Three Months!

It's been a very long three weeks filled with work, pumping, and countless sleepless nights. Lately I feel that since I'm trying to do everything, I'm succeeding at nothing. Something has to change!

BUT sweet Sophia is already three months old and cuter than ever.

• I miss her sweet milk breath when I'm at work.
• She laughed! Or giggled. It is so cute and squeaky. 
• Her crazy aunts have endearingly given Sophia the nickname of "that alien." Melanie has even developed a secret language between the two of them.
• Sophia's bedtime routine is pretty much nonexistent these days since, oh wait, she. does. not. sleep. I tell myself it's because she misses me all day and just wants to hang out.
• I'm looking for new toys to entertain Sophia. If you know me, you know that I hate toys. Give Sophia a book, and I'm a happy mama. But I know that toys are good for babies, so I'm on a search for cute and/or pretty toys. Do those even exist?
• Her birth announcements have been sitting in the apartment for almost two months now. I'll get to them eventually...better late than never, right?
• Please please please vote for Sophia on the Gerber Generation Photo Search. You can vote once a day every day until September 24th. Vote. Pass it along to your family and friends. We greatly appreciate the support!
• I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting a million things, but the sleep deprivation is starting to affect my memory.

Here's a picture of Sophia at one, two, and three months. She's still my teeny tiny skinny mini and perfect in every way.

Preparations

As my maternity leave comes to an end, I have to create a home away from home for Sophia at my parent's house. I am shopping around for more baby products, so I don't have to pack up my entire apartment every day. Since Sophia hates practically everything, I am obsessed with researching new and unique products to try. There's a running list of "gifts" for Sophia on my phone. We are going to test the comotomo baby bottles (similar to the Tommee Tippee bottles we currently use) when she drinks pumped milk. Both are supposed to make it easier to go back and forth between breast and bottle since I would like to continue nursing when I am home with her. And yes, I cannot wait to spend my breaks pumping away in my car.

And with work, it'll be even more difficult to find time for the gym, so my hunt for a good yet stylish jogging stroller continues. The bloom and origami strollers are both suitable for jogging, and they have some fun features like solar lighting or running lights and UV protection! Plus they have such colorful options.

Oh, and I would pay a pretty penny for a carseat that could safely transport a swaddled baby. I am not looking forward to the nights where I have to wake up a sleeping Sophia at midnight (or later depending on my schedule) to bring her home.

Every day Sophia is smiling a little more and developing into such a sweet little girl. And so my anxiety over leaving her grows. Any love, support, and kind words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated. I don't really know many working mothers or have any great examples to follow in this direction, so I'm very uncertain of what this change entails. Retail isn't the greatest supporter of family life. The majority of people I work with aren't married let alone have any children. To be quite honest, I'm mostly not ready for this because I always prayed that something would work itself out so that I wouldn't have to go back to work until Sophia was 1- or 2-years-old. I don't want Sophia calling anyone else mommy!

But to end on a happier note, I'll include more pictures of our sweet Sophia:

Cheering on the Red, White, and Blue...

...and loving the Fab Five and Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte and Missy Franklin!!

We're obsessed over here, and it always makes me cry. I love that even with all the trouble and turmoil going on, the world can still come together in friendly competition. Sophia loves it too! Look at her cheering on Team USA.

Watch out Olympics 2028, Sophia Rose is coming for you!

On a different note, our little family is breathing a huge sigh of relief today. At Sophia's 2 month well baby appointment, we found out that she wasn't gaining enough weight. After a couple days of a strict feeding schedule, we went back, and skinny mini hadn't gained a single ounce. They did some preliminary blood tests to see if anything was wrong. And they sent us home with the instructions to feed. every. three. hours. no. matter. what. Even at night. For, you see, baby girl is like mommy and daddy and would rather sleep than eat. If she still didn't gain any weight, our pediatrician was going to put Sophia in Texas Children's Hospital. So Sophia and I set out for a feeding frenzy. I had alarms set for every feeding, and I would wake up my sweet baby from her afternoon naps and deep sleep at night to eat. I was so worried about baby Sophia. And I kept blaming myself. What if I wasn't making enough milk? What if I was't producing good quality milk? What if they make me switch over to formula? But we went back to the pediatrician first thing this morning, and she had gained 4 whole ounces. Whew! We go back in a week to make sure we are still making progress. Then we can finally get her immunizations and space out feedings a little more, so we can both get more rest. I'm so so happy my baby isn't in the hospital right now. Keep her in your prayers this next week!!

Side Note: I wish it were socially acceptable for grown women to sport adorable baby fashion like onsies and leg warmers or headbands with giant bows/flowers or dresses with ruffled bloomers underneath. But, alas, it is not. 

My Little Rose

I cannot believe Sophia will be nine weeks old tomorrow. Where has the time gone?! I'll admit, I used to get so sad whenever I thought about her changing and growing. Okay, okay, let's be honest, I still do... But she really does get more beautiful every day, and I look forward to all of her little milestones. I can't wait to take Sophia to her first dance class or spend an entire afternoon reading and painting our nails (or, of course, our little shopping trips that will surely stress Johnny.) I just love having a little girl! Anyone that really knows me knows that I was meant to have a girl. I often dream of a slightly less caffeinated Gilmore Girl-esque relationship with my daughter. Doesn't that sound just wonderful?

And some updates on our little family:

• We have recently started a bedtime routine to develop some familiarity and consistency for Sophia. I read that babies do well with repetition. We start with bath time, which Sophia has really grown to love. Then we nurse, swaddle, snuggle, and turn on the SleepSheep Sound Machine. Sophia knows exactly what comes next. I forgot to turn on the sound machine the other night, and Sophia sure did let me know. Last night, I added Goodnight Moon since bedtime really isn't complete without a story. She's usually still awake when I put her down, but she has learned to put herself to sleep. With the exception of some random cries and loud squeaks, Sophia sleeps fairly well.
• Sophia has discovered the joy of sucking on her hand. I think she's still working on finding her thumb. She often prefers her hand to the pacifier or even nursing.
• She is not a big fan of tummy time. She usually screams and screams and pushes herself around and around in circles. And she leaves behind a trail of drool. 
• As much as I would like to brag about Sophia being such an easy and happy baby, it is not the reality of our situation. She loves to cry. And she has to be held and cuddled 24/7. It is going to be interesting when I go back to work. There definitely isn't a person in the world that dotes on Sophia the way I do.
• Postpartum depression blows. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I hope everyone is staying cool. We are looking forward to some relief from the hot summer sun. We want to run a marathon as a family, so I can't wait until it is cool enough to go running with sweet Sophia. And I know it is still in the distant future, but I am excited about buying Sophia some winter clothes. I love layers and baby Uggs.

Two Months!

Little Miss Sophia Rose is two months old, and we've got smiles!

10 Things I Want My Daughter to Know

10. Be a girlie-girl. Love pink and lace and roses! Or be a tomboy. Either way, own who you are. Don't worry too much about what others think.

9. "You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way." Song of Songs 4:7. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

8. Don't compare. And don't judge. It'll rob you of a lot of joy. Trust me, I've learned this the hard way.

7. Follow your dreams. And dream big, girlfriend! I'll do anything and everything to help you, and I will always be behind you 100%. That doesn't mean I won't give you my opinions sometimes. But at the end of the day, trust your heart, and I'll have faith that I did a good job raising you.

6. Baylor Bears are the best! Education is important, but it's not everything. The support system you can build at Baylor is unlike any other. And enjoy everything while you're there, even if it seems a little silly (after all, there is no Diadeloso in real life). And have a heart for Waco. It's not the most glamorous place, but it has a certain charm. Plus that's where I met your daddy.

5. Don't be a mean girl. There's enough of them in the world. Have a good, pure heart. That alone will get you far in life.

4. Always have a planner. Bring a jacket. And wear sunscreen. You'll be glad you did.

3. Be careful who you trust. Some people will try to masquerade as your best friend for selfish reasons, and some will talk behind your back. It'll break your heart. Those people aren't worth it. I know, baby girl, it's hard to stomach, but it's important to know.

2. Always remember mommy and daddy love you. More. Than. Anything. We're trying, but we're not perfect. We'll make mistakes. Lots of them. We're sorry!

1. Do everything in His glory. Wear out your praying knees.

And ten more things...

xoxo.

Baby Coos & Rose-Colored Glasses

"I surrender who I've been for who you are, for nothing makes me stronger than your fragile heart." - Sleeping At Last

Little Sophia Rose will be seven weeks tomorrow. People weren't lying when they said it goes by fast! It has been a tumultuous and dichotomous couple of weeks. I love the little milestones that come with her inevitable growth, but I also want to hold onto my tiny newborn. 

Recently, we've discovered the magic of the baby carrier. Sophia loves the closeness that it provides while it gives Johnny and I the luxury of two free hands! She is still a little too small for it, but it stops the crying.

We're also getting more smiles and baby coos. The journalism major in me wants to capture every moment, but my paparazzi skills leave something to be desired. 

Some other baby Sophia developments:

• She has an amazing startle reflex. She'll throw her arms up in the air and then go right on sleeping.
• The sound of the hair dryer makes her pass out, even if only for a couple minutes.
• I want to start exploring baby sign language. I think we'll start with 'mommy,' 'daddy,' and 'milk!'
• No, we're not getting her ears pierced. I want her to ask for it and for us to have that girlie bonding experience.
• She has super soft baby feet.
• It is fun seeing the world through the eyes of a baby; everything is new and exciting. Sophia's favorite game is Peek-A-Boo. I get a great big smile every time.
• Bath time is getting better. The lavender scent of our baby shampoo & body wash calms sweet Sophia Rose after a good hard cry.
• I feel incredibly guilty every time I leave Sophia. And it's only for about an hours at a time. I can't even imagine going back to work right now.

I love discovering new baby products, brands, and outfits/accessories. My latest obsession is BabyLegs leg warmers. They help keep Sophia's legs warm without interfering with diaper changes. Besides, Sophia has the ability to kick off her pants. Leave your recommendations for your favorite things!