Passport

 Look how big you're getting!

We've been busy.  

We had the fun experience of trying to get your passport photo's done., nobody really knows how to do them for a 3 month old. After 6 attempts we think we may have got them right. Makes no sense why the photo would matter when you won't look anything like this when it gets to the 5 year expired date. Let alone in 3 months when we travel. But we got it done and should have your new passport in 3 weeks.

We did get to keep all the failed attempts and they're displayed proudly on our fridge.

You've also learned how to blow raspberry's and sit in your chair and do this almost all day long.

I went back to work last night and next week I'll be on the schedule properly. I'm hoping to work 4 days a week for 4-5hour shifts. We'll see when I get my schedule today. 

Mornings

I love waking up to this every day.

3 Months Old!

I can't believe how fast these 3 months have flown by.

• According to the Wii Fit you weight 12lbs 8oz.
• According to Mums measurements you're about 24" tall. 
• You are now wearing size 2 diapers. 
• You still wear some 0-3 month clothing, mostly 3 months and some 3-6months.
• You sleep through the night. We put you down for bed at 9pm and you wake up between 7 and 9. The other day I had to even wake you up at 9:30.
• You have to take a nap after being awake for 1 1/2 - 2 hours or you get cranky. Sometimes those naps are only 30 minutes and you have one long nap that's 2-3 hours. 
• You've been swimming.
• You've become a little traveler. 
• Now you can sit up you want to be sitting up all the time. 
• You've even beginning to laugh and giggle more than the cough sounding laugh you've been doing so far. 

And were rollin...

Over.

You rolled over. From your back to your front and I don't think you realized you did it.

We're back!

We survived our little family vacation.

Some highlights: 

• Thursday was spent in Ocala with your Aunt Becky but your Dad will never go back to the Walmart there ever again.
• Friday we were in Orlando where we went to your Dad's favorite restaurant Opa and people watched on International Drive
• Saturday was your first baseball game in Miami Gardens. Braves won 2-0. You gave all the Marlin fans the middle finger in their sleep while they were chanting "Jason Heyward is garbage". Although you were asleep nobody makes fun of your favorite player.
• Sunday you went swimming for the first time and loved it. We spent the evening in Stuart/Port St.Lucie.
• Monday we met your Mawmaw and Papaw in Mayport for her birthday dinner.

We're glad we're back home. It was a lot of driving but we think you did better with the 3 hour drives than one long 8 or 9 hour drive to Miami and we got to see a lot of new places. Our next planned trip? England at Christmas time! Who knows if we'll go anywhere between now and then.

You and Paddington

We've come to believe that you and Paddington may become a troublesome twosome. Yesterday, you were laying on your play mat, I was sitting on the couch beside you and Paddington was at my feet. For some reason Paddington has now decided that the Wii Fit board may make a tasty chew toy. It sits under the coffee table. So as he was trying to get his chops around the corner edges I gave him a little pop on the booty which you seem to find hilarious. Just as I did this you let out this giggle. 

I'm sure as you grow up you two will get each other into trouble. Especially if Paddington know he can make you laugh and squeal when he does something bad. 

Sleeping

This is how you normally fall asleep. On your back, with your head facing your seahorse Lucie. But you've become such a mover in your sleep this is very rarely how I find you in the mornings. At first you'd just scoot your way down the crib leaving Lucie behind. Then you'd start to turn a little and one morning I even found you sleeping across the crib rather than downwards like I had placed you when you fell asleep. The past two days I've found you in a completely different position. On your side and almost turned the other way round in the crib. Just like this...

I think someday soon I may find you rolled over completely on your stomach. At least you're sleeping through the night, 9 hours last night!

Splish Splash

You love taking a bath!

It's slowly becoming a nightly event and you find it so calming. Right now you have one  three or four times a week to start your bedtime routine, before your bedtime bottle and story-time. You kick your legs around and splash and probably would spend all day in the tub if you could. I can't wait to get you swimming in the pool.

A Fundamental Skill

You've learned how to stick out your tongue from your Aunt Becky. You now know that you can do this and get a smile or laugh from anyone around you and therefore do it all the time.

It's pretty adorable.

It's been awhile...

We've been busy and you're already 2 months old!

At your 1 month appointment...

Weight: 9lbs 4oz

Height: 21"

At your 2 month appointment...

Weight: 11llbs 12oz

Height: 23"

You were a trooper through the 4 shots you had at your 2 month appointment.

You've began to sleep through most of the nights. You go to bed between 9 and 10pm and don't wake up until 4am and then go back to sleep until somewhere between 7 and 9am. It's been wonderful. We even saw one night where you slept from 9pm to 6am and only woke up because I got you up to take your Aunt Becky to her new apartment in Ocala. This means we have a lot more awake time during the day where we see you play and smile and "talk" to us. It's been lots of fun and I love watching you interact with your toys and all the people around you.

You've done some little traveling with days trips to Savannah and Jacksonville, and we had a overnight weekend trip to Ocala. Next month we're taking you on a tour of Florida with stops in Ocala, Orlando, Miami Gardens and Port St. Lucie. You'll also be going to your first baseball game.

4 Weeks!

4 weeks old today. You've already grown out of the newborn size diapers and your sleeper all in ones are also becoming to small for you! I can't believe we go to your one month appointment on Friday.

Dear Marley...

This is just a little note to say, you are more than I could ever have imagined and each day I say I can't believe you're ours.

I stayed up, just watching you sleep, cuddled up in my arms for a long time last night and even though I wanted to go to bed myself I couldn't help but stay and enjoy the moment.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for being our baby.

Finally here...

Wow these past 2 weeks have flown by.

June 9th, at 4:19pm Marley entered the world and made me a mum.

At 5am Wednesday morning we entered the hospital and began to get settled in our room. I was given my IV, baby monitor and the such and they began to give me the Pitocin to induce labor. Around 7am my waters was broke and I was beginning to feel contractions. They suggested that I go ahead and get the epidural, which I did and that helped with the first 5 or so contractions and then they came on hard and heavy.

A couple of hours later I was still struggling with the contractions and they came in to give me the shot they would give a c-section birth, letting me know that my legs would be extremely heavy and I probably wouldn't be able to move around the bed by myself. This did not seem to work. Contractions never got any easier. And I was moving myself around the bed when nurses or my doctor came in to check how things were progressing.

At this point, I'm feeling exhausted..with barely any sleep the night before and up at 4am I can barely keep my eyes open. Between contractions I'm trying to get as much rest as possible. After they realized both the epi and this 2nd shot was not helping with contractions they gave me a 3rd shot. This seemed to help as contractions were somewhat easier to get through but at this point I was almost ready to push.

Just before 4pm my doctor came to check in on the progression and I was 9cm and said I'd be ready to go when he got back. That wasn't the case, it felt as soon as he left the room I felt the need to push. The nurse had me try a couple of pushes through a contraction to see where Marley's head was and they basically called the doc back to the room. I was pushing for approx. 20 minutes and our sweet baby Marley was here.

She was 7lbs 6oz, 21 1/2 inches long and absolutely gorgeous. Head full of dark hair with even some blond/red highlights. 

I have plenty of posts to come. Her finished nursery. The little photo shoot my mum and I had with Marley and how Marley has been doing in the first 2 weeks.

We'll meet soon!

June 9th.

That's the day. The day the doctor has said we'll get to meet.

We were able to see your pretty face again on Wednesday and it was just the best way to start my birthday. Although you're still camera shy as you had your arm up over your face again. You're growing had slowed down and you went from being in the 28th percentile to the 11th so we've decided to go ahead and get you delivered. We can't wait until Wednesday, although some people are convinced I may go into labor before then, my moves and every flinch from your kicking and squirming around is watched very closely as signs that you might be making your way out. You're more than welcome too but if not we'll see you Wednesday.

Hold you in my Arms

Your daddy has been finding songs to sing for you already. This one is one of my favorites and I'm sure will be on the iPod Lullaby playlist...

Hold you in my arms - Ray LaMontagne

When you came to me with your bad dreams and your fears
It was easy to see you'd been crying
Seems like everywhere you turn catastrophe it reigns
But who really profits from the dying
I could hold you in my arms
I could hold you forever
I could hold you in my arms
I could hold you forever

When you kissed my lips with my mouth so full of questions
My worried mind that you quiet
Place your hands on my face
Close my eyes and say
That love is a poor man's food
Don't prophesize
I could hold you in my arms
I could hold you forever
And I could hold you in my arms
I could hold you forever

So now we see how it is
This fist begets the spear
Weapons of war
Symptoms of madness
Don't let your eyes refuse to see
Don't let your ears refuse to hear
Or you ain't never going to shake this sense of sadness
I could hold you in my arms
I could hold on forever
And I could hold you in my arms
I could hold on forever

34 Week Appointment

We got to see you on Wednesday, Marley. This was the only shot we were able to get of your pretty little face. My mum, your nan, says you've got your daddy's nose. I kind of agree. But you've got your mum's camera shyness. You had your feet and hands covering your face for the rest of the sonogram and there was no way you were moving them.You're on the little side measuring at 4lbs 10oz and in the 28th percentile. Nothing to worry about though! But mummy's tummy keeps on growing...here it is at 34 weeks.

We're getting closer to being ready for you to be here too. We've ordered the rocking chair/recliner that's to go in the nursery and it should be here in a couple of weeks. Only need to work on the curtains. Some wonderful people from our church and your Daddy's work are throwing us a shower in two weeks. 

We've also started taking the classes so we can be as prepared as we can for the day you decide to make you're arrival. Only 5-6 weeks until you'll be joining us and everyone can't wait to meet you.

 

Dear Marley...

There are times when I worry that I am not going to be prepared enough to take care of you when arrive. I’ve found myself overwhelmed with the what ifs of providing you with everything you’ll possibly need. Am I old enough, smart enough, capable enough to be the caregiver of another human being? Can we afford to do this?

When it comes to raising you… we won’t have it all… we won’t know it all… but we’re going to give it the best shot we can.

Counting down?

30 weeks past and 10 to go. Well if we make it to the due date that is. You're more than welcome to come a little early, just not to early!

Things are flying by and I can't believe in two and half months we'll be welcoming our little girl into the world. It's exciting, thrilling, nerve wracking and scary. But I can't wait. I feel like I have so much to do before then and not enough time! We've met the pediatrician, the childbirth classes have been signed up for and after the appointment on the 21st we start seeing the doctor every two weeks!

Marley's Closet...

is almost as big as mine and she's not even here yet! After a trip home last month  (Thanks Jess, Jen and Mum for all the presents) and  hand me downs she's almost filled her closet, and two of the drawers in the dresser are already full. Check it out...

Thank's to Ashley and her baby girl Bailey we got a large collection of items on Easter which included a car seat/base, swing, moses basket and a bath tub that will stay over at D's parents. And we bought this one home..(you can see the bathrobe and wash cloths we got last weekend too)

Can't wait to see her in all the cute little outfits!!

We meet with the Pediatrician tomorrow, I'm calling about the child birth classes and other classes they offer at the hospital and we see my doctor again in 2 weeks. I can't believe we only have 10 weeks left!!

My two favorite men.

These guys will hopefully be two of your favorite men in your life, they sure are my favorite. That's your Daddy and Paddington. 

Paddington likes to cuddle up to my stomach when I sit and watch TV and whenever he does you start kicking away. I still haven't figured out if it's because you like it or your trying to get him away. I can't wait to see his face when he feels you kick him in the face one day. But not before Daddy does.

Nursery

We've started your nursery...

So far we only have the crib in there with the bedding and the two frames hung. We have yet to move the dresser, your Daddy needs to have a friend come over and help bring it up the stairs because it's too heavy for myself to help. Here's a couple more idea's I have for your room to be...

I want to place the butterflies on the wall above the dresser/changing pad and then in the corner where hopefully a comfy rocking chair will be the bookshelves with a number of different items. Like the letter M for Marley covered with scrapbooking paper that matches the rest of the nursery.

Hopefully you'll like it!

Year of the Tiger.

According to the Zodiac, the Year of 2010 is the Year of the Tiger, which commences on February 14, 2010 and ends on February 2, 2011. The Tiger is the third sign in the Chinese Zodiac cycle, and it is a sign of bravery. People that are born in the Year of the Tiger are generally well liked because of their charismatic personalities. Often, failing at a given duty or being unproductive in his personal or professional life can cause a Tiger to experience a deep sense of depression.A Tiger is always at their happiest when they endeavor to climb the ladder of success. Attaining the top spot is his foremost purpose; being in a position of power is her ultimate goal. They are quick learners, need to be challenged and often prefer to work alone. Some Tigers tend to change careers more frequently because they get bored quite easily. They are natural born leaders and perform at their best if working towards positions of power and influence. So once there is no further room for progression, they will often move on to something else.

Anyone that is born in the Year of the Tiger is usually straightforward and outgoing by nature. They will never give up no matter how aggravated they may become. But, they are also full of suspicion and at times will take hasty action. Never lose sight of the fact that Tigers are smart and instinctive.

People born in the Year of the Tiger always take pride in being different from others, and normally demonstrate their originality best in their homes. Their homes are typically filled with exotic possessions. It is no surprise that one of the Tiger’s favorite gemstones is the cat’s eye, but tigers also love the sparkle of rubies and diamonds. They like to spend money, and also to share it. They can be very impulsive spenders because they know they can at all times make more.

Your Daddy bought it to my attention that not only will we be sharing that we will both be Gemini's but we will both be born in the Year of the Tiger.

A new beginning?

Where do I start my dear Marley? I think I may be starting this whole blog a little late in this pregnancy, I already feel like I know you and you know everything that's happened since you've started your life, hopefully comfortable, in my belly. But hey, it's better late than never right?

By now we've found out that you're going to be our gorgeous baby girl and I we've already decided to name you Marley Grace. You've already began to take a beating on the inside of my stomach. Even though I don't mind at all. (I think you've been dancing around the whole time I've been writing this). Your Daddy can't wait to feel you though, it's cute how impatient he can get. He's been searching forever now for the perfect bear for a daddy to give his daughter. And today he found it. It's a teddy bear head with a blanket body and so soft and snugly for you to sleep with.

We both love you so much and can't wait until June!