5 Months Old.

Dearest Aubrey,

Five months ago today, you came into our lives and our lives have never been better. You are such an amazing blessing. Daddy can have the worst day at work and all it takes is your sweet smile greeting him at the door to make it a great day. Mommy knows the feeling too now. She started work again this month, taking a part-time position with her old company. While she isn’t back to jetsetting all across the U.S., she does have to spend one or two days a week in Charlotte. After spending all day every day with you for over 4 months, it was hard for Mommy to leave you for the day. But you’d be proud of her, she did very well. The first day was a bit of an adjustment for you, as you weren’t really excited about having to drink from a bottle. But the second day went much better and day three even better than that, so we’ll see how it goes. Don’t worry, you aren’t missing story time at the library though. Your Wednesday class ended last week. We have your diploma hanging on the refrigerator, the first of many future art pieces and A+ spelling tests, no doubt. Mommy will definitely sign you up for the summer class. You may even have a tooth by then. You've been unusually grumpy at night lately, and aside from all the drool, something about your mouth seems to have gotten your attention. At your check-up this month, Dr. P. said we can start thinking and talking about feeding you solid foods. Even though Mommy bought some cereal for you, we think we’ll wait a little longer. We don’t see any reason to change a good thing with milk given how well you are growing. You are still off the charts for height and weight, at 4 months you were proportionally the size of a 6 month old. And you achieved a major baby milestone this month, rolling over for the first time…and you really haven’t stopped since. Actually, the first couple times, you cheated by pushing off on the cribs rails, but a day or two later, you proved to Mommy you could do it on your own. You are so pleased with yourself when you do it...unless its nap time. You are less thrilled about rolling over if it's sleep time because you haven't quite figured out how to roll back. And as much as you love sleep time, you love being outside even more. You love neighborhood walks, trips to the mailbox and sitting on the deck and looking at the trees or laughing at the dogs. We took you on your first fishing trip with cousins Evan and Zack and also got some very exciting news. Evan will be getting a baby sister later this year. With her and your other friends like LeeLee, Austin and Graham, it’s a good thing the Easter Bunny gave you a toy cell phone to keep up with everyone. The trick for us is to be able to keep up with you. It’s hard to believe that it has already been 5 months. It’s hard to remember how tiny you were. So we pay extra special attention now to our extra special baby girl, when you are scooting and crawling and walking, we want to be sure we remember when you first learned to roll over.

4 Months Old.

March 25th, 2012

Dear Aubrey,

You are four months old today and growing up so fast. With you in his arms, Daddy stepped on the bathroom scale, then Daddy weighed himself alone and estimates you now weigh about 17.5 lbs. You're taller too, but won't sit still long enough to be measured. You're too tall for the changing table on the pack and play which means all bottom wiping occurs in your nursery now. Mommy and MiMi spent a whole day this month organzing your closet. It's a good thing because you own more pairs of shoes now than Daddy probably has owned in the entire time he's been married to Mommy. You are wearing 6 month old clothes now so unfortunately, some of the Cubs onesies Daddy bought you didn't make it through Spring Training. You and Daddy watched your first Cubs game together. You have plenty of clothes to wear though, Mommy has mastered consignment shopping. Along with all of your adorable new threads, you now have a few bathing suits too. Daddy will let you wear bikinis for now. Once you and your friends get a little older, Daddy may take a bigger interest in swimwear shopping. Your newest friend Austin was born 3 weeks ago. Mommy is helping you make other new friends too. At church, Mommy has started leaving you in the nursery. You are in the Bed Babies - Puppies class and Miss Jane says you are the only one that doesn't cry. Your friend Leelan is in the nursery with you on Sunday mornings but you also see her at playgroup during the week. Your first playdate was at the park. Mommy and Leelan's mommy go on long walks. You like riding in the stroller. We take you around the neighborhood with the dogs when Daddy gets home from work. Mommy also started taking you to 'Once Upon a Lap' at the library on Wednesdays for storytime and songs. You both overslept though and missed the first class. You are sleeping much longer at night. In fact, on the eve of your four month birthday, you slept for seven hours straight. It was the longest you've slept so far. You're also the loudest you've ever been now too. We've always been amazed at your strong lungs but whereas you used to serenade us with songs of coos and aahs, you've become more assertive with us in our conversations. You make your case with loud squeals, and of course get our attention too. And girl, you have our attention. Mommy and Daddy love to sing and dance to make you laugh. We are as amused by your whole body laughs as you are making them. You are very amused with your fingers now too, putting them in your mouth often. Mommy wonders if teeth are on their way soon. You are very strong but still haven't been able to roll over. You are warming up to the idea of eating from a bottle, we haven't mastered it yet but we're getting closer. You still love warm baths and absolutely hate when they end. Daddy likes when your hair dries messy, Mommy likes it neatly combed. Either way, you have a lot of hair. It is usually what people comment on when they first see you. And whether it's the first time someone sees you or the hundred and first, their hearts melt almost as much as Mommy and Daddy's do with every burp, shriek, smile or song. From the first moment we knew about you to moment we met you and all the moments, minute or milestone, up until now, you melt our hearts. We love you.

3 Months Old.

February 25th, 2012

Dear sweet daughter,

Another month has flown by. Aubrey, you turned 3 months old today and you've grown up a little bit each day over the last month. We have the documentation to prove it. You remain in the top 5% for height and for weight, you're “off the charts” medically speaking, quoting Dr. P from our latest trip to the pediatrician. You got vaccination shots at that visit as well. While Mommy cried more than you did during the shots, Daddy insisted he merely had something in his eye. You actually only cried for less than a minute and were smiling again not too long after. Our sweet baby girl is very expressive, especially facially. When that bottom lip pokes out, we have about 5 seconds to act before you'll let us know verbally how you feel. You are in fact very vocal now and not just for wet diaper or hunger alerts. Along with holding cooing conversations, you sing with Daddy as he serenades you during diaper changes. You also turn towards voices, especially when it is Mommy or Daddy coming into a room. Even though you are years from being able to send your first text message, you are very good at laughing-out-loud. Your first full laugh came in response to Mommy dancing. You seem to know that you are the center of attention but have started to entertain yourself. At 10 weeks, Aubrey, you have discovered your hands. You will substitute a knuckle or wrist when your pacifier is nowhere to be found. You are reaching and grasping the toys on your jungle play mat and also holding onto your soft elephant rattle. You are very active with your legs too, you love a little extra time in the tub after cleaned to kick and splash….but not too much, because bath time is right before bed time and we don’t want you too worked up before sleep. And what a different a month makes with a sleeping infant. Not only are you sleeping for longer stretches but you are now sleeping regularly in the pack and play vs. our bed or on Mommy’s shoulder. We continue to make slow progress with regards to bottle feeding. Perhaps we just need you to make friends that will let you know that bottles are just as cool to eat from as boobs are. Last week, AEJ, you had your first playdate with a friend from our church. It took place on an unseasonably warm February day, so after some time on the floor at the house, you got your first trip to the park too. You received her first Bible at MiMi and Granddaddy’s church and even made it through the whole service without crying. Mommy isn’t quite ready to leave you in the church nursery alone for an hour just yet so you can imagine how she feels about 9 hours of daycare. After lots of talk and Daddy doing a lot of math, we decided, at least for now, that Mommy wouldn’t go back to work and that her job would be to spend all day watching our sweet Aubrey smile and laugh and continue to grow.

2 Months Old.

January 25th, 2012

Aubrey,

Happy 2-month birthday AEJ! We've rung in a new year and with that all sorts of new adventures in your second month. Grammy and Aunt Kate came to visit from Florida. You had a very minor, yet surprisingly expensive surgery to clip a tongue-tie. We let you stay up late on New Year’s Eve…until 9:30. You rode all the way to Charlotte for lunch at the Cowfish and have also been to church twice. But the most fun we’ve had in month number 2 has been at home. Mommy and Daddy have the most fun watching you smile, which you do very well now. You like to sit in your Boppy lounger and coo and aah with Mommy. The best part of Daddy’s day at work is when Mommy sends him a picture of you smiling. Depending on the time of day, it doesn’t take much to make you smile. You are happiest and most talkative in the morning. You love the ceiling fans…especially when they are turned on. If it’s the right time of day, you like to sing with Daddy, who makes up words to songs special for you. Justin Bieber’s “Baby” seems to be one of your favorites so far. If it’s the wrong time of day, there’s not much more you want than to be held by Mommy. You are eating and sleeping very well and have a great personality but for about 30 minutes each night, you get pretty fussy…usually because you are gassy. Mommy and Daddy give you baby ginger ale, and that seems to help, but Mommy seems to be able to do the trick of calming you down better than anything else. We haven’t quite figured everything out yet. You’ve tried sleeping in the pack and play next to Mommy and Daddy’s bed and you’ve tried drinking from a bottle a few times, but we still have work to do in both of those areas. You love taking baths…but hate being cold after coming out of them. If there is one thing that is completely uncertain for us, it is what you will be able to wear after taking a bath. As fast as you are growing, the beautiful outfits you are wearing today probably won’t fit you tomorrow. Mimi bought you a beautiful yellow bathing suit (and kiddie pool to match) but we are fairly certain that we’ll need to exchange it for a new size before summer arrives. Changing your diaper is another uncertainty. You are still a diaper diva, so when changing you, we never know if you are actually done or just waiting for a fresh and clean canvas to complete your work. And finally, if there was one more surprise during your second month, it is that Mommy and Daddy are simply and continually amazed by how much love and joy you bring to us day in and day out. There was never any doubt that you’d be loved and loved by many people, we just can’t believe how much that love continues to grow.

don't grow up too fast sweet girl.

It’s 3 a.m., they’re all asleep,
and no-one’s here to see.
As we rock slowly back and forth,
My baby girl and me.
Her little hand is feather light
Tucked up against my chin.
I hold her tiny hand in mine,
and stroke her baby skin.
The house about us creaks and groans,
The clock hands creep around.
She snuggles closer to me still,
And makes her baby sounds.
I love these quiet hours so much,
And cherish every one.
Store memories up inside my heart
For lonely nights to come.
All too soon she'll be grown up,
Her need for mama gone.
But until then I still have time
For kisses and for song.
Time for quiet hours like this
With her cuddled in my arms,
Where I wish she'd always stay
Protected, safe and warm.
~Author Unknown

2011

Happy New Year! We welcomed in 2011 from Myrtle Beach and what a great year 2011 was. Aside from the obvious blessing that has stolen the show on the blog, facebook and our every day lives, here are some other highlights from twenty-eleven.

Roo surprised EJ with NFC title game tickets. We bundled up for some Bear Down at Soldier Field in January. Unfortunately, Green Bay won the game but we had a great time. In February, we took a trip to Florida that included a stop at EJ's grandmother's. EJ jokes that it was a March afternoon at the Fort Mill Beerfest that made EJ's grandmother a great grandmother. We returned to Chicago in April. A now-expecting Roo was on a restricted diet and fell asleep at a Cubs game at Wrigley, but another great trip to the Windy City. It was during this trip that we took the photo for Meatball's announcement. One relative thought the postcard meant EJ was going to be playing baseball in December. Prior to the announcement, we told our parents over Easter weekend and somehow, they all kept the secret. The secret was also kept throughout a weekend trip to the North Carolina mountains for Riley's friends wedding. EJ played golf twice that weekend. Our annual family trip to Edisto Island was moved from late July to Memorial Day week. EJ played golf again. In fact, EJ played more golf in 2011 than in any other year. He played in a charity tournament for his sister's sorority at USC, an alumni/friends tournament in Santee and in First Baptist's church tournament as well. EJ also played in several softball tournaments in 2011, including Rock Hill's Mighty Casey ASA tournament and the NC USSA State Church Championships. EJ and Roo played in and on the water in 2011 as well. We went back to Santee for a weekend of fishing and floating...and Roo's birthday. While Riley had to sit out during the actual whitewater rafting, a hike with friends in the mountains took us to the Midnight Swimming Hole at Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Riley logged plenty of hours surfing in 2011 as well...surfing the web, specifically newfound favorite site Pinterest. We both took on new roles at work. Riley's pre-baby new role meant no more company car. So we got Ford Tough and bought a new Explorer. EJ's job new role meant being publishing in a quarterly report presented to analysts on Wall Street, along with hundreds of hospital CEOs. Sister Jessica graduated and moved out, oh the places she'll go. We got DirectTV and NFL Sunday ticket, so after church, we didn't have to go anywhere to watch Bears highlights. Of course, the highlight of the year is Aubrey Elizabeth and not just the 21 hours of her on November 25th but really everything that lead up to and followed her arrival such as our dinner date at Morton's the weekend before, the Thanksgiving feast the day before or pure Christmas joy with family a month after.

So we ended a year in which we lost our favorite roommate, a year that the Bears lost to the Packers 4 times, a year that limited Riley's sushi intake. We ended 2011 on New Year's Eve, in bed at 9 p.m. It was a great year.

1 Month Old.

December 25, 2011

Aubrey,
Merry Christmas. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, this Sunday you turned 1 month old. And there is no present that could fit in any stocking or under any tree that could have brought more joy to us this Christmas. While it has only been a month since the night you were born, it is hard for Mommy and Daddy to recall a time of not having you in our lives. We have trouble remembering the time before we knew you. And everyday, we get to know you a little better. At 1 month old, you weigh 11.5 lbs. and are 23 inches tall. The doctor says you are in the 91st percentile for weight and 93rd for height, which makes you the size of a normal 2 1/2 month old. He also said its time to start giving you tummy time so that you can start strengthening your neck muscles...but you've been able to lift your head for sometime now already. You are very strong. And you have a strong personality already too. When you want or need something, you let us know. You have very powerful lungs. Your bottom end can be very loud too. You go through a lot of diapers, mostly because you are a princess/diva and always need a clean diaper to potty in. You've peed and pooped on Daddy several times because you like to wait until we remove your dirty diaper to finish your business. You can be gassy at times, which can make it difficult for you to sleep. You prefer to sleep on someone's chest over your moses basket, pack n' play napper or crib...and you are happiest when usually, its sleeping on Mommy's chest after a snack. Other things that make you happy are pictures on the wall, yellow curtains and ceiling fans. Daddy thinks you might grow up to be an interior decorator, because you certainly have an eye for decor around the house. Aside from using pictures, Mommy and Daddy like to talk to you to make you smile. Daddy thinks he might have heard you laugh once too. Daddy sometimes makes Mommy laugh when he dresses you unsupervised. Daddy is best with diaper duty and providing Mommy with breakfast in bed, though he still hasn't exactly figured out how Mommy likes her cinnamon toast. MiMi makes it the best. We've been lucky to have her here for most of the first month to help out around the house. She helped with you, helped keep things clean and really helped us with food. We were so spoiled by her meals that when she left, we didn't know what to do and ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for two straight days. You got to meet a lot of Mommy's family at Aunt Jessica's graduation then again at a family lunch on Christmas Day. You took your first overnight trip to MiMi and Granddeddy's on Christmas Eve. Earlier that day, you got to see Grandma and Grandpa J. and Aunt Becky. You even sat in Santa's lap. After Christmas, Grammy and Aunt Kate are coming all the way up from Florida to see you. Everyone thinks you are so beautiful and sweet...and loves your hair, which is still brown with blonde highlights. Your eye color has changed from slate gray to a dark blue. The best pictures of you so far though are ones with your eyes closed. Mommy's friend Julia is a photographer and came over and took pictures of you when you were only a week old! We used one for our Christmas card to announce how blessed we know we are, even after only one month.

On the Night You Were Born

Aubrey,

You took your first breath at 11:24 PM on November 25, 2011. Your "birth day" began several hours earlier that at 2:45 AM....

We went to bed pretty tired after celebrating Thanksgiving at our house with your Mimi, Granddaddy, Aunt Jessica, and Justin. I'd spoken to Aunt Lib on the phone that day and she mentioned I should get water proof sheets in case my water broke in bed. I laughed and said I'd just put down a few towels to be safe. Little did I know that just a few hours later my water would break....in bed. (maybe it was all the turkey..) I woke up your Daddy and by 4:15 AM we were on our way to the hospital. A quick check by the nurse confirmed my water indeed broke and I was dilated 2.5 centimeters.

7:00 AM rolled around and it was time for shift change which brought us a lovely British bird named Nurse Gina. She convinced us to start pitocin or "jungle juice" as she called it at 8:45 AM. Contractions were 6-7 minutes apart. At 10:45 AM Dr Rowland came in to say hello and that it was "going to be a a very long day"....boy was she right.

My contractions were getting very intense and at 1:45 PM Nurse Gina decided to do a quick check to see if we were making progress. Not so much....3 centimeters...
Rock my world contractions and I was only 3 centimeters. We watched TV, played Scrabble, read the book of advice from our friends and family, and did everything we could to distract me from the pain. At this point I was in what Nurse Gina called "dry labor" and after talking it over with Daddy, decided to get an epidural.

I'll save the epidural details for when you get older...

Dr Rowland came in at 5:30 PM for a quick check. I was 7 centimeters dilated, 95% effaced and 0 station. Thank goodness the epidural had helped me relax and we were making progress! It was during this check that Dr Rowland told us you had a head full of hair!!! At 8:00 PM it was time to start pushing. We pushed for a little over an hour (what seemed like an eternity) until we decided to take a break and get a little rest.

Your MiMi wrote down everyone's weight guesses. Daddy was updating everyone on Facebook. So many people were sending well wishes and praying for you. Sweet Julia had her camera ready to document your arrival. Aunt Jessica was so excited. Your Granddaddy and Grandpa were filled with anticipation.

At 10:35 PM we began pushing again and at 11:24 PM, with your Daddy holding my hand and Aunt Jessica and MiMi watching, I became a Mother to the precious little girl I knew was growing inside me all along. Your Daddy cried tears of joy as he cut your umbilical cord.

You were absolutely perfect.

Your MiMi gave me a card several years ago that I now have framed in my bedroom. The words meant so much to me when I read them for the first time. But now that I am a mother...now that I am Aubrey Elizabeth's mommy....they mean so much more. I'm not a swell writer like your Daddy and can't even begin to put into words how I feel about this special day, but the words from a simple card do...

Think of a mitten and a hand
or the way tea
fills the curve of a teacup.
In the same way, there is
a place in my life
shaped like you.
Before you came,
I did not even know it was there.
But afterward, I knew
I had always had it,
this quiet and waiting space
in the middle of my heart
that you, and
only you, could fill.
And even more than the day
you came into my world...
I love you.

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