dear grace,
you are getting so big! you like to look around when you are playing sitting up all by yourself to make sure i'm nearby. you give the biggest ham-cheese smiles and you have figured out how to raise your eyebrows up and down. you are truly a sweetheart. you are content to play with a bag of wipes and make noise sitting in your highchair for hours. you startle easily (sorry that's from me) but you aren't afraid when you fall over or bonk your little head on anything. you like to be tickled, and you are trying to sit up from laying down and desperately want to be on the move. your first tooth is coming in! finally! on the bottom right (your left) and it's makin you crasy! everyone is so excited to see you for christmas this year! santa come early! you like to talk to yourself and make gurgle sounds. you like every food i've given you except spinach. but we'll fix that one of these days! you don't like to be alone and you hate the dark (unless you're asleep) you love walks and we take them almost everyday this week. we have to before it gets too cold! you think "mamamamama" means food. and you can say dadadadada and ba ba ba ba ba. it's tough not being able to just get up and walk around and get all the things you want- so you get frustrated, but i'm trying to be patient and let you learn the hard way to crawl on your own. you love your dad. he makes you smile.
we love you
mom
Friday, December 2, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
twenty three
dear grace,
today you sat up all by yourself for the longest time ever! it was such a miracle to watch you learn to do that. you are trying to grab everything and trying to talk to everyone. my favorite is when you coo really quietly and in a high voice. you slip and slide all around different octaves, changing the way your mouth moves and making all sorts of sounds. i like to copy you and watch you smile, like we are sharing some sort of secret with each other. you are becomming very very tickleish, your feet and your hands and under your chin. today you lay on the bed and i just poked you all over and you laughed and laughed. then i tried to eat your foot and you thought that was hysterical. it's great being the funniest person! my ego is feeling pretty good! in the meantime, the child upstairs throws between 7-20 fits of screaming a day. i'm not sure what his problem is... if he is tired or both parents aren't around enough... but he stomps around and SCREEEAAMS and i'm telling you, if you act like that i will smack the crap out of you. that sounds really intense- but behavior like that is simply unacceptable to get what you want. my parents never beat me, but they made sure that i knew that screaming and crying was not a way to get what i wanted. in fact- that was the best way to get sent to my room or have everything i liked taken away. so i learned really really fast not to throw huge fits. sure i whined, and i complained, and i cried- every kid does. but i dont think i ever screamed and screamed and screamed. and if i did- my parents should have beat the crap out of me. and i was a pretty awful child. i bit people and i bit a hole in my mom's first brand new car... i pinched and poked and taunted. i gave things away that weren't mine to give, and i took things that weren't mine. but i turned out alright. and i really really hope that you do too. i think that's an important part of parenting- is taking the best parts of both sides of the family and putting them together, and then taking the parts that you wish you could forget and omitting those the best you can. growing up is a magical thing, it shouldn't be tainted with tears and angry yelling. no child should have to act like a tyrant to communicate how they feel. it makes me sort of sad. anyways, it's easy for me to talk about other kid's problems since i have the perfect child. now. but, no matter what happens, no matter if you get in trouble and disagree with us, we love you very much. and we will always always always do our best to be fair and kind to you. you may not understand this until you are much older, but we want to be your dear friends. we want you to come to us when you are sad or lonely, and especially when you are happy. you are the greatest joy in our lives. i am grateful every single day that you came here. sometimes you are the only thing we agree on. i think we are all coming down with a cold. so i've put dad to bed with a humidifier, a box of tissues and a huge bottle of water. and you, i filled your nose with saline solution (which you haaate but we do it every night because it keeps you healthy) and bundled you up. it's really hard to keep you warm all night, you've become such a wiggler!!! you just started bouncing your bum up and down in the air, arching your back and trying to flip everywhere like a fish. and something funny today you started opening and closing your mouth really big (like a fish!) whenever you wanted to eat or chew on something and it was really really really hilarious. you are growing up so quickly. and becoming very cuddly. that's my favorite part. you lay your head on my shoulder and wrap your little chubby legs around my waist and tuck your arms into my chest. and just smile. you are the most beautiful thing on earth.
i love you,
mom
today you sat up all by yourself for the longest time ever! it was such a miracle to watch you learn to do that. you are trying to grab everything and trying to talk to everyone. my favorite is when you coo really quietly and in a high voice. you slip and slide all around different octaves, changing the way your mouth moves and making all sorts of sounds. i like to copy you and watch you smile, like we are sharing some sort of secret with each other. you are becomming very very tickleish, your feet and your hands and under your chin. today you lay on the bed and i just poked you all over and you laughed and laughed. then i tried to eat your foot and you thought that was hysterical. it's great being the funniest person! my ego is feeling pretty good! in the meantime, the child upstairs throws between 7-20 fits of screaming a day. i'm not sure what his problem is... if he is tired or both parents aren't around enough... but he stomps around and SCREEEAAMS and i'm telling you, if you act like that i will smack the crap out of you. that sounds really intense- but behavior like that is simply unacceptable to get what you want. my parents never beat me, but they made sure that i knew that screaming and crying was not a way to get what i wanted. in fact- that was the best way to get sent to my room or have everything i liked taken away. so i learned really really fast not to throw huge fits. sure i whined, and i complained, and i cried- every kid does. but i dont think i ever screamed and screamed and screamed. and if i did- my parents should have beat the crap out of me. and i was a pretty awful child. i bit people and i bit a hole in my mom's first brand new car... i pinched and poked and taunted. i gave things away that weren't mine to give, and i took things that weren't mine. but i turned out alright. and i really really hope that you do too. i think that's an important part of parenting- is taking the best parts of both sides of the family and putting them together, and then taking the parts that you wish you could forget and omitting those the best you can. growing up is a magical thing, it shouldn't be tainted with tears and angry yelling. no child should have to act like a tyrant to communicate how they feel. it makes me sort of sad. anyways, it's easy for me to talk about other kid's problems since i have the perfect child. now. but, no matter what happens, no matter if you get in trouble and disagree with us, we love you very much. and we will always always always do our best to be fair and kind to you. you may not understand this until you are much older, but we want to be your dear friends. we want you to come to us when you are sad or lonely, and especially when you are happy. you are the greatest joy in our lives. i am grateful every single day that you came here. sometimes you are the only thing we agree on. i think we are all coming down with a cold. so i've put dad to bed with a humidifier, a box of tissues and a huge bottle of water. and you, i filled your nose with saline solution (which you haaate but we do it every night because it keeps you healthy) and bundled you up. it's really hard to keep you warm all night, you've become such a wiggler!!! you just started bouncing your bum up and down in the air, arching your back and trying to flip everywhere like a fish. and something funny today you started opening and closing your mouth really big (like a fish!) whenever you wanted to eat or chew on something and it was really really really hilarious. you are growing up so quickly. and becoming very cuddly. that's my favorite part. you lay your head on my shoulder and wrap your little chubby legs around my waist and tuck your arms into my chest. and just smile. you are the most beautiful thing on earth.
i love you,
mom
Thursday, November 10, 2011
twenty two
dear grace,
sorry its been so long, oh my goodness! you are growing too fast. you are trying to crawl but with your big belly you are what dad says "high centered". you swim and swim and swim and throw your hands back like superman and kick but you aren't moving yet. too much at least. i do wonder how you get to be upside down and backwards in bed, but there are some things i can't explain. besides, i think you're a genius. this morning you woke me up babbling to yourself and squeeling. i love that sound. i just laid there and listened to you. you love to play peek a boo, and hide under the covers. we made a sock puppet yesterday and named her Jo boxer. you are trying very hard to sit up, you get your whole upper body up but havent figured out that you can use things around you to help yourself. you are beginning solid foods, we tried peas yesterday and you werent sure if you liked them but you still have to eat them. :] said lovingly. yuou are so wiggly! oh my gosh. and you are cutting two little teeth on the bottom center. you farted a ton in church really loud and a couple in front of us started blaming each other for farting. it was pretty funny. they have a little girl named ruby who is two weeks younger than you, but everyone thinks you are at least 10 months old. you are huge. you were sleeping through the night but have recently started waking up again to eat. you are a hungry little thing. you also have discovered that your mouth can make farting sounds in a pout. and when you are upset or bored you start making that noise constantly. it's pretty cute. your eyes are still very blue and beautiful. you weigh about 21 pounds. you are very tickleish. you think grandma francis is a computer because we facetime every day almost. you wave your feet around jjust like grandpa francis. and recently youve become very cuddly! i love it!
mom
sorry its been so long, oh my goodness! you are growing too fast. you are trying to crawl but with your big belly you are what dad says "high centered". you swim and swim and swim and throw your hands back like superman and kick but you aren't moving yet. too much at least. i do wonder how you get to be upside down and backwards in bed, but there are some things i can't explain. besides, i think you're a genius. this morning you woke me up babbling to yourself and squeeling. i love that sound. i just laid there and listened to you. you love to play peek a boo, and hide under the covers. we made a sock puppet yesterday and named her Jo boxer. you are trying very hard to sit up, you get your whole upper body up but havent figured out that you can use things around you to help yourself. you are beginning solid foods, we tried peas yesterday and you werent sure if you liked them but you still have to eat them. :] said lovingly. yuou are so wiggly! oh my gosh. and you are cutting two little teeth on the bottom center. you farted a ton in church really loud and a couple in front of us started blaming each other for farting. it was pretty funny. they have a little girl named ruby who is two weeks younger than you, but everyone thinks you are at least 10 months old. you are huge. you were sleeping through the night but have recently started waking up again to eat. you are a hungry little thing. you also have discovered that your mouth can make farting sounds in a pout. and when you are upset or bored you start making that noise constantly. it's pretty cute. your eyes are still very blue and beautiful. you weigh about 21 pounds. you are very tickleish. you think grandma francis is a computer because we facetime every day almost. you wave your feet around jjust like grandpa francis. and recently youve become very cuddly! i love it!
mom
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
twenty one
dear grace,
you are getting so big so quickly. last night i held you in my arms and thought as you slept sweetly, how i wish i could keep you this way forever. your little hands gripping my sweatshirt and your soft warm breath on my neck, your legs curled up under you like a frog and your sweet wavy hair on my cheek. of course, it is a beautiful thing to watch you grow, but when you are fourteen i doubt you'll let me hold you like that. (which i understand) but it is so wholly and completely wonderful to be loved by you and needed so dearly. you probably wont really understand that until you have a little one of your own someday. i know i didn't. you are becomming a daddy's girl quite quickly, when you hear his voice you look all around "where is he where is he" and then you smile really really really big when he talks to you. i'm sort of jealous but i made you giggle first! so i'll always have that. in all fairness i have you most of the day so, i guess he'll have his chance. you have this ringing peal of giggles when you laugh and it is so adorable. i wish i could hold a camera and tickle you but i'm not that talented yet. you kick your legs like a mad woman, you are anxious to start moving around and i am anxious for you not to. your dad and i are pretty messy (woops, never supposed to tell your child that one) and i'm worried about all the little things on the floor, and all the child proofing this house needs before you are mobile. you are still so nice, even though you are teething and your gums bother you horribly. fall is coming and i've gone a little crazy decorating for halloween. we have a giant spider web on the front porch and a huuuuge pumpkin and then a mommy pumpkin and then a baby pumpkin (actually a little green squash pumpkin for you). we have spiders and graves that i made, we're gonna have a strobe light and enough candy to feed the entire military probably. dad is training for ocs and he runs 6 miles each day. he is losing weight quickly and... i am not. since i'm not breastfeeding i'm still packing the pounds from pregnancy. so we went to the track last night at orem high for an hour and while dad ran i walked about the track with you in your stroller. it was very cold and you were done after about 20 minutes. it was the first time you'd been freezing and you did not like it one bit! i felt your pain so we cuddled in the car for the last ten minutes and you fell asleep. which brings me to the beginning again. there is so much i want to write about all the things i experience with you each day, so that i wont forget- but they all happen so quickly and pass so sweetly and quietly. you are only talkative when you are excited or tired. or both. i love you very much with my whole heartsicles.
love,
mom.
you are getting so big so quickly. last night i held you in my arms and thought as you slept sweetly, how i wish i could keep you this way forever. your little hands gripping my sweatshirt and your soft warm breath on my neck, your legs curled up under you like a frog and your sweet wavy hair on my cheek. of course, it is a beautiful thing to watch you grow, but when you are fourteen i doubt you'll let me hold you like that. (which i understand) but it is so wholly and completely wonderful to be loved by you and needed so dearly. you probably wont really understand that until you have a little one of your own someday. i know i didn't. you are becomming a daddy's girl quite quickly, when you hear his voice you look all around "where is he where is he" and then you smile really really really big when he talks to you. i'm sort of jealous but i made you giggle first! so i'll always have that. in all fairness i have you most of the day so, i guess he'll have his chance. you have this ringing peal of giggles when you laugh and it is so adorable. i wish i could hold a camera and tickle you but i'm not that talented yet. you kick your legs like a mad woman, you are anxious to start moving around and i am anxious for you not to. your dad and i are pretty messy (woops, never supposed to tell your child that one) and i'm worried about all the little things on the floor, and all the child proofing this house needs before you are mobile. you are still so nice, even though you are teething and your gums bother you horribly. fall is coming and i've gone a little crazy decorating for halloween. we have a giant spider web on the front porch and a huuuuge pumpkin and then a mommy pumpkin and then a baby pumpkin (actually a little green squash pumpkin for you). we have spiders and graves that i made, we're gonna have a strobe light and enough candy to feed the entire military probably. dad is training for ocs and he runs 6 miles each day. he is losing weight quickly and... i am not. since i'm not breastfeeding i'm still packing the pounds from pregnancy. so we went to the track last night at orem high for an hour and while dad ran i walked about the track with you in your stroller. it was very cold and you were done after about 20 minutes. it was the first time you'd been freezing and you did not like it one bit! i felt your pain so we cuddled in the car for the last ten minutes and you fell asleep. which brings me to the beginning again. there is so much i want to write about all the things i experience with you each day, so that i wont forget- but they all happen so quickly and pass so sweetly and quietly. you are only talkative when you are excited or tired. or both. i love you very much with my whole heartsicles.
love,
mom.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
twenty
dear grace,
oh boy (girl)! your two lower teeth are definately coming in! you are officially four months old and some weeks. on friday you get your second set of shots and i am not excited for that... you are rolling over in both directions now and you love to stand when we hold your hands. you like to sit on the couch with us and grab your little toes to try to eat em. your most impressive feat is trying to sit up by yourself and trying desperately to crawl! we put you on your tummy and call to you and between me and dad you get very excited and try your hardest to kick kick kick and swim swim with your arms. once you make contact we'll have liftoff! you don't like rice cereals yet and that's okay because we can wait! you love to try to suck-gnaw on anything you can get to your mouth especially my hands and your hands. when you see dad come home you light up and you cry if he doesnt come say hello. you like to reach out and touch my face and sometimes that hurts (you love to scratch!) but you are getting more gentle. you still love bath time except you are almost getting too big for your whale tub?! so the other day i tried to sit you in your bumbo in the tub instead and... you weren't fat enough so the bumbo floated in the water and you were sort of confused. then i just ended up sitting you up in the tub and you liked that much better. you are talkative when you are tired (why, hello you are def. MY daughter) and you love your naps. when i can get you to take them. we might have to move out of the cherapple house which will be so sad because that means you'll never remember the nursery i made you! but that's okay. someday we can get a big house and i'll make you a cuter one. promise. dad is applying for officer school and while he is away next year we might go live with graham and poppop! you giggle a little when i tickle your neck and when you are tired and you think i'm funny. i love you to death. every time you wake up i sing "good morning to youuuuuuu preeettttyyy giiirrrlll!" and you smile and wiggle to try to get out of your sleep sack. dad says you smell like asparagus and i think you smell like delicious baby smell. you are both always hungry. you grab at things with your toes and you arch towards people you want to hold you. you recognize your grandma elaine and me and your dad and your aunt alison and your cousins bryson and abigail. you love them and they LOVE you. they get real close to your face and say HELLO GRACEELAINE! and you smile real big because those are your size people. you may or may not be catching your first cold. all i know is you've been especially cranky and that could be your teethies. i cant wait someday to give this to you. i think, we are all very revealing as children- and it would have been cool to read what i did and thought and acted when i was a little one.
i love you dearly,
mom
oh boy (girl)! your two lower teeth are definately coming in! you are officially four months old and some weeks. on friday you get your second set of shots and i am not excited for that... you are rolling over in both directions now and you love to stand when we hold your hands. you like to sit on the couch with us and grab your little toes to try to eat em. your most impressive feat is trying to sit up by yourself and trying desperately to crawl! we put you on your tummy and call to you and between me and dad you get very excited and try your hardest to kick kick kick and swim swim with your arms. once you make contact we'll have liftoff! you don't like rice cereals yet and that's okay because we can wait! you love to try to suck-gnaw on anything you can get to your mouth especially my hands and your hands. when you see dad come home you light up and you cry if he doesnt come say hello. you like to reach out and touch my face and sometimes that hurts (you love to scratch!) but you are getting more gentle. you still love bath time except you are almost getting too big for your whale tub?! so the other day i tried to sit you in your bumbo in the tub instead and... you weren't fat enough so the bumbo floated in the water and you were sort of confused. then i just ended up sitting you up in the tub and you liked that much better. you are talkative when you are tired (why, hello you are def. MY daughter) and you love your naps. when i can get you to take them. we might have to move out of the cherapple house which will be so sad because that means you'll never remember the nursery i made you! but that's okay. someday we can get a big house and i'll make you a cuter one. promise. dad is applying for officer school and while he is away next year we might go live with graham and poppop! you giggle a little when i tickle your neck and when you are tired and you think i'm funny. i love you to death. every time you wake up i sing "good morning to youuuuuuu preeettttyyy giiirrrlll!" and you smile and wiggle to try to get out of your sleep sack. dad says you smell like asparagus and i think you smell like delicious baby smell. you are both always hungry. you grab at things with your toes and you arch towards people you want to hold you. you recognize your grandma elaine and me and your dad and your aunt alison and your cousins bryson and abigail. you love them and they LOVE you. they get real close to your face and say HELLO GRACEELAINE! and you smile real big because those are your size people. you may or may not be catching your first cold. all i know is you've been especially cranky and that could be your teethies. i cant wait someday to give this to you. i think, we are all very revealing as children- and it would have been cool to read what i did and thought and acted when i was a little one.
i love you dearly,
mom
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
nineteen
dear grace,
we rock in the big grey green chair and while i put you to my shoulder you scratch the back of the seat, feeling the fibers under your fingers. you look up at the quilt gram made for you, and wiggle your nose against my neck. nap time is still you in my arms, when i put you down you wake up, red eyes squinting at me in a curious fashion, where am i, and where are you going? that's what they beg to ask me. it is better to just let you sleep, rosebud mouth open just slightly. your face calm and milky white, two bright red spots on your round cheeks and the pucker under your bottom lip. long dark eyelashes are resting on your cheekbones, sometimes you show your dreams in small whimpers or smiles, in laughter if i'm lucky. i read lots of books while you sleep, or sometimes i sit and watch you. which never gets old. ive become quite talented at reading, eating, and simultaneously rocking you to sleep. i think i've grown six extra arms. today you are wearing soft pale yellow ducky pajammas. the best part is the little ducks on your footies. it helps that there's also a little badge sewn into the left side of the garment over your heart that says i love mommy. but i'm biased. you're awake now, rubbing your eyes and making small grunts and whistles.
i love you honeyhead,
mom
we rock in the big grey green chair and while i put you to my shoulder you scratch the back of the seat, feeling the fibers under your fingers. you look up at the quilt gram made for you, and wiggle your nose against my neck. nap time is still you in my arms, when i put you down you wake up, red eyes squinting at me in a curious fashion, where am i, and where are you going? that's what they beg to ask me. it is better to just let you sleep, rosebud mouth open just slightly. your face calm and milky white, two bright red spots on your round cheeks and the pucker under your bottom lip. long dark eyelashes are resting on your cheekbones, sometimes you show your dreams in small whimpers or smiles, in laughter if i'm lucky. i read lots of books while you sleep, or sometimes i sit and watch you. which never gets old. ive become quite talented at reading, eating, and simultaneously rocking you to sleep. i think i've grown six extra arms. today you are wearing soft pale yellow ducky pajammas. the best part is the little ducks on your footies. it helps that there's also a little badge sewn into the left side of the garment over your heart that says i love mommy. but i'm biased. you're awake now, rubbing your eyes and making small grunts and whistles.
i love you honeyhead,
mom
Monday, September 19, 2011
eighteen
dear grace,
you are the best. seriously. you try to stick both your hands in your mouth while i'm feeding you so it's hands plus bottle plus milk everywhere. you only giggled twice for me and wont do it again no matter how hard i tickle you! you still don't like tummy time much but you love your jumper and you're figuring out how to fly up and down and spin and twirl. you weigh a whopping 16 pounds and are growing out of everything! but you are the cutest little girl in the whole world. the other day you started giving me kisses because i always make kissy noises at you and you smile, so you copied me and now we give kisses! you even gave daddy some too.
i love you little one,
mom
you are the best. seriously. you try to stick both your hands in your mouth while i'm feeding you so it's hands plus bottle plus milk everywhere. you only giggled twice for me and wont do it again no matter how hard i tickle you! you still don't like tummy time much but you love your jumper and you're figuring out how to fly up and down and spin and twirl. you weigh a whopping 16 pounds and are growing out of everything! but you are the cutest little girl in the whole world. the other day you started giving me kisses because i always make kissy noises at you and you smile, so you copied me and now we give kisses! you even gave daddy some too.
i love you little one,
mom
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
seventeen
dear grace,
i heard you! i heard you laugh out loud! you were exhausted and outside on the back porch i tickled you under your right armpit/front and tummy and made noises close to your pretty face and you laughed! it was soooo cute and high pitched squeel mixed with giggles, i hated to stop but i was laughing so hard i had to take a break/breather. dad went to the hospital and got an mri of his head, he's been having numb sensations on his scalp and face, they want him to go to a neurologist, i think its a pinched nerve/disk. i wish he could have heard you laugh, when he got home you were in the tub and we tried really hard to get you to laugh again but you just smiled and turned your head shyly away and kicked- splashing us both with warm soapy water. we all smell like babies for bed and we are all grumpyly tired. dad has drill in the morning very early and will be gone until monday. hopefully he wont have to go with all the other marines because of doc orders. and where are you in all this? snugly in my arms! i love you! your graco jumper came today and i hung it in the kitchen door frame while you slept.
love,
mom
i heard you! i heard you laugh out loud! you were exhausted and outside on the back porch i tickled you under your right armpit/front and tummy and made noises close to your pretty face and you laughed! it was soooo cute and high pitched squeel mixed with giggles, i hated to stop but i was laughing so hard i had to take a break/breather. dad went to the hospital and got an mri of his head, he's been having numb sensations on his scalp and face, they want him to go to a neurologist, i think its a pinched nerve/disk. i wish he could have heard you laugh, when he got home you were in the tub and we tried really hard to get you to laugh again but you just smiled and turned your head shyly away and kicked- splashing us both with warm soapy water. we all smell like babies for bed and we are all grumpyly tired. dad has drill in the morning very early and will be gone until monday. hopefully he wont have to go with all the other marines because of doc orders. and where are you in all this? snugly in my arms! i love you! your graco jumper came today and i hung it in the kitchen door frame while you slept.
love,
mom
Friday, September 9, 2011
sixteen
dear grace,
I just laid you down to sleep, all swaddled up tight and little wet head from your bath. I've never loved anyone more in my whole life than I love you tiny girl. (except dad, but that's a different kind of love). It is so effortless to love someone who is completely innocent and sweet. Each day you are growing quickly, and I know I must treasure these days when you are still small and untouched from the hard things in the world. (besides a dirty diaper or a rumbly tummy, or a sleepy head). You smile all the time, and each time it's like my heart is being filled up and up and up. Sleep tight my grace.
love,
mom
I just laid you down to sleep, all swaddled up tight and little wet head from your bath. I've never loved anyone more in my whole life than I love you tiny girl. (except dad, but that's a different kind of love). It is so effortless to love someone who is completely innocent and sweet. Each day you are growing quickly, and I know I must treasure these days when you are still small and untouched from the hard things in the world. (besides a dirty diaper or a rumbly tummy, or a sleepy head). You smile all the time, and each time it's like my heart is being filled up and up and up. Sleep tight my grace.
love,
mom
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
fifteen
dear grace,
have you ever seen a conductor listen to his music with his eyes closed? his face a serious study of calm earnest concentration? right now you are eating and you look exactly like that. the rest of your body is posed like a cherub, back arched carelessly, feet drawn up to the side and toes gently curled. you are a picture my sweet girl.
mom
have you ever seen a conductor listen to his music with his eyes closed? his face a serious study of calm earnest concentration? right now you are eating and you look exactly like that. the rest of your body is posed like a cherub, back arched carelessly, feet drawn up to the side and toes gently curled. you are a picture my sweet girl.
mom
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
fourteen
dear grace,
i can feel your front top teeths coming in! if it weren't painful for you i'd be more excited. you like to chew on my finger and anything else you can get to your mouth and if i leave you alone on your back you turn magically like a sundial and i'm not sure how you do it...you wore yourself out tonight in your whale bathtub which you are almost getting too big for! you are a LONG TALL DRINK OF WATER. and people ask me all the time if you are a boy. i feel bad because you got that from me, but usually i can just point to your outfit and say- hello? it's pink or purple. although i try to get you in neutral colors because they are pretty on your skin. we are back to swaddling you, last night after trying to put you down six times and you hitting yourself in the face trying to suck on your thumb i gave in and tied you up with a blanket. after that you went riiiight to sleep. you are still favoring your left hand and you seem to think that if you kick like crazy you can get your fingers around things you see around you. your dad tried to get me to let him ride my old bike to a temple interview in a brand new suit. just because he did it in africa doesnt mean he has to in orem! i told him to drive the car since we are NOT going to buy him a new 700 dollar suit. he has crazy ideas sometimes... you and me will have to keep him on the earth's surface. and he thinks IM crazy because i tell him NO! i guess i'm the only one who ever has. i love watching you sleep but i have to go downstairs and lose all the baby weight i gained with pregnancy. it's painful but i have to do it. i am much happier when i work out. i hope you dont get my knees!
i love you madly honeychild,
mom
i can feel your front top teeths coming in! if it weren't painful for you i'd be more excited. you like to chew on my finger and anything else you can get to your mouth and if i leave you alone on your back you turn magically like a sundial and i'm not sure how you do it...you wore yourself out tonight in your whale bathtub which you are almost getting too big for! you are a LONG TALL DRINK OF WATER. and people ask me all the time if you are a boy. i feel bad because you got that from me, but usually i can just point to your outfit and say- hello? it's pink or purple. although i try to get you in neutral colors because they are pretty on your skin. we are back to swaddling you, last night after trying to put you down six times and you hitting yourself in the face trying to suck on your thumb i gave in and tied you up with a blanket. after that you went riiiight to sleep. you are still favoring your left hand and you seem to think that if you kick like crazy you can get your fingers around things you see around you. your dad tried to get me to let him ride my old bike to a temple interview in a brand new suit. just because he did it in africa doesnt mean he has to in orem! i told him to drive the car since we are NOT going to buy him a new 700 dollar suit. he has crazy ideas sometimes... you and me will have to keep him on the earth's surface. and he thinks IM crazy because i tell him NO! i guess i'm the only one who ever has. i love watching you sleep but i have to go downstairs and lose all the baby weight i gained with pregnancy. it's painful but i have to do it. i am much happier when i work out. i hope you dont get my knees!
i love you madly honeychild,
mom
Friday, August 26, 2011
thirteen
dear grace,
well, we're home from vacation and with the exception of you kicking my bag of popcorner chips all over dad you didnt make a peep on the flight home. grandma elaine says you are a star baby! (starFISH baby) when we got home we laid you out on the livingroom floor and you were so happy to see your giant fans way up on the ceiling, but then dad sneezed really loud and scared you and you screamed foe five minutes straight because you were so scared. you wouldnt even eat, dad felt pretty bad. while you eat you want to hold your bottle and you've discovered your hair which you anjoy rhythmically pulling, while eating you look like a sunbather, both hands almost at the back of your head, elbows out like a little chicken-bird and pulling your hair. you are a sweet and strong and sensitive baby.
love,
mom
well, we're home from vacation and with the exception of you kicking my bag of popcorner chips all over dad you didnt make a peep on the flight home. grandma elaine says you are a star baby! (starFISH baby) when we got home we laid you out on the livingroom floor and you were so happy to see your giant fans way up on the ceiling, but then dad sneezed really loud and scared you and you screamed foe five minutes straight because you were so scared. you wouldnt even eat, dad felt pretty bad. while you eat you want to hold your bottle and you've discovered your hair which you anjoy rhythmically pulling, while eating you look like a sunbather, both hands almost at the back of your head, elbows out like a little chicken-bird and pulling your hair. you are a sweet and strong and sensitive baby.
love,
mom
Thursday, August 25, 2011
twelve
dear grace,
we just finished your first vacation at gram and pop pop's house in california. you love the pool and you've started to just swim constantly whether you are in the pool or not. you have discovered your cute little fist, and you try to suck on it but in the meanwhile you look like the statue of liberty waving your fist high in the air while you watch it like "I AM A CHAMPION" (which of course, you are) while you eat you put your feet together and your toes hold one another and it looks like you are blessing your food with your feet. you smile at your grandparents and you aren't sure about geoff yet but he isnt sure about you either. (aka sixteen year old boys just dont know what to do with babies) when we put you in the pool you stick your tongue out and try to eat your swim seat. it's the cutest thing in the world. this morning you laughed for grandma in your sleep and i know she is going to miss you like crazy. she keeps saying please dont leave me! grandpa has informed me that they will keep you until you are eight years old because they have experience in turning out fantastic children (i quite agree) (just kidding) (aka geoff) but i simply cannot part with you. you are begninning to grab things, dad and i are trying to figure out how i can stay home with you so that he can finish school and sometimes it is stressful, but i know that i wouldnt miss this part of your life for anything, you are growing so quickly. i love you dearly little friend. your hair is beginning to curl out in every direction and i cant wait until it grows longer. you have a huge bald spot on the back of your head so from behind you look like a friar but you hate being on your tummy so i hate putting you on it! you are cooing and talking constantly, i still have yet to hear you laugh outloud while you are awake but you chuckle in your sleep. you have a few new nicknames since we've been home in san diego- frau meow, singjuan. you are almost three months old!
love
mom
we just finished your first vacation at gram and pop pop's house in california. you love the pool and you've started to just swim constantly whether you are in the pool or not. you have discovered your cute little fist, and you try to suck on it but in the meanwhile you look like the statue of liberty waving your fist high in the air while you watch it like "I AM A CHAMPION" (which of course, you are) while you eat you put your feet together and your toes hold one another and it looks like you are blessing your food with your feet. you smile at your grandparents and you aren't sure about geoff yet but he isnt sure about you either. (aka sixteen year old boys just dont know what to do with babies) when we put you in the pool you stick your tongue out and try to eat your swim seat. it's the cutest thing in the world. this morning you laughed for grandma in your sleep and i know she is going to miss you like crazy. she keeps saying please dont leave me! grandpa has informed me that they will keep you until you are eight years old because they have experience in turning out fantastic children (i quite agree) (just kidding) (aka geoff) but i simply cannot part with you. you are begninning to grab things, dad and i are trying to figure out how i can stay home with you so that he can finish school and sometimes it is stressful, but i know that i wouldnt miss this part of your life for anything, you are growing so quickly. i love you dearly little friend. your hair is beginning to curl out in every direction and i cant wait until it grows longer. you have a huge bald spot on the back of your head so from behind you look like a friar but you hate being on your tummy so i hate putting you on it! you are cooing and talking constantly, i still have yet to hear you laugh outloud while you are awake but you chuckle in your sleep. you have a few new nicknames since we've been home in san diego- frau meow, singjuan. you are almost three months old!
love
mom
Thursday, August 11, 2011
eleven
dear grace,
what a joy you are! you smile at me all the time now and it makes me melt. i love your cute little hands and toes, you grip everything with both of them. when you eat you pat your stomach with both hands and wiggle constantly. sometimes you chuckle but its always very small, i can't wait to hear you laugh out loud. i wasn't making enough breast milk so now we are on formula supplementing. your farts are terrible, and i miss your breath smelling like peaches and cream. you wont keep a binky in your mouth, you'd rather play with it instead and you love to grab my hair and rip it out. dad still thinks pink is not your color but it's hard to find non pink girl baby stuff! just you wait until you have to do it. you love your crib and your swaddle sacks still. i dont put you on your tummy nearly enough because you hate it and flip over- so you have a big beautiful bald spot on the back of your head :] sawwy. but you make up for it by having a huge tuff of hair on top which is spiraling into a mowhalk. you have big deep blue eyes and a huge grin. i sing to you and tickle you constantly and you cry when im away and you are awake. unless you are pooping. you are so happy when you poop. which is often. tmi? i dont care, we should celebrate because now is the only time in your life when people will applaud your bodily functions. so enjoy it. you looove bath time still, and have begun kicking and squirming which makes tub time kinda dangerous but still very fun. you love your starfish sponge and you stare at it the whole time kicking and splashing. we have black and white flashcards with animals on them, and i make the sounds of them and show them to you, you love the cat "meow" and the ladybug (which as of yet has no sound...) and grandpa francis says the monkey looks like a scorpion. you had your baby blessing last weekend and it was beautiful. we recorded it and i need to type it up for you. you even snorted a few times into the microphone and i couldnt help laughing. you are curious and make sounds all the time, you coo almost all the time and try so hard to talk to me. you move your tongue all around in your mouth and you love when i whistle or sing to you. its the most incredible feeling to be loved by someone so entirely. you light up like a christmas tree when you hear my voice, or see my hands coming down toward you in your crib. everybody says you are a mamma's girl, and dad doesnt really know what to do with you yet but i know you're going to just follow him everywhere. it's been really tough with school for him to spend a lot of time with you, i hope you get to know and love him as you know me soon. i know i should only write happy things in this journal, but i want you to know that i lived, and that life isn't perfect and always lovely. i want you to understand that disappointment is real, but that you can always choose how you react to all of it. that is part of the reason you carry the name that you do. there are many other things i want to write about but i am very tired and you are so happy that i hate to leave you staring at the ceiling fan cooing and talking by yourself for very long. i love you with all my heart sweet girl.
love,
mom
what a joy you are! you smile at me all the time now and it makes me melt. i love your cute little hands and toes, you grip everything with both of them. when you eat you pat your stomach with both hands and wiggle constantly. sometimes you chuckle but its always very small, i can't wait to hear you laugh out loud. i wasn't making enough breast milk so now we are on formula supplementing. your farts are terrible, and i miss your breath smelling like peaches and cream. you wont keep a binky in your mouth, you'd rather play with it instead and you love to grab my hair and rip it out. dad still thinks pink is not your color but it's hard to find non pink girl baby stuff! just you wait until you have to do it. you love your crib and your swaddle sacks still. i dont put you on your tummy nearly enough because you hate it and flip over- so you have a big beautiful bald spot on the back of your head :] sawwy. but you make up for it by having a huge tuff of hair on top which is spiraling into a mowhalk. you have big deep blue eyes and a huge grin. i sing to you and tickle you constantly and you cry when im away and you are awake. unless you are pooping. you are so happy when you poop. which is often. tmi? i dont care, we should celebrate because now is the only time in your life when people will applaud your bodily functions. so enjoy it. you looove bath time still, and have begun kicking and squirming which makes tub time kinda dangerous but still very fun. you love your starfish sponge and you stare at it the whole time kicking and splashing. we have black and white flashcards with animals on them, and i make the sounds of them and show them to you, you love the cat "meow" and the ladybug (which as of yet has no sound...) and grandpa francis says the monkey looks like a scorpion. you had your baby blessing last weekend and it was beautiful. we recorded it and i need to type it up for you. you even snorted a few times into the microphone and i couldnt help laughing. you are curious and make sounds all the time, you coo almost all the time and try so hard to talk to me. you move your tongue all around in your mouth and you love when i whistle or sing to you. its the most incredible feeling to be loved by someone so entirely. you light up like a christmas tree when you hear my voice, or see my hands coming down toward you in your crib. everybody says you are a mamma's girl, and dad doesnt really know what to do with you yet but i know you're going to just follow him everywhere. it's been really tough with school for him to spend a lot of time with you, i hope you get to know and love him as you know me soon. i know i should only write happy things in this journal, but i want you to know that i lived, and that life isn't perfect and always lovely. i want you to understand that disappointment is real, but that you can always choose how you react to all of it. that is part of the reason you carry the name that you do. there are many other things i want to write about but i am very tired and you are so happy that i hate to leave you staring at the ceiling fan cooing and talking by yourself for very long. i love you with all my heart sweet girl.
love,
mom
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
nine
dear grace,
today you are ten pounds! holy moley, i can't believe you went from a little seven pounds to ten in about a month. you've been pretty sad today again, only because it's so hard for me to feed you constantly. it's not that i dont want to, it's just driving me crazy because i get so bored and it's hard to sit still. but finally dad changed you and swung you around for a while and put on taylor swift and you seem to be happy in your rock and play, chewing on your fist like you haven't eaten in days. girl you're gonna be our little chunk in no time if you keep eating this way! today dad said how hard it's going to be to leave you and me for one last deployment. we aren't sure when he will have to go, but i've already accepted that he most likely will have to. you weren't here for the last deployment, but it's hard stuff! i hope you are tougher than i am, and distract me from missing dad so much this time. i'm sure in many ways it will be even more difficult because you'll know him and ask me where he is. last deployment i asked myself why he needed to be gone and when he got back i asked myself even more, when the man i married would really come home from the war and in many ways he hasn't. i'm afraid for our lives and for his. your dad isn't scared of very many things, he's the first to go out of the vehicle. in many ways i feel very sure that one of the reasons he was protected last deployment was so that you could come here to earth. i am so glad he was.
love,
mom
ps this song makes me think of you and i love it: taylor swift never grow up
Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in and turn on your favorite nightlight
To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have honey
If you could stay like that
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you
Wont let no one break your heart
No one will desert you
Just try to never grow up
Never grow up
You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mama's dropping you off
At 14, there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out
Someday and call your own shots
But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older too
And don't lose the way that you dance around in your PJs getting ready for school
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
No one's ever burned
Nothing's ever left you scarred
Even though you want to, just try to never grow up
Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what is sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I had is someday gonna be gone
So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my nightlight on
today you are ten pounds! holy moley, i can't believe you went from a little seven pounds to ten in about a month. you've been pretty sad today again, only because it's so hard for me to feed you constantly. it's not that i dont want to, it's just driving me crazy because i get so bored and it's hard to sit still. but finally dad changed you and swung you around for a while and put on taylor swift and you seem to be happy in your rock and play, chewing on your fist like you haven't eaten in days. girl you're gonna be our little chunk in no time if you keep eating this way! today dad said how hard it's going to be to leave you and me for one last deployment. we aren't sure when he will have to go, but i've already accepted that he most likely will have to. you weren't here for the last deployment, but it's hard stuff! i hope you are tougher than i am, and distract me from missing dad so much this time. i'm sure in many ways it will be even more difficult because you'll know him and ask me where he is. last deployment i asked myself why he needed to be gone and when he got back i asked myself even more, when the man i married would really come home from the war and in many ways he hasn't. i'm afraid for our lives and for his. your dad isn't scared of very many things, he's the first to go out of the vehicle. in many ways i feel very sure that one of the reasons he was protected last deployment was so that you could come here to earth. i am so glad he was.
love,
mom
ps this song makes me think of you and i love it: taylor swift never grow up
Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in and turn on your favorite nightlight
To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have honey
If you could stay like that
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you
Wont let no one break your heart
No one will desert you
Just try to never grow up
Never grow up
You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mama's dropping you off
At 14, there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out
Someday and call your own shots
But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older too
And don't lose the way that you dance around in your PJs getting ready for school
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
No one's ever burned
Nothing's ever left you scarred
Even though you want to, just try to never grow up
Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what is sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I had is someday gonna be gone
So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my nightlight on
eight
dear grace,
hello my little girl. today you cried for four hours straight. you must have been as excited as i was to see fireworks, because you were inconsolable until nine pm when the cul de sac of fire started here at cherapple. then you went right to sleep and slept through the entire event! i'm so sorry for your little tummy and whatever else is bothering you! if i had a magic wand and could wave it all away i wouldn't hesitate to do it. also, you ARE growing! you are fitting snuggly into your newborn clothes which used to be baggy, and eating almost every hour for fourty five minutes each feeding. whoah. today we went outside on the swings to try to calm you down and it worked for a while, you were so stiff with gas or bubbles or whatever you were workin out of your system and as we swang (swung?) you curled your toes. i looked over at grandma elaine and she was sitting in the swing next to us with her toes curled the exact same way. she loves you so much, she tries every day to come over and do yardwork and help out around the house and hold you and talk to you. i'm certain your crying spell today was as difficult on her as it was for me to hear you. sort of heartbreaking. not even country music helped! gram francis loves you very much too- all weekend we've been sort of mia from the computer (we traveled with you up to afton wy for mudvolleyball which your father played with the scherbals and almost won the entire tournement) so we havent been able to ichat (video chat) and gram is goin crazy missing you! everytime we get on the ichat she just says how much she wishes she could hold you and just wants me to stick the whole computer in your crib so she can talk to you while you kick and move around. we are all in such wonder of you. and no matter what anybody says just know i love you the most! so today was a little )okay REALLY) hard for me to see you so sad and upset. please bring the happy content girl back, but if you cant i understand and instead help me to figure out how to make you a happy content little girl once more. happy fourth of july my sweet sweet girl, it's a tender day for me and someday i hope you know why.
i love you dearlydearly,
mom
ps you just tooted HUGE so i bet you are feeling 10092395809468 times better.
hello my little girl. today you cried for four hours straight. you must have been as excited as i was to see fireworks, because you were inconsolable until nine pm when the cul de sac of fire started here at cherapple. then you went right to sleep and slept through the entire event! i'm so sorry for your little tummy and whatever else is bothering you! if i had a magic wand and could wave it all away i wouldn't hesitate to do it. also, you ARE growing! you are fitting snuggly into your newborn clothes which used to be baggy, and eating almost every hour for fourty five minutes each feeding. whoah. today we went outside on the swings to try to calm you down and it worked for a while, you were so stiff with gas or bubbles or whatever you were workin out of your system and as we swang (swung?) you curled your toes. i looked over at grandma elaine and she was sitting in the swing next to us with her toes curled the exact same way. she loves you so much, she tries every day to come over and do yardwork and help out around the house and hold you and talk to you. i'm certain your crying spell today was as difficult on her as it was for me to hear you. sort of heartbreaking. not even country music helped! gram francis loves you very much too- all weekend we've been sort of mia from the computer (we traveled with you up to afton wy for mudvolleyball which your father played with the scherbals and almost won the entire tournement) so we havent been able to ichat (video chat) and gram is goin crazy missing you! everytime we get on the ichat she just says how much she wishes she could hold you and just wants me to stick the whole computer in your crib so she can talk to you while you kick and move around. we are all in such wonder of you. and no matter what anybody says just know i love you the most! so today was a little )okay REALLY) hard for me to see you so sad and upset. please bring the happy content girl back, but if you cant i understand and instead help me to figure out how to make you a happy content little girl once more. happy fourth of july my sweet sweet girl, it's a tender day for me and someday i hope you know why.
i love you dearlydearly,
mom
ps you just tooted HUGE so i bet you are feeling 10092395809468 times better.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
seven
dear grace,
today was hard for mom. my body has changed a lot since having you and i'm having a really hard time with that. we went shopping today and i think you must know how i am feeling because you had a total meltdown and were inconsolable. i feel bad now just thinking that how i was feeling effected you so much. you are such a sensitive little girl and i'm sorry. i'm so glad i had my own mother to call on the trip home and just vent to and cry. i hope someday you can come to me and i can be helpful to you when you're feeling sad or lonely or broken. and let me tell you, going from a size 4 to a size 10 feels broken to me. at the same time i know i have a lot of growing up to do, and i wish it was a fast as you are growing. you are getting so big and beautiful, i can hardly stand it. it's hard for me to put you down because i dont wanna miss anything!that's it
for now-
i love you,
mom
today was hard for mom. my body has changed a lot since having you and i'm having a really hard time with that. we went shopping today and i think you must know how i am feeling because you had a total meltdown and were inconsolable. i feel bad now just thinking that how i was feeling effected you so much. you are such a sensitive little girl and i'm sorry. i'm so glad i had my own mother to call on the trip home and just vent to and cry. i hope someday you can come to me and i can be helpful to you when you're feeling sad or lonely or broken. and let me tell you, going from a size 4 to a size 10 feels broken to me. at the same time i know i have a lot of growing up to do, and i wish it was a fast as you are growing. you are getting so big and beautiful, i can hardly stand it. it's hard for me to put you down because i dont wanna miss anything!that's it
for now-
i love you,
mom
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
five
dear grace,
today you drive me crazy. but only because you wanted to eat for two hours straight! is there enough food down there? ill have to pump and find out. i wish you would go to sleep. you are still acting hungry... we went to church and you slept on me for all of sacrament- it was very cute. im nervous about keeping you there for all three hours, you are such a messy eater lately, throwing yourself wiggly all over and spraying milk everywhere! imagine that all over church clothes... maybe i can pack an extra set or something. i'll have to figure it out soon because i need some spirit around here! i wonder if you are eating because of your reflux.
we'll have to ask the doc.
i love you and you are back awake and crying.
i'm sorry, i hope i figure out what you need soon.
love,
mom
today you drive me crazy. but only because you wanted to eat for two hours straight! is there enough food down there? ill have to pump and find out. i wish you would go to sleep. you are still acting hungry... we went to church and you slept on me for all of sacrament- it was very cute. im nervous about keeping you there for all three hours, you are such a messy eater lately, throwing yourself wiggly all over and spraying milk everywhere! imagine that all over church clothes... maybe i can pack an extra set or something. i'll have to figure it out soon because i need some spirit around here! i wonder if you are eating because of your reflux.
we'll have to ask the doc.
i love you and you are back awake and crying.
i'm sorry, i hope i figure out what you need soon.
love,
mom
Saturday, June 25, 2011
four
dear grace,
you are fast asleep on my chest. you always find a way to wiggle off the burp cloth and down to sleep on my stomach. sometimes i wonder if you miss being there. you were so nice and patient today, chris and sarah came over and we all went on a walk- you have been eating a lot LOT lately and i think you're going through a growth spurt, but you let us walk you around and talk under the trees at scera park. you woke up right before we got in the car to head home and screamed all the way until we turned on country music! it's so funny but music really soothes you and the effect is almost always instant. even when you're realllllyyyy hungry. then later we went to kay and great grandpa francis' house for scrumptious dinner and cards. you didnt even wake up to eat until eight or so. you are so sweet.
i love you little girl,
mom
you are fast asleep on my chest. you always find a way to wiggle off the burp cloth and down to sleep on my stomach. sometimes i wonder if you miss being there. you were so nice and patient today, chris and sarah came over and we all went on a walk- you have been eating a lot LOT lately and i think you're going through a growth spurt, but you let us walk you around and talk under the trees at scera park. you woke up right before we got in the car to head home and screamed all the way until we turned on country music! it's so funny but music really soothes you and the effect is almost always instant. even when you're realllllyyyy hungry. then later we went to kay and great grandpa francis' house for scrumptious dinner and cards. you didnt even wake up to eat until eight or so. you are so sweet.
i love you little girl,
mom
three
dear grace,
i'm sorry i skipped a day, it's hard to find two hands and even harder to type with one! right now you are eating and wiggling all over the place, i dont blame you, for years i wouldnt sit down at the dinner table, i had to be standing and i was always on my toes. you kick and squirm and gulp and grunt like it's a little dance, flailing your arms around and then drawing them close an still in a pose near your face.
we took you on your first walk yesterday down by the orem cemetary. i cant wait for you to meet (one) of your namesakes though im certain you actually already know her. your personality so far reminds me of her, calm and sweet. never asking too much and always giving much more than what's expected. (i dunno yet what to expect from somoeone who's almost one month old...). it was boiling hot and dry, you slept in your little blue buggy the whole time while dad and i walked and talked.
then i woke you up for a quick feeding (you must be on a growth spurt because you want to eat all day every hour or so with one good long nap and tons of little naps and then you try to sleep most of the night), did you know it's against the law for anyone to tell a woman not to breastfeed in public? you're probably groaning right now but i did get like 20 breastfeeding covers for your baby shower (hot ticket item!) (were people trying to say somethin?) i just thought id include random facts and advice that i wish someone woulda told me in life here. i hope someday you can smile when you read this and that maybe you can get to know me as much as i'm getting the beautiful chance to know you now.
today you met chris and sarah.(chrisandsarahmas! like christmas but in june!) they were so excited to meet you they flew up just to see you.honestly. it was so cute to watch them with you. if they dont have kids still by the time you read this i'll be sad because they're going to be the best p units ever.(parents) they are coming back tomorrow as soon as they have a romantic six year anniversary b fast at sundance. if i was smart i'd get sarah or chris to write this entry as they both did nothing but hold you and stare at you and comment on your general incredibleness and cuteness for about 8 hours straight.
i feel the same way of course but each day you pull new tricks out of that head of yours and blow me away so sometimes i forget the little things like, your tummy is the size of your dad's bicep (15 in), your feet are the size of his thumb (you havent discovered that you HAVE feet yet, but i cant wait until you do) you like to use mom's belly button as a stair, grab hair, and you are starting to coo and make noises. you snort when you cry hard.
i love you very much my sweet little girl, you've made me exactly who i've always wanted to be,
mom
i'm sorry i skipped a day, it's hard to find two hands and even harder to type with one! right now you are eating and wiggling all over the place, i dont blame you, for years i wouldnt sit down at the dinner table, i had to be standing and i was always on my toes. you kick and squirm and gulp and grunt like it's a little dance, flailing your arms around and then drawing them close an still in a pose near your face.
we took you on your first walk yesterday down by the orem cemetary. i cant wait for you to meet (one) of your namesakes though im certain you actually already know her. your personality so far reminds me of her, calm and sweet. never asking too much and always giving much more than what's expected. (i dunno yet what to expect from somoeone who's almost one month old...). it was boiling hot and dry, you slept in your little blue buggy the whole time while dad and i walked and talked.
then i woke you up for a quick feeding (you must be on a growth spurt because you want to eat all day every hour or so with one good long nap and tons of little naps and then you try to sleep most of the night), did you know it's against the law for anyone to tell a woman not to breastfeed in public? you're probably groaning right now but i did get like 20 breastfeeding covers for your baby shower (hot ticket item!) (were people trying to say somethin?) i just thought id include random facts and advice that i wish someone woulda told me in life here. i hope someday you can smile when you read this and that maybe you can get to know me as much as i'm getting the beautiful chance to know you now.
today you met chris and sarah.(chrisandsarahmas! like christmas but in june!) they were so excited to meet you they flew up just to see you.honestly. it was so cute to watch them with you. if they dont have kids still by the time you read this i'll be sad because they're going to be the best p units ever.(parents) they are coming back tomorrow as soon as they have a romantic six year anniversary b fast at sundance. if i was smart i'd get sarah or chris to write this entry as they both did nothing but hold you and stare at you and comment on your general incredibleness and cuteness for about 8 hours straight.
i feel the same way of course but each day you pull new tricks out of that head of yours and blow me away so sometimes i forget the little things like, your tummy is the size of your dad's bicep (15 in), your feet are the size of his thumb (you havent discovered that you HAVE feet yet, but i cant wait until you do) you like to use mom's belly button as a stair, grab hair, and you are starting to coo and make noises. you snort when you cry hard.
i love you very much my sweet little girl, you've made me exactly who i've always wanted to be,
mom
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
one
dear grace,
your father actually came up with this idea, but i thought i would take it but dont tell him because i'd like to actually keep one secret from him in my life. i cant believe how fast you are growing. your head is still pretty small (23 percentile) but i know there's a big brain in there just waiting to be filled with the world. it was so hot today. i keep getting glimpses of your laugh, i'll catch you chuckling in your sleep or smiling at some joke in your dreams. i love you so, already- i feel my heart could burst. i'm becomming quite the slob actually. i haven't showered in... three days. but i can't help it! i don't want to miss anything! i need to clip your fingernails. you keep scratching my neck and chest as i feed you and hold you. maybe you are trying to get to my heart or something to hold it together (to keep it from bursting of course)- but now you are out here in the real world and not in my belly. i can't believe i'm going to say this (well,write it) but i do miss being pregnant, every need you possibly had my body filled for you naturally. you were safe, and never hungry, and warm. i could carry you everywhere and still have two hands to feed myself, and do other stuff like shower. right now you are propped up on a blanket in a newborn onesie that is too big for you. you look like i tried to dress you in a potatoe sack or something. you are 8 pounds three ounces, and 20.5 inches. when you were born you were 7 pounds 8 oz and 19.5 inches. i call you starfish. well, today i call you starfish- it's one of like eight nicknames i've already tried to name you. but this one is going to stick i promise! everytime i wake you up for a feeding or unswaddle you your arms and legs pop out and you stretch wayyyy out and look like a starfish. when you were in my tummy i called you peanut but after you were born you became this living breathing thing and i couldn't keep you a nut. i tried "little tiny" and "french fry" (that was my nickname as a baby) (that, and stone face) i tried peanut for a while but it didnt seem right! i've thought of calling you cricket... but i'm not sure that's for a girl. you dont like tummy time much, and already you can roll over back onto your back, you are a strong willed girl, and you'll fight for your way. you are such a sweet baby, you are already trying to sleep through the night! but then you want to eat all day to make up for it. today i put you in a dress and you hated it. i felt bad but i laughed because i don't dress up much lately either. 1. because nothing fits, and 2. because it's hard to breastfeed when you are constantly taking your clothes on and off. and 3. you dont have much patience once you are really hungry... you are such a joy to me though. i love watching you and i never want to put you down. and lately you dont want to be put down any more than i want to put you down anyhow so it works out for both of us! dad's gone on some workout binge lately and i've been rather sore with him for it. i feel like if he invested as much time in us as he does in working out that we would all be happier for it. but he disagrees. being physically fit is very important to him and he is always trying to be better and bigger. you keep falling asleep as i write this, even though you're supposed to be eating! you stinker! i'm afraid i've given you terrible acid reflux. you spit up often, and i think it's because ive been eating a bunch of chocolate... sorry. ill try to be better but you must know it's hard to stay away from the stuff hwen i haven't been able to eat it myself without getting the worst heartburn of my life ever for about oh 7 months. you made me very sick little girl. but i've almost forgotten about it in my complete fascination with you already.
oops dad is coming upstairs
loveyou
j
your father actually came up with this idea, but i thought i would take it but dont tell him because i'd like to actually keep one secret from him in my life. i cant believe how fast you are growing. your head is still pretty small (23 percentile) but i know there's a big brain in there just waiting to be filled with the world. it was so hot today. i keep getting glimpses of your laugh, i'll catch you chuckling in your sleep or smiling at some joke in your dreams. i love you so, already- i feel my heart could burst. i'm becomming quite the slob actually. i haven't showered in... three days. but i can't help it! i don't want to miss anything! i need to clip your fingernails. you keep scratching my neck and chest as i feed you and hold you. maybe you are trying to get to my heart or something to hold it together (to keep it from bursting of course)- but now you are out here in the real world and not in my belly. i can't believe i'm going to say this (well,write it) but i do miss being pregnant, every need you possibly had my body filled for you naturally. you were safe, and never hungry, and warm. i could carry you everywhere and still have two hands to feed myself, and do other stuff like shower. right now you are propped up on a blanket in a newborn onesie that is too big for you. you look like i tried to dress you in a potatoe sack or something. you are 8 pounds three ounces, and 20.5 inches. when you were born you were 7 pounds 8 oz and 19.5 inches. i call you starfish. well, today i call you starfish- it's one of like eight nicknames i've already tried to name you. but this one is going to stick i promise! everytime i wake you up for a feeding or unswaddle you your arms and legs pop out and you stretch wayyyy out and look like a starfish. when you were in my tummy i called you peanut but after you were born you became this living breathing thing and i couldn't keep you a nut. i tried "little tiny" and "french fry" (that was my nickname as a baby) (that, and stone face) i tried peanut for a while but it didnt seem right! i've thought of calling you cricket... but i'm not sure that's for a girl. you dont like tummy time much, and already you can roll over back onto your back, you are a strong willed girl, and you'll fight for your way. you are such a sweet baby, you are already trying to sleep through the night! but then you want to eat all day to make up for it. today i put you in a dress and you hated it. i felt bad but i laughed because i don't dress up much lately either. 1. because nothing fits, and 2. because it's hard to breastfeed when you are constantly taking your clothes on and off. and 3. you dont have much patience once you are really hungry... you are such a joy to me though. i love watching you and i never want to put you down. and lately you dont want to be put down any more than i want to put you down anyhow so it works out for both of us! dad's gone on some workout binge lately and i've been rather sore with him for it. i feel like if he invested as much time in us as he does in working out that we would all be happier for it. but he disagrees. being physically fit is very important to him and he is always trying to be better and bigger. you keep falling asleep as i write this, even though you're supposed to be eating! you stinker! i'm afraid i've given you terrible acid reflux. you spit up often, and i think it's because ive been eating a bunch of chocolate... sorry. ill try to be better but you must know it's hard to stay away from the stuff hwen i haven't been able to eat it myself without getting the worst heartburn of my life ever for about oh 7 months. you made me very sick little girl. but i've almost forgotten about it in my complete fascination with you already.
oops dad is coming upstairs
loveyou
j
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