First [crawling] steps

Today, you took your first "steps" crawling. The look of pure determination, focus, and joy on your face when you reached your target (the fish game) was priceless.

I said from day one you were going to be a mover and a shaker, and I know that's still true.

Let the baby proofing begin!

Love,
Mom

A little trouble

"Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some way to break the rules and make a little trouble out there."
-Nora Ephron

Love,
Mom

The eye color lottery

Remi girl, how two dark brown eyed parents created this gorgeous blue, I'll never know.

You certainly won the eye color lottery.

Love,
Mom

You and Finley

Finely just adores you. I don't remember her being quite so interested or enamored with Jameson. Maybe it's because she lived (and survived) through Jameson, or maybe it's just because of who you are. Either way, as soon as you are on the floor, or even sitting on our laps, she is right there kissing you and smelling you. And the feeling is completely mutual. I'm pretty sure you prefer her to anyone in our family. As soon as you are on the floor, you are trying to scoot at fast as you can to her. You will pull or pet her hair, and she barely flinches.

Finley is just the sweetest dog, but you have to earn her love and trust. Besides me and Daddy, no one has done it as quickly as you.

Love,
Mom

{Army} Crawling

You have been scooting and TRYING to crawl for a couple of weeks now.

You will go on all fours and rock back and forth, but will not move. Then, you will flop on your belly and kick like a wild woman.

Now, finally, you are army crawling like a maniac.

What is your preferred object to reach? Finley's bone. :)

Love,
Mom

First teeth!

Your first tooth came in right at the 6.5 month mark. The bottom left one came through first, followed by the bottom right a few weeks later.

It's proved to be a challenging time. I don't think you are really happy about it because for the last week, you have not really napped. Maybe it's for another reason, but I think these chompers are making you quite uncomfortable.

Love,
Mom

The younger

Last weekend, I held you as you fell asleep for your afternoon nap. Usually we are all about getting you to nap quickly and easily, as in no rocking you to sleep. That day, I just felt like you needed some snuggling. Your teeth were coming in, you had a big day, and were fighting the nap. So I rocked you a bit and you feel asleep in my arms almost immediately. As I looked down at you, I had this overwhelming feeling of not wanting to leave. I love you very much, but I'm not really one to sit and hold you for hours, so this feeling kind of surprised me. I didn't have much to do, so I just sat there with you for about 15 minutes.

I don't long for more children - you and Jameson give me everything that I need. I don't want to experience another baby's early days, but sometimes I ache to go back to your baby days. I know this time is going to fly by and one day soon you will be standing in front of me with your hand on your hip, rolling your eyes, and telling me I'm lame. But today, you are content sleeping in my arms and that is all I need.

Love,
Mom

Happy Half Birthday to You!

Celebrating 6 months of our Sweet Pea!

Love,
Mom

Sitting up

You are finally able to sit up by yourself. I have to admit, this is amazing for me, as much as is it is for you. I feel like this is your first mark of independence, because I can sit you down, and you can play with your toys, watch tv, or be french kissed by Finley, and you are just fine.

Love,
Mom

I will love you for all of my days.

Love, 
Mom

Rolling over (again).

You have been rolling over for a few weeks now and today you started rolling both ways!

You didn't nap much today, but were just so happy. I think you are very proud of yourself and your new skill. :)

Love,
Mom

Cereal

We started giving you a little cereal a few days ago and so far you are enjoying it! You know what that spoon and bowl means and start banging around on your highchair while I get it ready.

As you can probably gauge from your photos, you are a very good eater. :) I only hope this continues as we venture into the world of solid foods.

Love,
Mom

Rolled over

Beautiful girl,  you can do hard things.

After a couple weeks of "she's going to do it!", you finally rolled over today.  And you haven't stopped; we can't keep you on your back!

I called it from the beginning that you were going to be a mover and a shaker. 

Get going girl,  there's a big world to explore!

Love, 
Mom

Bedtime

Let me start by saying that you LOVE Daddy.  You stare and smile at him all the time.  You let him hold you and feed you during the day with no problem.  But come bedtime,  you want nothing to do with him.  He takes you in your room,  puts on your pajamas,  gives you the Vitamin D, and as soon as he tries to feed you your bottle,  you start screaming.  I will come in and as soon as I hold you, you stop crying, drink your bottle,  and go to sleep without a fuss.  I have no idea why you do this and I'm done trying to figure it out.  I'm charming it up to another non explainable Remi pattern.

Love, 
Mom

Cat napping

You are the Queen of afternoon cat naps.  You like a 30 minute power nap around 4pm to get you through to bedtime.  I don't blame you,  I'd do it too,  if I could.

This afternoon our friends Jim and Courtney came over.  They held you,  I fed you,  and then you got fussy,  right around 4pm. I cradled you in my arms and looked down as your eyes got heavy. A few minutes later,  you passed out and took your sweet cat nap in my arms. 

I know these times are numbered so I am so grateful for this perfect summer afternoon nap with my best girl.

Love, 
Mom

Grabbing

This week you really started grabbing onto toys.  You will sit in your owl seat and grab that owl to pull towards your mouth.  If we dangle a toy in front of you,  you will grab it.  Last night at dinner you were sitting in my lap,  and sat up,  reaching for my pizza.  All in good time,  sweet girl.

Love, 
Mom

Smiles

You have smiled at me about 3 times in your short life so far. You save your best smiles and coos for Daddy. I get it, he's pretty cool and not seen as often as me.

This morning after you finished your bottle, you just couldn't stop smiling...at me! So we just sat there, smiling at each other, for a few minutes.

It was awesome.

Love,
Mom

Grasping

Lately, when I've been feeding you, I give you my finger and you grasp on so tightly. We sit there rocking and holding hands. I hope it makes you feel better and it connects me to you in a whole new way. I haven't told Jenny or Daddy that I do this, because it's just our thing.

Love,
Mom

First long stretch

You slept 7 hours last night!  Here's hoping for a relaxed day!

Let her sleep

"Let her sleep,  for when she wakes,  she will move mountains."

Smiles

This morning, after you burped during breakfast,  I leaned you back armed with the burp cloth. You didn't spit up, but you did give me a huge smile,  like "Gotcha Mom!"

Love, 
Mom

On the day you were born...

Remi,

I was convinced you would come three days early, just like your brother. That worked out great for me, as it was a weekend and the timing would be perfect. As the days went by before your due date, I was feeling nothing - no contractions and I was only 2.5 centimeters. The reality of making it to my due date was starting to feel like a possibility that I didn't really like. I just wanted to meet you! The day I went back to work after having Jameson was a Chairs/Associate Deans meeting. On Thursday, we had another one, so I was hopeful that maybe this would be my last day of work before having you! That morning, I lost my mucus plug, so I was so happy that I would probably be meeting you this weekend. The day passed like any other and when I got home, Daddy, Jameson and I went for a walk. I asked Jameson if you were going to be born tomorrow or Saturday and he said "tomorrow." Then, I asked if it would be morning or night and he said "morning." I joked and said, "well, she better get going! We don't have a lot of time left." We ate dinner (pizza) and then watched the rest of "Monsters University." During the movie, I thought I felt a contraction or two, but they were so light that I dismissed it. I got up after the movie ended and my water immediately broke; around 7pm. It completely shocked me as I was not expecting that to happen. I ran into the bathroom while Daddy tried to get Jameson to go to sleep. He was crying for me to sing him "Twinkle" so as my water is leaking and the contractions were starting, I was sitting on the floor singing to him. :) Daddy called Meme and she came over. We decided to go to the hospital around 8:30pm and they confirmed my water had broken and I was 4 cm dilated. I went in the bathtub for awhile, then Daddy and I took a few laps around the hospital floor. Around 11pm, I asked for the epidural and by 11:45 I was resting comfortably in bed. I figured I had a couple of hours to get some rest, but after about 45 minutes, the nurse came in to check me because your heart rate was dropping with each contraction (a sign that you were ready) and sure enough, I was 8 cm dilated. About a half hour later (1:15am), Allie came in and I started pushing. I felt EVERYTHING. It was the most painful and longest 30 minutes of my life, but when you came out, the feeling was like nothing else. I was so, so, so happy to see you. I looked over at Daddy, who was laughing with tears in his eyes. He cut the cord and you just hung out on my chest for awhile, crying your little lungs out. You were 6 pounds, 14 ounces, and 19 inches long.

We got up to our room around 4:30am and they took you to get cleaned up and some shots, so Daddy and I got to sleep for about 3 hours. Papa, Aunt Julie, Aunt Amy, Uncle Tom, Lincoln, and Meme came to visit you that first day in the hospital. Jameson also came to the hospital and it was so good to see the two of you together. He was so excited to meet you and kept calling you "cute." We left the hospital on Saturday afternoon, ready to introduce you to Finley and Pumpkin and show you around the house.

After 9 long months, you were finally here. And we couldn't be more excited to start our lives with you.

Love,
Mom