Happy birthday daddy!

Well, my doctor said I couldn't have any birthday cake at my birthday party or on my birthday. But she didn't say I couldn't have any at my daddy's birthday celebration!





I didn't get too messy cuz my momma has something against messes but it was yummy!



And now I'm worn out. Sugar coma!

Preemie Primer

A friend found this blog entry and posted it to her facebook. I thought it was too good and to well said to not share. So enjoy:

http://www.preemieprimer.com/november-17th-is-prematurity-awareness-day-or-is-it/

7 years happy

Today marks 7 years of married life for Andrew and I.



We've had our ups and downs, as has all couples. But we've persevered. We've grown our little family. We've had a great life. We look forward to many more.

Merry Christmas!

2010


2009

Nature's attempt at a white Christmas

Well, nature tried to give us a white Christmas. This morning, we received a dusting of snow. Just enough to look at and ooh and aah over. This time, Elisa actually got into it a little bit and enjoyed it.





It's a far cry from the Christmas eve snow of 2009.




And then, there are just these pictures of beautiful memories.

Happy Homecoming!

Waiting at the airport for our first plane ride.

Today, after 10 longs weeks of separation, we finally made the long journey home from Phoenix. Our family was complete. Together. Finally, daddy was able to truly spend some time with his daughter.

NICU Release Day

This is the day she became "mine" to care for.

This is the day she "came home"

And what to me, feels like her real "birthday."

I remember it so vividly. Going to bed that night, not knowing for sure if she was to come home. She still had to pass her car seat test. Our night primary nurse told me she'd do it around midnight so when I woke for my 3am pump I could call for the results. So I did, only to find out the car seat we had wouldn't work for her, so she was waiting for the "borrowed" car seat. I woke at 6 am to let my work know what may be coming. Called after 8 am and shift change to hear the best words ever. "She passed. You'd better get a car seat she can go home in!" The scramble to get up, get dressed, find a Wal-mart and a car seat that met the requirements. The mad dash to the hospital. Those final pictures, saying good bye to what had been our home for 6 weeks.




So, welcome to the "other world" baby. I'm so glad you are here.

I woke up yesterday

And my baby was gone.

Gone are the days of her relying solely on me to meet all her needs.

I watched her yesterday as she played and noticed that she is just a "little person" instead of a baby anymore. She is now as long as her daddy's torso, instead of just his hand. Toys are strewn all across the room as she toddles around in her explorations. She is getting better at feeding herself.



So now, I'll go through my days enjoying those little moments with her. Those walks through the house. Those cuddles during a bottle feed, which is now happening less. Those kisses before bed. Those times she tries to "share" her bottle, or toy, or whatever she is holding with me.

I love you little girl.

Life is good!

Elisa saw her first snow fall today.



She wasn't too fond of touching it. Looking at it from the window was ok, but once we tried to get her to touch it, she was done.

We are finally making strides forward again in our walking. The ear infection we had last weekend really set us back and made us afraid to try walking. But today, we are no longer cruising the furniture, but walking between it.

It won't be long now and we will really be toddling through the house. For now, I'll enjoy being taken for walks around the house by a very curious little girl.

For the memory books

Since this blog is sort of an electronic baby book and a collection of all those things I want to remember about these young years, I just have to post this.

How can you not love this sound?

Communication

Over the last few days, I have been noticing that Elisa is making great strides in her ability to communicate with us. She crawls (or cruises) over to us and whines and tugs on our hands until we get up to go for a "walk" when she wants one. She leans in for eskimo kisses. She comes up to us and puts her head down in our laps when she's sleepy.

Well, this morning we had quite an interesting by play. "Mommy, come play with me!" "Mommy can't right now, buggar boo, she's working!" "Well fine, ma, don't play with me!"



Lol, I can just imagine the thoughts in her head as she then toddled off to go try to convince her daddy to play with her at that time.

On a more serious note, she has actually shown an understanding for the word "baba" which is what we have always referred to her bottle as. Today, she came over to me whining and I knew it was about time for her bottle. So I asked her, "Do you want your baba?" She grinned, danced a little and then said "baba!" I took that to be a yes, lol! And then later in the day, she was whining again and I was telling Andrew she's probably hungry for her baba and she stopped mid-whine and lit up like a Christmas tree.

So yes...I think we have made the connection between baba and food.

I love seeing her pick up these new skills.