Outside Babies

For a few years now, my good friends Beth Anne, Laura, and I have met for lunch every few weeks at Panera Bread. Just last week we met with a little more in tow, for the first time ever. It was really special. I remember when I found out I was having a girl, we met at Panera and they waited for me w/ pink giftbags filled w/ precious baby girl things, and pink confetti cupcakes. We followed suit for Laura when she found out she was having a girl, and of course we couldn't resist but get Beth Anne some dinosaur items for her baby boy - all at our favorite place; Panera.
And then this time last year, nearly to the day, we had our last lunch as solo women (sans offspring). I was due to give birth any day, Laura just about 2.5 months behind me, and Beth Anne was just about to be pregnant. Our lunch dates were forever going to change ...

... but by-golly we'll still have them. :) These girls are some of my most favorite people, and we've all watched each other enjoy our newly-married lives, carrying our bundles of joy for 9 months (and for a couple of us, going through the heartache to even get to that point in the first place!), and now - being mommies.

I look forward to many, many more lunchdates with these amazing women, and watching our babies grow together. I hope that we can keep our friendships everlasting!

Thankful ...

Savannah's First Thanksgiving! How special. We had a great day. As usual, we went to Uncle Nate's for our Thanksgiving Feast, the food was extra good this year. Savannah got to enjoy some of it, but preferred her cheerios and animal crackers over the vegetables. :) There was another little girl there who just turned 3, and thank goodness that Savannah had some "little" entertainment besides the boring adults! They made great friends.

And afterwards we came home and put on our CHRISTMAS jammies ... b/c we can now that it's Thanksgiving. :)

I'm so thankful for a lot of things, but especially the health of my sweet baby girl. I read some devastating news yesterday about a mother who lost her 15 month old son very tragically and unexpectedly. He was running a fever for a few days but they could control it w/ tylenol and motrin. On the 3rd day at nighttime, he became very unresponsive so they rushed him to the ER. They ran tests, he had a spinal tap, got an IV, etc, but nothing came back clear. His brain started to swell and the Doctors had to perform surgery on his head to allow his brain someplace to go from the swelling. During the surgery the little boy wasn't doing well, so they took him back to his parents where they were told he would not survive. Moments later, his heart stopped beating while his mother was holding him. All unexpectedly and w/out answers (as of yet).

Ever since I read this story, I've been so shaken up. Can you even imagine being that mother? My heart was just broken for her. I can tell you that while I love on my baby girl ALL THE TIME, ever since reading that story I haven't taken 1 second for granted ... I cherished every last moment that I could today. I know that being a mommy can be rewarding, but yet exhausting and needing a break ... but I feel like stories like those just make you back up and just feel thankful that you even have the oppurtunity to be a mom, regardless.

So especially on this Thanksgiving day, while I am extremely grateful for a lot of things ... I am so very thankful for my sweet beautiful healthy baby girl. She is my whole heart.

Date #2 for the week

Uncle Nate was so sad that he couldn't be the one to watch Savannah last Saturday when Ryan and I went on our date ... so we volunteered to go on another one when he was available. Hehe. We went to go see the movie The Couples Retreat at the $1.50 theater ... it was pretty good. Worth the $3 we spent - lol. Anyways, unfortunately Savannah had a grumpy day. Poor Nate - he had to put up w/ a whiny baby for a few hours! But she is out cold right now sleeping in her crib ... all of the excitement must have wore her out, hehe. We really appreciate Uncle Nate for watching Savannah despite her not being on her best behavior - we hope that this won't scare you for future babysitting dates in the future. :)

Wordless Wednesday: This is why I'm cute. :)

My little snuggle bug ...

I may be the only mama who is a little sad that her baby sleeps in her crib well all by herself ... sometimes I wish that she would sleep in our bed. *GASP* - isn't that a parenting-no-no?? Well, whatever the case, I want to snuggle my little girl!!! She is so wild and hyper and on the move when she is awake, that when she is sleeping is the only time she'll really let you hold her and snuggle.
Ryan was sick all last week so I got the honor of taking the 10pm feedings - usually I am asleep by then. :) Anyways, she takes these bottles while sleeping ... so needlesstosay they are actually the easiest ones to feed her, haha. Anyways, it is SO NICE to feed her at 10pm, to get close to her, hold her little body in my arms, and snuggle. She is so peaceful at this time. The other night after feeding her, I just let her sleep on my chest for 2 hours and I cherished that moment. I remember when she was a newborn and she would lay like that for hours ... and now the time has gone by so fast and she is very mobile and would rather be playing than cuddling w/ her mama. :( I can't believe I have a 10.5 month old already ...

Last night I was awake and even though Ryan went to go get her to give her the last bottle, I jumped on the chance of getting that snuggle moment in again. Afterwards, I put her in our bed and tried to get her to sleep - something I have tried MANY TIME but failed at. I know she sleeps well in her crib and I should be glad, but sometimes I wish that I could wake up and see her smiling face peering right at me. I was joking w/ another mom about this, and she said, "Just wait ... you'll get that moment when they are 2". Well, I am excited for that day. I might be the only parent who wishes their child could occassionally sleep w/ them, but I know I should be thrilled that she sleeps well on her own.

These are pictures from last night while trying to get her to sleep in our bed. I think she just had so much fun that she couldn't dare close her eyes! The moment we surrended and put her in her crib ... she was out like a light. My sweet girl ...

DATE NIGHT!

Ryan and I got to go on a baby-free date last night .... it was soooo nice! We had gone out w/out Savannah before, but only twice - and she basically went down for bed w/in minutes after we left (we went to a movie both times). THIS time, we did dinner out AND a movie - bliss! Well I take that back - she stayed w/ her Grandma and Grandpa in Alabama overnight once, and also stayed w/ her Grandma and Grandpa from Ohio several times (including when she was 9 days old - hehe) ... but last night was the FIRST time that we went out that somebody else was watching her that isn't related to us. :)

Ryan and I have been dying to go on a date, so his coworker so graciously offered to watch Savannah. She also has kids (ages 2 & 5), so we took Savannah to their house around 5:30pm. We went to dinner at Brio and it was delicious. Afterwards we went to a few stores, and then to see the movie "The Box". It was ok ... interesting - is how I will put it. We got their house around 10:30pm, and they said Savannah was great! Her little girl (the 2 year old) just loved having Savannah around and was giving her hugs and kisses telling her goodbye, it was so sweet! We are SO THANKFUL that we got to enjoy a night out alone together ... we missed our baby girl but enjoyed being a young married couple on a date. :)

Guess who's back ... back again ...

Gizmo is officially a CONE-FREE DOG!!! Waaahoooooo!!!!!! No more lampshade around his neck!
We had to take him to the Vet Eye Specialist on Monday to see if his eye would require any more surgeries, and she said things are looking up - he would just need a couple eyedrops per day and be set! Sadly, we confirmed that he is 100% blind out of that eye w/ no hope that his vision will ever return, though. Poor guy. But he is doing GREAT nonetheless. It's so nice to share a bed w/ him w/out a lampshade poking you in the face. Hehe. :)