Even the frowns are cute!

I love how smiley Aubriella is, but I can't help thinking her little pouty lips are absolutely adorable too!

Being a Mom

I have now been a mom for 10 1/2 weeks! I honestly can't answer if it has gone by fast or slow. At times I can't believe my baby is 2 1/2 months, but then it feels like she has been here forever! Not being at work has really made the days flow together and I forget what day it is sometimes- and don't even ask me the date!

Just as I knew I would, I love being a mom! I always knew I wanted to have children and thought I would be perfectly fulfilled as a stay at home mom. I envisioned learning to care for a newborn would be a piece of cake, so I was a little surprised to find it is more challenging than I thought!

I prepared and studied for birth, but didn't give much thought to nursing. I figured it was the natural way so it couldn't be that hard... right? Wrong! After learning cup feedings, becoming best friends with the pump, and two infections later I can finally say it is becoming "easy" and enjoyable. I love knowing that I am giving Aubriella the best start possible.

I also didn't fully understand what it means to be a mom. I didn't appreciate that it is a role that I am 24/7! There isn't a minute that I'm not thinking about her and responsible for her. It warms my heart that I can almost always instantly soothe her tears, but at times it is overwhelming that I'm the only one who can! A couple of weeks ago she started only wanting me when she is tired. She will cry with whoever is holding her (even Jose sometimes!) and instantly stop when handed to me. I don't even have to say anything, she just knows! We've tried tricking her with me keeping my face close while someone else grabs her, but she is too smart for that! Because of this I haven't been able to leave her at all.

All the challenges are worth it though! The lack of sleep of Aubriella's first month are now a funny memory (like the time Jose and I woke up sitting up on the edge of the bed, and don't know why or how long we were asleep like that....or the time I woke up patting my heart thinking I was burping the baby!) and are being replaced with 7-10 hours of solid sleep! When she was first born I wondered who made up that babies have different cries for different reasons, but can now distinguish a tired cry from a hungry cry. And every little smile (and there are LOTS throughout the day) makes it so worthwhile!

Dedication revisited

Way back in 2008 after attending an infant baptism I wrote some thoughts here. I can't believe 2 years later our little "Hannah" is Aubriella and we are preparing to dedicate her to the Lord this weekend!

This Sunday, before our family and friends we will be making a public announcement that we are vowing to raise Aubriella unto the Lord, and commit to teaching her to follow His ways. Jose and I will pray everyday that she will one day make the decision to accept Christ as her savior. We know that only she can choose salvation for herself, but we will do everything in our power to point her that way.

As promised in 2008 the big party is planned! We didn't make invitations, but you all are invited (as long as you aren't some crazy stalker and can prove it by calling me and asking for details ;-). There won't be a bounce house (though Aubri's Nana was asking if we should get one), but there will be good food and fun!

Uh-oh!

Aubriella LOVES bath time! She gets so relaxed and happy, and sleeps like a baby afterwards (a very very good baby). A couple of night ago bathtime didn't go as usual. It started off just fine... her happy coos and smiles, the look of contentment, seeing her little body relax, then her cute little face wrinkle up into a sneeze... ACHOO....oops a little more than a sneeze came out!

Did I do that?

Yuck!

We finally have grass!

When we bought our home the backyard wasn't landscaped. We worked on other projects around the house, but very soon after we found out Aubriella was on the way, Jose got busy getting the backyard ready. It took awhile recruiting help, so it was a long process. We got a new patio made, then Jose pulled weeds, rototilled, dug trenches, installed sprinklers, then pulled weeds again since it had taken so long. FINALLY his last weekend of paternity leave, he did the final prep and installed our sod! Thanks to his cousins and Jasen it was complete in half a day!

The grass arrives!

It was pretty ugly before!

Jasen earned the "hard worker of the day" award for loading and moving all the grass!

Making some progress!

Aubriella gives her stamp of approval! Can't wait to finish up the landscaping, and eventually have Papa build her a club house and swing set!



Mommy and Baby are very thankful for daddy and so proud of his hard work!

Oh the Joys!

I am loving everything about being a mom! Everything Aubriella does amazes me (I can't believe I've been excited about poop!) and I'm enjoying every minute with her. I can't believe in 7 short weeks how much she has grown and changed! She is smiling and alert now, and even grabs for the toys on her play mat- last week she didn't realize they existed!

There are so many amazing and fun things about her, but one of my favorite things is dressing her up! I love having a girl who I can dress in fun bows and clothes. Here are a few recent!

Her first pony tails!

Clearly she didn't like them! Just kidding, her hair is long, but not this long! This is actually the dumbest/ugliest headband for babies I found at a store. I didn't buy them!

And our little ballerina! I don't know why my mom and I keep buying her ballerina clothes. If she has either of Jose or my dancing skills she will know to stay far away from ballet slippers!

"Get this big bow off my head!"

In her new outfit! Pretending to be shy

Ok I'm done! She's learned the best way to get the camera out of her face is to zone out!

Usually she poses very nicely, but occasionally she wants nothing to do with it!

Cute Cousins

About four months before Aubriella was born, Jose and I found the perfect frame that said "cousins". We planned on taking a picture once she was born with her cousins. We finally got them all together! I think these pictures are so cute! Even though Adri and Savannah have nicknamed her Aubrismella, it is obvious they love her!