23 Weeks

Reme Lynn,

You have not slept through the night this entire week. You either get up around midnight, 3am, 4am or 6am and sometimes a combination of them all! Teething maybe? Hungry? Maybe both! Either way, we're getting through it just fine. I've gotten a lot of advice that starting you on solid foods might help you sleep, so I let you munch on a banana and you seemed to love it! It's become our afternoon snack this week! It's really fun to watch you eat it and explore the texture.You're my sweet little monkey! I've got a feeling that you don't like to get your hands dirty because you get a little upset when I try to get you to hold it. You would rather that I hold it! We also tried a frozen teething ring and you like to chew on it but not hold it! So something about either the cold or the texture bums you out.

We had a fun filled busy weekend! You had your first official play date with a little girl that was born two days after you, Hazel. Her mom Lindsey and I are friends through the theater. We went to the zoo for their "ice" day. It was a gorgeous day! We saw the new Galapagos turtles, a Meerkat ice sculpture and road the carousel, you love riding the carousel. You hold on to the pole and smile through the whole ride!

 Oh the cuteness!

Then we went to Street Theatre to see our friend Gabriella be in her first play! She did a great job and so did you! You are after your mother's heart with your patience to sit in a theater and watch the stage! I hope that trend lasts! After that we were off to the lake the celebrate our friend JJ Street's birthday! It was very fun. I took you down to the little beach to put your toes in the sand and you did not know what to think of that! Just wait till we get to the beach! THEN (yes there's more) Aunt Cole came over to make dinner. We first went to Goodwill to hunt some treasures and then we went to our favorite grocery store, Publix! You let Aunt Cole carry you the entire time!! I was so impressed! You really love Nicole! She can get you smiling and having a good time! So warms my heart! We came home, made dinner and you sat in your high chair for the first time! 

We cleaned out your drawers and closet today and moved all of the clothes that are too little into two piles; one to give away and one to keep. It was more emotional for me than I anticipated. It happened so quickly. I remember when you were just 10 days old and we all went to the mall to get you some pajamas that fit because everything was just a little too big. Now those pjs won't even fit on one leg! Crazy! Crazy good, crazy wonderful, crazy love!

Happy 23 weeks,
Mommy

22 Weeks

Hello baby girl,

You have done some changing this week! I think you're going through a growth spurt because several times you've woken up in the middle of the night hungry. You just seem different. You're sleeping more during the day, you've been a little cranky, you're making some new noises (the pretend cough choke), you're very needy and clingy with me and you're getting really spunky! You try to grab things out of my hands and you're smacking things with your hands. It's really interesting.

We had our last Kindermusic class this week and your daddy came with us! Of course it was the first class that you didn't totally enjoy yourself. You were tired and a little cranky but we had fun! Ms.Jaime was kind enough to get a few pictures for us!

That's Mollie & Jaime, us, Ms.Amy your teacher & Mindy & Ellie Mae

We had a pretty mellow weekend. Your daddy watched you most of the day on Saturday because I had some work to do for Street Theatre and Sunday we went to the zoo! (Again, I know but we love it!)

It was very very hot outside so we didn't stay too long, we met up with Mollie & Jaime walked around a little bit, rode the train and the carousel and headed home.

Thursday marked a very special day because our great friends Alli & Tyler gave birth to their beautiful daughter Audrey Reese! Mommy went to visit her in the hospital. You'll get to meet her very soon! She was the same weight you were when you were born but 3 inches taller. I had forgotten how tiny that really is!

 I'm sure the two of you will spend  a lot of time together in the future!

 Seems like yesterday!

I love you sweet angel, I'm just in such awe of you and all that you do!

Mommy

5 Months

Happy 5th Month in this World

Dearest Reme Lynn,

I love how you are changing
I love that you loved the L Train
I love your delayed smile
I love the way you snuggle your bear
I love that my "moo" makes you happy
I love our talks
I love when you get excited
I love how observant you are
I love that you giggled at Stella's barking
I love the way you can nap anywhere, anytime and at any noise level
I love that coconut oil cured your eczema and the way it smells on you
I love your butt
I love the way you're testing the volume of your voice
I love that you are starting to drool a lot
I love it when you pull yourself to a standing position on my lap
I love the way you seem to tap dance when we hold you up standing on the floor or table
I love the way you get fussy right before you pass out
I love that you talk to yourself in the car mirror
I love your knees
I love the way you reach for our faces
I love breastfeeding you, it just gets better and better
I love the color of your skin
I love how much you enjoy Kindermusic
I love showing you off
I love sleeping with you in the early hours of the morning for a nap before it's time to start the day
I love starting each day seeing your smile
I love your intensity
I love it all

 I. LOVE. YOU

21 Weeks

Dear Country Traveler,

You have now either stayed in, enjoyed or driven through 8 states! That's a lot for a kiddo only 21 weeks old! You are a great traveler too. We know now that your threshold is about six hours in the car. You sleep well in hotel rooms and you take your nap whenever and wherever you're ready. I really do love that!

I had to work late on Wednesday so your daddy picked you up from the day care for the first time.I was a little worried that you'd be confused because I normally pick you up but you guys had a grand ole' time! It's amazing how much the two of you look a like!

We drove through the night and made it all the way past Indianapolis on Thursday night so we could spend most of the day Friday in the Chicago with your Gmomma and Gpoppa (Gerald). You slept the entire way! I think you were still tired from our Atlanta trip! You woke up bright and early the next day ready for the road! You were in such a great mood! You've gotten so good about being in your car seat! (Thank you for that!) You play with your toys and nap most of the time while we're driving. You often sing and hum and look at yourself in the mirror too!

You had your first trip on a train! You loved it! You jumped around in my lap and screeched and talked and smiled and laughed! It was hilarious! 

 

We're in Chicago!!

 

Our first stop was the Taste of Chicago! Yum, yum! You decided this would be a time that you took your nap and we walked around the park for quite a while and enjoyed some delicious food. Then we visited Millennium Park and saw the famous "bean". I couldn't wait to take my bean to see the bean! To be honest you weren't that impressed but it was fun!

You were knocked out pretty much the rest of the night. We explored "the taste" some more, listened to a little Robert Plant and then had dinner at one of the famous pizzerias, Giordano's. It was tasty!

The next day we you experienced another new first, a boat ride! We took a boat tour of the city via river and lake. It was really neat! What a great way to see the city. Once again you loved this mode of transportation. You were very intrigued by the water! I just love how observant you are about things!

 

 Later that night you stayed at the hotel with Gmomma while your daddy, Gpoppa and I went to see the Cubs & Cardinals baseball game. I'm so glad that you got some alone time with your Gmomma. She loved it! You were a very good girl and you gals had a ton of fun. She loved you so much. She calls you her "little dove" and says in her sweet voice, "she's the best one, yes she is".

We got up early that next morning, had some breakfast and began our journey home. Like I said earlier, about six hours in you had had enough. Good thing we only had about 2 more hours to

 go! All in all it was another successful, wonderful and fun adventure! 

You're still enjoying your Kindermusic class! This week was the first week you were extremely vocal in class. You were having a ball watching the other kids play and you stood up and tapped your feet (with my assistance of course) and sang and sang and sang! I'm so glad you're loving it baby! We'll do another one for sure! 

We also took another stab at grocery shopping together. This time you were happy to be in your Bjorn and learn about all of the different types of groceries!You felt and smelled many types of fruits and vegetables and we watched lobsters in the tank for awhile too. We felt the cold freezer items and the soft breads. I am so happy to show you these things. It was a good time! 

You are such a little sponge! I'm going to show you the world my love and teach you about all that's in it! Let's keep exploring!!

I love you,

Mommy

 

20 Weeks

Dear Reme Lynn,
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about your letters. What is it that I want you to take away from them? Life lessons? Memories that without these would be impossible to remember? A journal of our adventures? A keepsake of how much you are loved and our family history? I want them to be all of those things to you but I am also writing them for me. I don't ever want to forget these precious fleeting racing by way to fast moments that we've had. I want to remember more than just where we went and what it was like. I want to be able to remember the little things. We've had a lot of little moments this week that make me tear up now even just thinking about them. We stood in the rain and watched fireworks and you make the sweetest noises as they were lighting up the sky as if you were saying "ooo" and "ahhh". You have started to squeeze my boob while you're nursing like you are trying to get a few more drops. You also reach up and touch my face or stroke my hair. You also hum while you nurse sometimes. The night that we were just hanging out in the hotel room, you propped up on a pillow and your daddy and I laying on our bellies giving you our undivided attention. You put on quite the show. You laughed, the guffaw laugh, you cooed, you smiled so big, you put your hand out to touch our faces, you tested the volume of your voice, you'd screech really loud and then talk a little softer.

You had your first real giggle this week! Not a real belly laugh but a giggle and of all things at Stella's barking. We were walking around looking at all of the new growth in the yard and Stella was barking at a bird. You giggled! The sweetest sound ever. You haven't done it since. The way you're sitting with in a highchair at a restaurant, the look on your face is just so cool. It's like you're saying, "alright, I can dig this!"

The way we'll be driving in the car and you're sleeping then all of a sudden you'll start crying with your eyes closed for about 10 seconds and then just stop, like you're having a bad dream. You even screamed out one night in the middle of the night. You totally get that from me by the way. I never want to forget the times it's just you and me and we're sitting starring at each other, completely understanding one another without saying a word. Oh your noises, you have so many of them. I don't want to ever forget the sounds that you've been making. How does one hold on to these memories and never forget them? I guess we'll find out! I'm going to do my very best to remember the little things! I am in absolute total encompassing love with you. My sweet precious daughter.

We had some amazing adventures this week. It was the Fourth of July and we went to celebrate with some of our favorite people. "The Whitehardt Gang" Our gracious hosts Kevin and Mary threw one top notch party. We played games, ate yummy food, enjoyed many conversations and watched your second fireworks show! You did great! Being the observant child that you are you totally enjoyed just hanging out and taking it all in! You even tolerated being passed around a little bit!

The next day we were off to Atlanta to watch your daddy drive a NASCAR! It was so cool! He really loved it! You were pretty into it too until we had to go in for the meeting then you quickly got bored and decided to take a nap. You slept through the rest of the afternoon. I so think it's hilarious that you can sleep through the noise of loud race cars zooming by at 150mph!

 

The next day we went to the Georgia Aquarium. You LOVED it! I mean you just took in all of the sights and sounds.You didn't fuss at all! I think you liked all of the lights and moving colors the most. It was incredible! I'm so glad we got to share that with you! 

 

You decided to take a nap when we got to the jellyfish exhibit and slept for about an hour while you were in your carrier! That's my girl! Sleep anywhere!

 

It was a truly wonderful trip. 

The rest of this week has been pretty mellow. Just getting back into our routine and gearing up for another big road trip to Chicago!

I love you baby girl,

Mommy

19 Weeks

Oh baby baby,

What a wonderful week we have had! Your daddy and I celebrated our third year wedding anniversary and went out on our first "official" date since you were born! We had a delightful time. Our good friend Angie babysat you and the two of you did great! You even slept in your crib! Since I knew you were going to be with a sitter that night, I decided to keep you out of school to spend the day with me! You came with me to my gestational diabetes follow up (good news we're in the clear for now but will always do our best to eat healthy and exercise!) then we met daddy for lunch! We brought him PF Chang's since we had stir fry at our wedding! It was very good and we both enjoyed spending that time with you!

 

Then we got our nails done! Well mommy had her toes done but you sat with me and as usual watched very intently at your surroundings! I was very impressed with your patience!

Our weekend was fun filled as well! Friday night we went to the "Zoovies", that's an outdoor movie at the zoo! We hung out and danced and road the carousel and then you were pooped! We hung out a little longer but headed home shortly after the movie started. You can count on us doing that again! We had so much fun! it was great to spend that time together and with our friends!

 

Saturday we spent the majority of the day shopping! Again you were so very patient. Going on outings with you has become such a pleasure! (well most times anyway) Later that day we went to Karen's Kustard to celebrate the birthday of our friend Erik Elliott. We love the Elliot family! They are a fun, kind, generous, creative and entertaining family! I hope to spend many more celebrations with them!

Sunday after we came home from church we (daddy) decided to get one of the raised beds for planting. Yes we are way behind this season but you know better late than never! Tennessee has a pretty long growing season so we may have some stuff to harvest, we may not but we tried!

Then we went back to the zoo! We live so close and we're members so why not! It was a perfect day outside, not too hot, not too cool, it was just right. It was so nice! By the way that red hat belonged to your daddy when he was a little boy! Neat huh?!

 

 Tonight you saw your first fireworks show! You loved it! We were far enough away that the booms weren't very loud but close enough to see the pretty lights! 

Happy Independence Day my love! This is great a country we live in and we're proud to be Americans!

I love you,

Momma