Moments I Treasure...

Last night, Ariana was getting sleepy and so i sat back on the couch after nursing her and she just placed her cheek om my breast and laid there smiling at hubbs listing to my heart beat.

This afternoon, we were sitting on the floor, she was playing and I was on the laptop. Ari got tired and let me know by grabbing my arm, pulling it to her to wrap around her then buried her face in my upper arm.

A simple smile or sweet giggle makes even the toughest day a priceless gift.

6 Months Old Already?

I have been good about blogging because I have had my hands full. How is it that my wee baby is 6 months old already? I will try to update with milestones and pics this weekend!

5 Year Anniversary!

Feels like time has passed in a blink of an eye! At the same time, it's crazy how much has happened and how much we have grown as a couple in just 5 years! We have had our challenges but we have come through it all stronger while maintaining our sense of humor with the ups and downs of married life. The cliche is true... the challenges we have overcome just cement our faith in our dedication to each other. I know that life can be scary and some obstacles seem impossible but my faith in the proven strength of our love gives me a sense of peace and confidence to battle any future road bump.

D, my love,

On this day 5 years ago, we started our family with a vow to love, honor and cherish through good times and bad. Our love makes the bad not so bad and the good amazingly blissful. Thank you for loving me with such gentleness and patients. Thank you for being such a loving and dedicated father. You gave me your hand in marriage 5 years ago but have given your heart and soul everyday since. I hope you know how deeply honored I am to be your wife, how infinite my love for you is and continues to grow. I look at the life we created and my heart bursts with joy. I can't wait to see what joys the next 5, 10, 25+ years bring and the laughs we will share remembering our journey.

I love you,
XOXOXO,

L

Our exciting morning one year ago today...

...we woke up to this amazing blessing :o) I can't believe a year has flown by so fast... ok maybe it dragged at certain not-so-fun parts of the pregnancy! We were in shock for some time and it didn't really sink in until I started feeling her move inside me. And even now, there are moments of "OMG, I am a freaking Mom!"

Ariana is almost 4 months old and is such a joy each and every day. Babies are so demanding of your time but they also generate so much love and devotion in your heart that sometimes you feel the need to smooch and snuggle her constantly when in her presence. There truly are no words to describe it.... how a child changes your perspective on life forever. I treasure even the most repetitive and mundane of events with her... when she falls asleep in my arms while nursing her, the discovery of her feet this morning, her high pitch squeal of joy when I act silly, catching glimpses of her with her head on my shoulder as I move around the house, stroking her hand as she falls asleep beside me at night... so many precious moments I want burned into my memory.

At times while pregnant or during labor, I wondered why anyone would want to do this more than once... the joy of loving this precious little person makes all the pain and discomfort of bringing her into this world forgotten... almost.

What a difference a decade makes!

Where were you at the start of this passing decade?

This question was posted on TheBump and OMG... WOW... it just hit me how HUGELY different my life is now! This time 10 years ago, as the 90's were drawing to a close, I was in the hospital recovering from multiple surgeries after a severe spinal chord injury counting my blessings I was alive but depressed seeing the world-wide festivities on TV from my hospital bed... wondering if I could ever find happiness again with disabilities, facing a possible life in a wheel chair and plenty of physical an emotional scars.

The start on 2000 was spent sadly wondering "what now?" My life had been carefully planned out and those plans, my Air Force career as a pilot was no longer possible and the very idea of dating was now something of a sick joke. Who the hell would want this shell of a woman? What will I do if I never get out of this wheel chair?

I sit here crying with joy at how amazing my life is. Now, the start of 2010 draws near and I am healthy, running again and happily married to my best friend who gave me a beautiful daughter... WHAT a difference a few years make [:D]

First Laughs!!!

Last Friday while doing Christmas shopping, we were going through the Starbucks drive-thru and she was fussing so Damen hopped into the back seat and was beat-box'n to her to make her smile and she let out the cutest baby giggle! I had thought I got a small laugh out of her a few days prior but this was a loud sweet baby giggle for sure! We were so excited and laughed our heads off. The few grunts before the laugh were hysterical like she was feeling the urge to laugh but didn't know what this urge was our how to let it out to express it.

Damen was the only one to get a laugh out of her since... but yesterday I finally succeeded in producing that sweet infectious sound. The key is to make funny sounds to music with our mouth and bop her hand to the beat as well.

Now to get it on camera!

2 Month Checkup and Shots ...oh my!

She is actually 2 month and one week old today. Her checkup went well and the doctor said I am doing a great job... LOVE hearing that! Ariana weighed 9 lbs. 8 oz. and was in the 50th percentile for weight and length. She showed off when he put her on her tummy and she held her head and chest up and was semi scooting and then almost turned over onto her back. That was more than she does at home cause I think her play mat is kinda slippery and the doctors table is more firm and has more traction... or she pushed it more to show off! ;o)

As of last weekend, she has been grabbing at toys and not just batting at them. She grabbed her rattle from Papa for the first time last Sunday and we got it on camera the 2nd time she did it. She is also grabbing the feet of the giraffe hanging on her play mat and some bright objects I put in front of her. Its so exciting to see her "firsts" and relieving to see she's meeting her milestones.

She also got 2 of her shots today which was harder for me to watch than it was for her to get. She cried during the shot but stopped as soon as I picked her up. We are doing a more conservative shot schedule to not overwhelm her still developing immune system. Its a reasonable compromise between not vaccinating and following the aggressive shot schedule outlined by the CDC. Instead of getting 5-6 shots today, she got 2 and will only get 2 per visit from here on out. We also did not allow for the HepB shot the day she was born. Its a shot for an STD which we don't have so it can wait. After all of my research, we feel comfortable with our decision. She will not be in daycare so we can be more conservative. She will have all the required vaccines before the start of school but at a reasonable pace to guard against the chance for side effects and the risk of developing ADD or Autism. A good book to read to start informing yourself on this issue is The Vaccine Book by Dr Sears.