1 Year

Molly Grace, you are 1 year old!

You are wearing these sizes:
Shirt: 12 months
Pants: 12 months
Diaper: 3
Shoes: 3

You eat a LOT!
Breakfast: Instant oatmeal + stage 2 fruit mixed in and 6 oz formula in a sippy
Lunch: Veggie + 6 oz formula in a sippy
Snack: Yogurt + 4 oz formula in a sippy
Dinner: Whatever we are eating!
Bedtime: 8 oz formula in a bottle



You are down to 1 bottle! I can't believe it. You kind of just weaned yourself. My big girl! I started with the lunch sippy, then the breakfast, I just took away the snack bottle a couple days ago and you didn't even miss it! You get so excited when you see me fixing a sippy or getting your food ready! You love to eat!

Some of your favorite foods are:
Green Peas - your all time fav! You will pick them out of anything!
Green Beans
Carrots
Yogurt - any flavor
Cheerios
Club Crackers
Marshmallows
Bananas
Oatmeal



You're down to 2 naps a day. One mid-morning and 1 late afternoon. Although right now the antibiotic you're on (Augmentin) makes you a madwoman and you don't want to sleep day or night! Up until all this ear trouble you were going to sleep on your own around 7:30 and sleeping until 6:30 am. Now we're lucky if you're asleep by 9! Then you're usually back up a couple times! I'm so ready to be done with these ear troubles and antibiotics!

Your words:
da-da, na-na (instead of mama!), yay, hey, bah (bite) and you sign "more". You were saying a lot more, but the ped said all these ear infections have probably slowed you down. You jibber jabber all the time! You get kind of loud and really tell us sometimes!




You have started throwing some really good fits! You like to throw yourself back if we're holding you. If you're on the floor and we cross you, you lay over onto the floor face down - sometimes you even bite the carpet when you're really mad! You probably get that temper from your daddy! ha!

You love to play now. You can entertain yourself really well and you love to play with us, too. You got a new kitchen for Christmas that you like. You carry the plates and forks around! You LOVE the princess ball pit Santa brought you! Your baby dolls (you got 3 for Christmas!) are your new best friends! They all do something different! You love to play with blocks and balls. You have a blast!




I love you, monkey! Always and forever!

Happy Birthday!

Happy 1st Birthday to my sweet little miracle! God blessed us beyond measure when He chose us to be your parents. I can't believe how far you've come in a year. In some ways it seems like just yesterday that I saw your tiny, squirmy little self for the first time. And in some ways it seems like you've been with us forever. I'm not sure what we ever did before you joined our family! What entertained us? What gave us such joy? You are what we've always waited for! You are perfect in every single way!




It's 8:00 pm right now on your birthday. This time last year I was finally getting to go up to NICU and see you. I still remember how tiny and fragile you looked laying there in your little bed, hooked up to monitors. I didn't get to hold you, but I held your hand and stroked your little head and told you how much we loved you. I have no idea how to explain the feelings and thoughts going through me. I was terrified, relieved, excited, anxious, shocked, and happier than I've ever been! Your birthday was the happiest day of my life. It may not have been how we planned (but what in life ever is?!), but it was perfect. It's only fitting that you didn't come into this world in a "normal" way. You had to make a grand entrance on your own time! You showed us early on the kind of girl you're going to be! You fought hard to learn to eat and survive - minus a little stubborness and your own timing! ha!




I hope you are always the spunky, silly, determined, curious, smiling, loving little girl that you have been this last year. I hope you grow up to see what a miracle you are and always love yourself as much as we love you. I hope you take life's lessons and learn from them and use them to make you stronger. I hope you always remember that your daddy and I are your biggest fans. We cheered (literally, out loud in our corner of the NCCU) when you took your first full bottle, we cheered the first time you slept through the night, rolled over, found your fingers, held a toy, crawled, ate baby food, took a sippy, stood up, said da-da, pushed your walker and we will continue to cheer you on no matter what path you choose in life. I prayed diligently for a baby for 5 years. I never could've dreamed it would be as wonderful an experience as it has been. I love you, little monkey. With all that I am and all that I have, I love you!

The Journey Began...

this time last year! I still remember the feeling of sheer panic, shock and disbelief as my water broke. I was sitting in our computer room looking up baby stuff and making a list of things we would need when our baby came 7 weeks later. I just sat there for a minute thinking "what just happened?". I remember walking in, looking at my husband and saying "uh...uh...I think maybe my water broke". To this day we are both still amazed at how calm I was. Then the panic set in. Jamey kept telling me it was OK, and I kept telling him it was NOT ok because I was only 33 weeks along - I hadn't even made it to the part in my What to Expect... book about delivering! Serioulsly, that's what was going through my mind! We hadn't even made it to birthing class yet.

We called my doctor, and he wanted to meet us at the hospital right away. I remember how long the walk do the elevator and up to the 5th floor was. Especially since the contractions had started. Then I had to stand there, in the midst of contracting, and answer questions and fill out paper work. Obviously the nurse who was putting me through this tortue had not been in labor before!

They took me back to a triage room, hooked me up to machines, and checked me out. We found out my water had in fact broken and I was dilated to 2 already. The nurse then told me that my dr. was going to want to send me to either Memphis or Little Rock. My world crumbled and it was at that point that I fell apart. I will never forget how sweet the nurse was, though. She took my hand and told me how my baby was going to be fine - that we were lucky she was a girl, girls are strong - and that there was absolutely nothing I could've done differently to prevent this.

Here I was, 7 months pregnant with a baby I had waited 5 long years for, in premature labor. All I could think was "Lord, hasn't our journey been difficult enough?". We were not prepared. We hadn't even finished the nursery. We had no coming home outfit. We had no bag packed. It's funny because you'd think after 5 years of trying so hard for a baby I would've been emotionally ready, but I was still terrified!

My doctor came in and gave me the choice - Memphis or Little Rock. He said he could deliver a 33 weeker no problem, he could deliver a 23 weeker, but it would be safer to be in one of the bigger hospitals with a higher level NICU and Neonatologists. We chose Memphis, we knew our way around a lot better there and it was closer - I had to ride in an ambulance and I wasn't sure I would make the ride all the way to Little Rock!

So off we went. They strapped me in, loaded me up and we were off on a journey I'd never forget!

That was our night a year ago...as for tonight, my poor little monkey is sick, hyped up on antibiotics and cold/cough meds and fighting sleep like a mad woman! We spent the morning at the pediatrician office. She's had this cough, snotty nose, a fussiness since Sunday. But this morning she woke up with a fever of 103.4. We gave her Motrin and it brought it down, but since she's been fighting the same double ear infections since November, I thought it was best to take her in. Good thing we did. Both ears are still infected and have lots of fluid on them and her lymph nodes were swollen really badly. Her ped is worried at this point (It's been almost 2 months) that it will start affecting her hearing and speech, so we're off the see the ENT as soon as they can get us in and we're more than likely looking at tubes. Not the news I wanted the day before her bday!

So now she's on her 4th antibiotic and we're praying it works.

Joy To The World!

I love Christmas Eve! It's always been my favorite day (night) of the year! This year was more special and joyous than I ever could've imagined it to be. Christmas has always been wonderful, but Christmas as Molly Grace's mommy is the most wonderful blessing!

Both of our families have their traditions and they're very important to us. We spend Christmas Eve at my parents' house. We eat lots of yummy finger foods, open gifts and watch Christmas Vacation or Christmas Story. Christmas Day we go to my inlaws'. This year we're trying to find the best way to fit in our own Christmas traditions with our little family at our house. I want MG to have wonderful memories of Christmas' at her Granny and Pap's and Mamaw and Papaw's, but it's really important to me that she have memories of our little family's Christmas.

This afternoon before we got ready to go to my parents', we let her open 2 of her gifts and play for awhile. Then we got ready, loaded up and spent the evening with my family. She had the best time - we all did! She got lots of great toys! Her 2 favorites were a ride-on/push princess toy and a baby doll that talks, laughs and cries. Her face lit up when she opened the baby doll and she didn't stop laughing at it or put it down! She really had a blast chasing her cousins around and playing in their playroom. It's amazing to me because she's such a little girl now! She's SO active, talks all the time and really plays. I love watching her and experiencing Christmas through her eyes.

Tomorrow morning she'll have goodies from Santa waiting for her (hopefully, she's been pretty good! ha!). I can't wait to see her face light up!

We have certainly been blessed this year. I'm overwhelmed with God's goodness to our family. Merry Christmas Eve!

This Time Last Year

...I had my 32 week appt. with my OB. We got to hear Molly Grace's strong heart beat and even got a recording of it! I have it on an ornament. It makes me smile to listen to it and think about what a difference a year has made! I had no idea that exactly 8 days later I would meet my sweet baby girl!

Bye Bye Bottle

In 9 short days, my sweet baby girl will turn 1 year old!! That absolutely does not seem real!

My goal was to get her down to 1 or 2 bottles by her 1st birthday. I'm not too stressed about breaking her completely before her 1st birthday. I figured while I was on break and home with her for 2 weeks would be a good time to start. Today she ate her breakfast and drank milk out of a sippy and didn't even miss the bottle! Same thing at lunch. I handed her a bottle at 3:00 and her face lit up! She started clapping and smiling! It was too cute! So...so far so good! We're down to 2 a day! If I get brave next week I may phase out the afternoon bottle! We'll see...

The First "First Christmas"

Today we went to Missouri to celebrate Christmas with my mom's family. Every year we get together before Christmas, my aunt cooks a huge and AMAZING breakfast, we open prsents and have a great time visiting with each other. Today was Molly Grace's very first "First Christmas"! She got her first presents!




She looked adorable in her Christmas dress and Santa hat. She ate and ate and ate the yummy breakfast! She had the most wonderful time crawling all over the place and chasing all her cousins! She really wanted to run with the big kids - next year they better watch out! She only broke 1 decoration!




When it came time to open presents, she really could've cared less. She kept trying to crawl away and I kept dragging her back over! I don't think she pulled even the tiniest bit of paper off a present! She did love her gifts, though! She got the Laugh and Learn purse (complete with mirror, keys, lipstick, bracelet and money!) and the Laugh and Learn Please and Thank You Tea Set. Two things we've been just waiting for!




I can't even out into words how overjoyed and blessed I am to be experiencing this Christmas as a mom! There is nothing better in this world - no greater gift!

3 years ago as we were leaving my aunts house after Christmas she hugged me and said "next year you'll have a baby and it will all be worth it". It took a little longer than that, but I always remember her saying that to me and I clung to the hope that I would!

Ear Infection...again...still...

We went back for Molly Grace's 2 week follow-up from her double ear infection. We did not get good news! Yesterday my school nurse checked her ears for me and said they were red. Today her pediatrician's words were "Oooooh...that one's horrendous" and "that one doesn't look as bad, but it still doesn't look good"! Not what we wanted to hear. She's been battling these double ear infections for a month now. This makes 3 since November. She gave her a 3rd antibiotic. She said it's the strongest one there is. And it cost us $60 for 10 days worth! It better work like a charm! ha! It's funny how $60 for a small bottle of medicine seems like so much, but when I think that it might make my baby feel better, I'd pay any amount! This is her last shot to get it cleared up before they send us to the ENT. I figure we'll be getting tubes before spring! Which is fine. I'd rather tubes now than her having to deal with my ear infection problems all her life!

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

We took Molly Grace to meet Santa today! I was totally prepared for the worst! She did great, though! I walked her up there and let her see him, handed her off and she sat there like a big girl! She never hesitated and never shed a tear! We got the cutest picture of her and Santa looking at each other.

Another Step

Molly Grace took a 2nd step last night! Jamey and I were both there to see it. Her daddy was so proud of her! I'm so glad he got to see her do it. Jamey still thinks she'll walk by Christmas. We'll see very soon!

My poor girl still isn't feeling 100%. She sounds so much better, her croup has turned into just a cough and not as often. She's still really snotty and stuffy and still pulling at those ears. She took a 4 hour nap this morning so I know she doesn't feel too good! I'm ready for her to be back to her self!

Pictures

I've been terrible at posting pics lately, so here are some recent ones!

2 More teeth

Molly Grace is getting her 7th and 8th teeth! The two on either side of her bottom-front teeth are just starting to poke through. She always cuts 2 at a time!

11 Months

Where has time gone? In less than a month my baby will turn 1 year old! I just can't believe how fast time is flying by. Part of me can't wait to see who she grows into, what kind of person she'll be and what she'll do with her life. A bigger part of me wants to find the pause button and freeze her just like this! I want to keep her the sweet Molly Grace who sucks her fingers, crawls up in my lap to snuggle, waves at everyone, dances to any kind of music, thinks Peek-A-Book is the funnest game ever...I want to remember this stage forever!



We were at the pediatrician office yesterday on her 11 month bday so I have an exact weight! 20.4 lbs! She finally reached 20! Of course this was with all her clothes on and holding her toy! ha!

She celebrated her 11 month bday finding out that she has another double ear infection and the croup! Yuck! We started a stronger antibiotic last night, though, and she's already feeling better. Her cough sounds just awful, though.

Moving on to the funner stuff!



At 11 Months...

Size 6/9 month clothes and some 12 month (more for the length)
Size 3 diapers
Size 2 shoes

3 bottles a day (24 oz of formula)
3 meals a day (2 stage 3 baby foods and 1 table food)

MG has 6 teeth and 2 more coming in! She has 4 on top, her 2 bottom front teeth and the 2 on either side are now coming in.

MG LOVES to eat! If I have something in my hand she will throw a fit for a bite! We usually have to cut her off at meals!

She loves squash and zuchinni, yogurt, marshmallows, cheese, pancakes, and anything with apples the best!

MG has started "dancing" all the time. I've always danced her around when she wouldn't sleep and just for fun and she's always loved music. Now she'll stand there and bounce to her own beat! It's too cute!

She's standing for long periods of time now. She wants to step so bad, but just isn't brave enough to try. Which is funny because usually she's fearless!

MG loves bathtime. She can sit up all by herself in there and play. I don't have to hold her at all anymore. She splashes, stands up, and plays! She loves when I blow her hair dry afterward!

She could care less about the Christmas tree. She hasn't touched it once! I figured she'd be right up in the middle of it. I'm curious to see what she does when presents are under it, though.

She's saying more and more words. She says da-da of course and when she's mad now she's strings off the loudest dadadadadada. She says ma-ma a little more. Mom said she said pap (or Pa) yesterday. She loves to clap and say yay!

Her favorite toy right now is her play keys and an M keychain I bought her. She used to throw a fit for mine so I got her her own! It goes everywhere with us and Heaven forbid you try to take it away!

She's crazy about Bandit. She loves to see him come in.

Molly Grace, you are still the prettiest, sweetest, sassiest, funniest, smartest girl in the whole world!