Reunion Day

Well Lizzie, today is the day that has been looked forward to for many days... we get the family back together. All of us are suffering from jet-lag, so sleep schedules are all messed up. I'm sue it will take a while before we're all back on the same patterns.

Yesterday you actually attempted to talk to me on the phone for the first time. Most of the time you get silent on phone or web cam. I don't know exactly what you were saying, but you said "da" and "ma" fairly clearly. And you hung up on me twice! You sure do like action buttons...

Da Da Da

Over the past few weeks it seems that all you know how to say is da da da. After first I thought it was cute because you were babbling and talking and smiling a lot more but now I am starting to feel a hint of frustration because you never say ma ma anymore. :( I know that you are just babbling and that you cannot at this age make a connection between saying da da and putting those words with a face. But over this last eight months we have nurtured a special bond that only a mama and a daughter share so maybe once and awhile you could say ma ma. :)

8 Months Old

Eight months ago, we welcomed you, Lizzie into the world. I remember the pride and awe that I felt as I finally got to hold you. (Finally, because your Mommy had been holding you lovingly for the previous 9 months -- though both of us were eager to hold you in our arms).

Lizzie, I saw you clearly calm down after the ordeal of labor, the shock of the new environment. You took in the situation around you, and I could almost see you decide, that yes, this was a workable situation. They (specialists) say that you cannot make out much with your eyes in those first few days, but that first hour that you were outside in the world, you seemed to be taking in the situation. You first looked at me with confusion. As I talked to you (and your mommy) you appeared to register that "oh, this is how this familiar voice looks." And from then on you appeared to look at me with recognition.

I find myself again eagerly looking forward to hold you. I wonder if you will still look at me with recognition?

Crawling

Nope. Not yet... but soon! Lizzie, you're just about to get mobile (no, not a phone) --- about to get moving to places of your choosing. You get to exercise your free will and decide where you want to go. Within reason, that is. For I assure you that your mommy and I will still help you through this learning stage. We will train you to make good choices, and pray that you will continue to make them.

For now, however, get ready to enjoy the little bit more freedom you can experience... and be prepared to get pulled away from dangerous (but very enticing and exciting) things.

Watching You Grow

Lizzie,
It most certainly has been a pleasure and a privilege of watching you grow and learn. I may not have had the most direct viewing location, but your mommy (and others) has been good about getting pictures and videos posted. But the best part has been the interaction via Skype. I still don't know which you are more excited about: seeing me or getting to touch mommy's computer, but you definitely get excited. I've been able to see your reaction change to seeing me on the webcam... and though you will never remember it, I assure you that I have been excited as well.

Counting down the days until I get to hold you in my arms again,
-Dad

Time Flies!

I can't believe that my daughter is already 2 1/2 months old. It feels like she is growing up soooo fast. Nowadays, she is showing emotions, smiling when we smile at her, laughing and giggling a little, and most of all, just being awesome. Click here to watch Lizzie's first laugh.

March Forth!

Well, it's March 4th and Lizzie is still bundled up inside me. The rocking chair finally arrived and is assembled, we bought a infant swing for her to enjoy rocking in, and her room is ready for the hundreds to thousands of diaper changes we will be doing once she arrives. I am very excited to meet this little girl and I know that my husband and I, while not perfect, are going to do the best job we can for this princess.

Lizzie, I love you and I am proud to be called your mommy!

Love, Mommy

Getting Ready

Lizzie,
It's starting to get closer and closer to your due date. Your mom & I are excited, scared, nervous, and anxious to meet you. We know that we won't ever be the perfect parents, but we're trying! There has been lots of planning and preparation for your arrival. As soon as we found out you were coming, we started getting ready.

We have found ourselves in weird territory. Before, we didn't even go down the "baby" aisle at the grocery store. Now we are. We've been buying diapers now, ahead of time, so that we have them for you to use. Some things are like every generation, but for you we've bought the best: you don't have a diaper pail. You don't have a trash can. You have a "Diaper Genie II Elite™ Advanced Disposal System."

Ok, so that's not any thing to necessarily rave about, but we're trying to do what we can. We don't have an instruction manual that you come with. As geeks, we've been trying to understand the new change to our world as best we can. Yes, we're geeks, if you didn't figure that out yet. We have more computers (6) than people (2) in our house, and I've already been planning your machine. I have the OS picked out and your mom agrees on the keyboard/mouse design... back to the preparations.

After we got back from grocery shopping, we started a load of laundry of your things. I insisted that we get two bottles of baby detergent, since we'll be doing lots of loads. Your mom said we didn't need to just yet because your things would all fit in one load. I still insisted. Guess what? Your things fit in one load! (PS> your mom is very smart -- and right most of the time)

See you soon, my daughter.

-Dad

Snow

Lizzie,
I know you won't appreciate it right now. But your mom has been doing an incredible job taking care of you. From the interrupted sleep to the back pain to the leg pain to the exhaustion to everything else, she's been looking out for you and doing everything she can to prepare for your arrival.

We've made purchases and other people have made purchases. "Things"-wise we are getting close to being done. We've got a rocking chair on order (from good ol' Babies 'R Us), the crib and bassinet are assembled, clothes are purchased, and a supply of diapers are on hand.

Lately, we've been dealing with snow. Snow, snow, snow and more snow. Although you aren't expected for 28 more days, we've been trying to keep at least a walkway clear so that we can reach the street. This storm hasn't been as cooperative. We've got a Blizzard on our hands. I got up early this morning to try and make the walkway. It lasted for two hours. Your mommy and I went out again to try and make it. We even got some of the cars dug out. But the blowing wind made it difficult. Taking a break for lunch, we checked the weather and it said that 2-3 inches per hour were predicted.

Also, more snow. Yep. More snow next week.

Back to digging (since I can't carry you yet)...

-Dad

Fatherhood

While many of the changes for me have not been as visible yet (no "baby bump" showing on me), I'm sure some things have changed. Getting ready for Lizzie's arrival has been processes within a process. We started by getting a new room, which meant moving. With things still in boxes, we started getting more boxes: packages with paper and strings... and ties, bags, parts and instructions. Some things have been given to us (ie, free things -- yeah!) others we have had to buy. Which is where one of the major changes in Honorablelauren was visible:

Before, while visiting a store such as Wal-Mart, I would sometimes point out something in the baby section, and she would crinkle her nose or roll her eyes -- baby items were not on the radar. Now, the very same items are "ahh... cute!!" Now, I'll admit: shopping for baby items has been fun. I don't always feel in the mood (like Saturday night, when I begged out of going in exchange for shopping after Church on Sunday) but I enjoy the enjoyment.

Sticker shock did set in a while ago, but we've modified our budget and the necessary items should fit it easil... er... should fit! We've not only been purchasing items, but we've also attended a class on caring for an infant. It basically covered the first two weeks of life (feeding, changing, bathing, sleeping). Still have to schedule the birthing class.

I'm excited, a little nervous, but looking forward to Lizzie's arrival. As long as she sticks to her scheduled time, everything should be set up and in place. Just in time for her to turn everything upside down! At least I have a few years before having to worry about school, proms... and boys!

Ain't That A Kick In The Head

"My head keeps spinning;
I go to sleep and keep grinning;
If this is just the beginning,
My life's gonna be beautiful..."

~Dean Martin, from "Ain't That A Kick In The Head?"


One evening in November my husband and I were sitting on the couch after dinner watching Wheel of Fortune. I had felt little Lizzie moving around inside of me but I had never felt her kick before. It kinda felt like the nervous feeling of butterflies when she would move around. My husband decided to lay his head next to my belly to see if he could hear her moving around inside when all of the sudden the belly jumped. "Was that a kick?" my husband asked. I replied, "I don't know.I have never felt her kick before..." Then little Lizzie moved again, this time with greater force. POW! Our little girl kicked my husband again, still with his head on my belly. And from that day on, our little Lizzie has been swirling and kicking and moving around.

Beer? Sure... I'd Love Some... Oh Wait! Better Make That A Root Beer Instead

While I would not consider myself addicted to alcohol the absence of it seems be a constant nagging reminder of all that I do for this little baby inside me. I love having a glass of wine while eating spaghetti or having an ice cold beer with steak or even having a rum and coke when at a social function. My last sip of alcohol was on the 4th of July when my husband and I were vacationing with family in Maine. It's not that I have a strong desire to drink because I have been several months without it now, but honestly, I don't like being told NO! The very fact that I am not allowed to have something is extremely annoying to me. Could you imagine if they (being medical professionals) said chocolate was bad for fetuses? How would I survive?

Surprise!

I will not lie to you when I say that my reaction to the positive pregnancy test back in June was less than joyous. It felt as though someone threw a monkey wrench into our plans that we had so dutifully discussed before my husband and I got married. We thought that maybe a couple years from now or after we both finished college or when my husband had a more stable job... that then, would be the "right" time to start having a family. Not to mention the fact, that my husband and I, who although we have been friends for years, were still trying to figure this marriage thing out, let alone how to be a mommy and daddy. I even took another pregnancy test but it only confirmed what the first one said and what my husband already knew, that I was pregnant.

I will say that my attitude toward this whole thing has improved much since my initial reaction but I still wonder if I am ready to partake in a responsibility that I feel have no real training in. Babies unfortunately do not come with instruction manuals and despite how many books one person can read every child is unique. So just as a baby is learning to survive outside the womb, so we too are learning how to care for them. It shall be only by the grace of God that we succeed as we experience a new chapter in our lives.