We took you for your newborn picture session, but you screamed the whole time so we had to leave early. Nana and I took you to Target for the first time, but you screamed, again, almost the whole time! You lost your umbilical cord after just 1 1/2 weeks. It hung on for about a day by just a tiny piece or two, but finally fell off without either of us knowing. Mommy found it on the rug in your room just a little while later. Ick!! We saved it though. How could I get rid of your little life line. It connected us for nine whole months.You had your first 'real' bath, which you thoroughly enjoyed, but were certainly a bit unsure of at first.
You are developing quite a personality, and sometimes what one might even call an attitude :)!! When you don't get what you want, when you want it, you are sure to let us know...along with everyone else on the street. You had your first fussy day, all day! My goodness girl!! Mommy is pretty sure that it corresponds with our attempts at giving you formula at night. You don't mind the formula and you don't mind a bottle, and you don't really even have any trouble going between the bottle and Mommy. But that formula makes your belly very upset! :( It breaks Mommy's heart to pieces to watch you clench your fists and grunt in agony. You tense up and turn red and it's so frustrating to not be able to help you. We've tried a few different formulas, but nothing seems help. The problem is Mommy will never sleep if we don't do this and unfortunately, as well as nursing is going...pumping isn't.
You love to sleep like this on your Boppy in the crib. We know it's not safe to leave you sleeping unattended on the Boppy, so Mommy just sits and watches you. And, of courses, takes pictures!
You also went to your first doctor's visit. He said we needed to come back in a week because he wanted to watch your weight gain. You were back to your birth weight, though. We went back a week later and you had gained 7 ounces, getting you up to 7 pounds, 5 ounces. Hooray!! You pooped twice while we were there, so Daddy got to change your diaper, which he loves to do ;)!
Mommy was able to get back into her own bed after having to sleep in the rocking chair for two weeks. Sitting up was still difficult at first, but has gotten much easier. This was not just difficult for me, but it was also an adjustment for you. After sleeping on me in the rocking chair for almost two weeks, you weren't so happy about being expected to sleep somewhere else. We tried the bassinet, the crib, the Snuggle Nest...but you weren't having any of it! We continued to try and try, and sometimes when you were REALLY tired you would give in and sleep in the crib. This transition made for a rough week for all three of us. And nobody got a wink of sleep! Thankfully Nana came to stay for the weekend and she got up with you through the night on Saturday and Sunday so that Daddy and I could sleep a bit. You had no problem going in the crib for her, it was just with us that you refused!!
As you can see here, you have very long legs and as you grow, it seems that it's mostly in length and your cheeks ;)!
We finally decided it was time that we got you a swing. We had been trying to decide which one to get for the longest time and still hadn't done so. At first you tried to put up a fight with that too, but eventually it was just too comfy and too soothing to refuse. You love it and you sleep in it every night and for naps, too. You're actually sleeping up to four hours at a time in there. We are so proud of you! And so thankful to God that everyone is sleeping around here! Although those two weeks of sleeping together in the rocking chair probably created this problem, Mommy wouldn't have done it any differently!! That was such a special time for both of us.
You finally had the chance to meet your Great Grandma Miller. Unfortunately you happened to be a bit grumpy while she was here. You have no idea how much it means to me for you to have been able to meet her and for her to have met you. When I was a little girl, from your age on, Grandma Miller was the most important person in my life aside from my own Mommy. She is very special to me and I hope she will be with us for many years to come so that you may have and share memories like those with her. You can see by the way she's looking at you here, she loves you already!
You are already such a big girl! You are growing way too fast, but it is amazing to watch! I cherish every day with you and am scared to death to go back to work in a few weeks and not be here with you each day to watch you learn and grow. Thank you Baby Girl for making the past month the most incredible month of my life. Our journey has begun...
I love you Peanut!
{Mommy}
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You are one month old. You have grown so much in a month. I really wanted to write you a letter every week for the first month, but time quickly escaped me and truth be told, I'm a little late with this one, too. I have been documenting everything on your baby calendar and that helps me to look back at the last few weeks and reminisce.
So much has happened in one month. Your Papa turned 50, but we didn't get to see him because he was away on a trip and when he came home he was sick:( Daddy had a birthday, too. We made him a really cool travel mug with your picture on it and got him a digital frame for his desk at work. Now he'll get to see you all day! Mommy and Daddy also celebrated their first anniversary. We went back to the museum where we were married and Nana stayed at home with you. You went to your first hockey game and loved listening to the guys yell and the sound of the puck being hit. You stayed awake and, although you couldn't see anything, you listened contently the entire time. We're thrilled you liked it, as there's sure to be many more in your future!
You are a week old today. One week ago you entered the world and with your first breath, you took mine away. I will never forget the moment they lifted you up for Daddy and I to see your beautiful face and your tiny little body. You are the sweetest, most precious baby I've ever seen. Despite you arriving the "hard way", I wouldn't change a thing. We travelled a bumpy road to get you here, and we now have what we dreamed of for a very long time. A perfect baby girl. We've been blessed.
You have come a long way in one week. You arrived home late in the day Monday. They weren't sure you were ready to go because you had lost about 11% of your birth weight and refused to poop. But Dr. Foye said you were an over-achiever the first two days and you were eating well so he allowed us to bring you home anyway. The ride home was difficult for Mommy, but you slept peacefully in your seat. You didn't fit so well in there though. You sunk into the dip at the bottom and looked soo teeny tiny down there. We spent our first day at home with Daddy, snuggling and adjusting to our new life. I knew instantly that this was the way it was meant to be!!!! On Wednesday, you went on your first outing to Mommy's doctor and to the carwash (Daddy was driving! ;)). Mommy got her stitches out and again, you slept peacefully in your seat looking slightly bigger than last time you had been in there. 
Your first week was a special week for so many other reasons. You met your Nana and Papa Schuld, your Auntie Lindsay and Uncle Brett, your Grandma Pam and Auntie Sarah and many, many more family members and friends of Mommy and Daddy. You even slept a couple of nights for four or five hours at a time, but mostly three. You eat like a champ and love to sleep on Mommy's chest every chance you get. You can lift your head, suck your thumb and you recognize Mama's voice when you hear it. You're very alert when you're awake and you appear to be able to see things around you, despite what we know about baby's near-sighted, blurry vision. We sit and stare at each other and you move your mouth as if you have something to say. I'm sure you do and I can't wait to hear it ALL! You had your first sponge bath and you hated it! You screamed the entire time and it broke Momma's heart. You are not a fan of being cold. That includes diaper changes, clothing changes, bathing, etc. We read our first book together, You Are My Wish Come True by Marianne Richmond....
It wasn't easy. She came the "hard way", but she's healthy and beautiful and perfect and sweet and amazing and I'll stop now before I cry...again!!!
I vow to share her with you as much as possible.
The attic is finally completed. It looks awesome! I'm so proud of my guys for all their hard work. We couldn't be happier with the outcome. You can see that the two closets and storage area have been left unfinished for now. This is due to both the way we intend to use those spaces and the fact that time is really closing in on us before BG arrives, so the focus is on the priority projects around here. 
With pink and cream and brown all over...
With delicious little chocolate birds and eggs...
With diaper cakes....
And guessing games....
And sweet little baby sayings....
With gorgeous cupcakes....
And gifts galore....
With napkins tied and pinned as diapers....
With signs of congratulations....
And the cutest miniature bird houses you've ever seen...
With gorgeous roses and delicate ribbons....
And even more bird houses....
And a perfect little spot for the Mommy-to-be to enjoy all of the guests and the amazing view, from the solarium of the most beautiful castle on Seneca Lake. What a perfect day! Thanks so much to everyone who was a part of it!
...for no reason at all.
This was an extra special surprise considering all that she has on her plate right now. She and her family can use all the prayers they can get. Her daughter Olivia just had a second bone marrow transplant to help cure her of a rare disease. She is just a 18 mths. old. What Katie, her husband and their families are going through is unimaginable and truly heart-wrenching. I'd love to show you the little one's photo, but I'm not comfortable without Katie's consent. Just trust me when I say she's a beautiful little girl who deserves this second chance as much as anyone. So please pray that her body accepts this transplant and things begin to look up for them. 
These last three photos are gifts from my BJB Nicky. There hasn't been much junking going on around here due to weddings and babies and tons of home repairs/remodeling. Despite that, she remains my good friend (for shopping, crafting and anything else we can get ourselves into) and is otherwise known as Auntie Nicky around here. She's a spoiler. She made those shoes for BGM. How super cute are they? She packaged them in the smaller of the two fabulous hat boxes above. She gave them to me on a random day, just because. Just a few weeks later, we headed out to do some errands and there she was with another, larger hat box. That box had that super cute dress and matching shoes in it. We love it. All of it. Thank you Auntie Nicky! 
