cora.

 Jacob, with adorable Lucy here, got to meet Cora for the first time.

My baby girl made this tiny swim gear look large.

Brett and Shannon graciously hosted the cousins at their home, and Cora went into the pool for the first time!

A Big Six Weeks

Six weeks ago today we brought home the wee one in this adorable outfit.




Today was the first day she was in it again. What a big difference!

The post about my Mother's Day that turned into a post about my mom...

*WARNING: This post is wordy, sappy, and there are no pictures. :)

Each time I go to write a post about my first Mother's Day, I naturally think of my own mother and my mother in law.  The post turns into a post about them, when I am trying to talk about how I wouldn't be a mom if it weren't for Cora and trying to document my first Mother's Day celebration.  But, when something begs to be written about by popping up in everything else I'm trying to write, I realize that that thing must be what I actually want to write.

My mother has been wonderful to me this year. She has done so without thought, with ease and with love.  I've been a bit of a mess since January....  This was when I was five months pregnant and Miles was diagnosed with testicular cancer - something I don't talk about on here because I am much more open than him and don't want to talk about something that happened to him as if it happened to me, especially when he would prefer not to talk about it at all.  He is ok, which is amazing.   He is amazing - - And, this would be a whole other post - if it were something I was going to write about on my blog.

The reason I mention it at all is to say that that's when I started needing my mom in a way I hadn't in years.  I didn't have to say it, I didn't ask for it, but she was there.  She knew when to be present, when to call, when to give me space. (She was there for my husband, too, but he had his mom and I had mine.  More on that later in the post.)  It wasn't so much that I was worried he wouldn't be okay, even though I was, and it wasn't so much that I thought this wasn't fair, even though I didn't.  But, I was scared, I didn't know how to wrap my head around what I was feeling, or what this meant.  She made me feel comfortable, normal, and like everything would be okay in the end.

In March I got put on bed rest - something I did blog about. It was difficult, and she was there. My mom took care of me, of my laundry, helped get things prepared for my baby, took me to the doctor, kept me company, everything... She sacrificed so much of her time and energy to keep me happy and to help me through a tough time period.  She did all of that because she wanted to, because she knew I needed her, and because she loves me.

And, since my dear baby has arrived, she's been there just the same. She comforts me, when I'm scared about Cora's weight or reflux. She listens to me analyze how my mind has shifted gears so intensely in the past six weeks.  My mom reminds me to enjoy everything, to not fear the future, and she loves me and my baby. She encourages myself and Miles as new parents, and tells us we're doing great, even when we really question that.  She tells me I'll always question that, and that that is okay.

Miles' mom has also been a rock for us.  In all of the ways I detailed my mom here, Bennie Rue has been there for me, as well.  She never forgot to ask how I was dealing with Miles' stuff, never forgot to tell me that it was okay for it to be hard on me, too.  She was there for me any day I needed her or wanted her to be, while I was on bed rest.  She has been kind, sweet, and understanding in everything I'm going through as a new mother.  I know her support has had it's own special healing effect on Miles, throughout his ordeal.   I know, also, that I am truly blessed to have a mother in law who treats me like a daughter.  She doesn't have to, but she always has.

The reason these thoughts kept creeping into my simple telling of my own Mother's Day, is because I think I understand now.  I understand that my mom and Miles' have wanted to be there for us this year, through these trials of life. They wanted to, but they also had no choice.  We are their babies, and, when it's happening to your baby, it's happening to you.  I didn't know that it was so easy to give yourself, when you felt this way.  I didn't know that it would make what they've done for me mean even more than it already did.

This Mother's Day, underneath the simple gifts and loving words that were exchanged between us all, was a new understanding for me.  I  have the best gift of all, because I have the love and support of my mom and Bennie Rue.  I know that no one in the world loves us like our parents do, and I know that I could never think about Mother's Day without thinking of them first.

What Lies Ahead

Here is a list of things I'm looking forward to right now...

1. Spending this weekend at my parents' house - something I never do because they live 25 minutes away. Cora and I are packing up to stay for the holiday! (We will, of course, be missing Miles, though.)

We will look at this picture, when we miss him...

2. Getting my dog groomed tomorrow. He is in desperate need of a summer cut.

I think he's part terminator...

3. My sister and her family coming into town next weekend. Last time they were here, I was in labor, so I didn't really get to enjoy their company :).

And, they're good company...

4. My first lake trip of the summer with the Schneider clan, in honor of Miles' birthday. And, I'm very much looking forward to celebrating his big day!

Here is Miles at the lake on his 26th birthday (two years ago)...

5. Sending out Cora's birth announcement. Even though I keep calling it a save the date, they're actually adorable birth announcements.

Here is a sneak peek at one of the pictures I used on it...

6. Father's Day. Miles said he wanted to go to Lonestar Park, and we got it coordinated with all of the families, woohoo! I'm glad he thought of doing something fun. My own dad taught me to love gambling, and my grandad taught me to enjoy the races - so it's all very fitting, as well.

Miles is a dad!...

7. Getting a snow cone. I think I should do that tomorrow.

This is what a good snow cone looks like...

8. A new Mad Men on Sunday. That's right, we are caught up - not only to the current season, but to the current episode of this season! Still in love with it, too.

I really don't have a picture of us watching Mad Men, sorry...

9.  Hopefully, hanging out with Campbell again next week.  He's a pretty chill dude.

Kind of like his dad...

10. A sip and see in honor of my baby girl.  I had to miss all of my baby showers because I was on bed rest, so it will be nice to have this celebration now.

Plus, who wouldn't want to "see" this face?...