8 months

Dear Gwenivere,
Eight months old is so much fun!  :-)

Really, this time is great... its like you learn something new all the time. You started clapping your hands this past month and will sometimes wave goodbye, you keep getting more and more vocal, and you went for your first solo ride in a swing. Not to mention the speed at which you crawl now, and the fact that you pull up on EVERYTHING! Lol. 

Another first this month... our first night apart! Mama had mixed feelings about this one beforehand. Your Daddy and I had a wedding to attend, for a very good friend; and I couldn't wait to go to that. I also couldn't wait to sleep in the next morning! But it was hard driving away and knowing I wasn't going to be there to feed you, to put you to sleep, or to get those amazing wake up smiles first thing in the morning. I'll admit that I cried a little. Your Nonnie and Papa were so excited for the time with you though, and I was happy that they got to do it. As I knew would be the case, we had a wonderful time. The wedding was beautiful and fun, and it was nice to spend some alone time together. But when checkout time rolled around at the hotel, we didn't need to be told twice! We were in that car, rushing our way home to you. The last few miles seemed to take forever, and it was all I could do to not trip over myself in my hurry to get up those stairs to get you back in my arms, my love. I'm glad we did it, but I'm in no rush to do it again anytime soon!!

Speaking of sleep... what a roller coaster that continues to be!! It seemed like overnight at the beginning of this month you started being ready to put yourself to sleep at night. We would do the routine, I fed you, then I put you in your crib with a blanket and your stuffed bear. It was so sweet listening you you roll around, talk and snuggle with brown bear. Half the time, you would play for a while and then decide you need some more milk and snuggles to fall asleep. But the other half, you just put yourself to sleep (at which point I sneak in and take the bear and blanket from your crib). This is a great development... one that I couldn't be happier that it occurred in such a natural organic, all in your own time way. It really is a great thing, however it sort of makes me want to yell, "Rewind!!" Sometimes I want to go back and get more snuggles! I want to go back to feeding you to sleep every night, feeling the heavy, sleepiness of you in my arms.

But I definitely don't want to rewind during the day, because you are so amazingly fun now. You laugh and smile and play with us more then ever. You love to use us as jungle gyms, climbing tools, and support for standing.

Of course, that standing has been messing with your going to sleep some too. That beautiful putting yourself to sleep thing, well it didn't last too long. It seems like you can't seem to let yourself lay there long enough to fall asleep, since you can pull yourself up, its almost like you need to pull yourself up! We went through some rough days thanks to that... but we're continuing to learn and adapt together, just like always.


My sweet, this coming month is looking to be even more fun then the last one, and I cannot wait for all the amazing things we are going to do together.

Love you more everyday,
Mama

Is it odd that Trav and I exchanged cards this morning because I just completely forgot to grab his and hand it to him yesterday, and he stuck mine in my purse to be all cute and surprise me... but instead I just realized that I really need to clean out my purse some because I didn't even notice it was there!? Is it weird that I was just as excited to stay in and eat hoagies from the local pizza joint with hubby and baby and puppy, as I would have been to go out and eat at a fancy restaurant, just the two of us? I think we're just low-key people.

That said, I did get beautiful anniversary flowers:

Aren't they lovely?

And, two more pictures from this past weekend, because they are fun.

Travis and the bride:

What happens when drunk Travis tries to take a picture of SEVEN girls... (go ahead, count...):

Today is almost over and I'm so excited for tomorrow to arrive... and my brother to arrive with it. Can't wait to see him. For now, back to work!

a decade of love and silliness

Ten years ago I walked into a party...

One that I didn't particularly want to be at, but one that would end up changing my life forever. We were young and just having fun, but then we met... and we were just together. No indecision, no wondering, we were together from that moment on. Little did I know when I walked into that fraternity house 10 years ago, that it would ultimately lead me to where I am now, four years after our wedding... 8 months with our beautiful daughter.

After ten years together, our relationship has morphed in plenty of ways. And this past year it has changed in a way far more obvious then its ever had to change before, going from a couple to a family of three. We are no longer those innocent kids, just looking to pass a few tests and drink a lot. Now we are taking care of our daughter, and building our future. Parts of this year have been trying, but all of it has been amazing... and I can't imagine not having Travis by my side to experience the joy of raising Gwen.

And what a joy its been.

Seeing you with her, Trav, has shown me a whole new side to you... has led me to love you, not only more, but more completely. You've always taken care of me when I needed it, but seeing you cradle our defenseless newborn in your arms knocked me off my feet.

And you continue to surprise me... something I didn't think would happen still. From being an voice of encourage- ment during the difficult times in breastfeeding (not in your typical comfort zone!), to bringing me a beautiful lily to remember our first due date (and some guys can't remember their anniversary even!), to simply accepting that you are going to have to do the dishes more then me! We argue sometimes, but at the end of the day, we are a team.

Thank you for loving me. Thank you for caring for me. Thank you for 10 beautiful years together.

I can't wait to see what the future holds for us. I can't wait to watch our daughter grow up, all the memories we'll build as a family. I can't wait to grow old together.

I love you.

Yours forever and always...

a picture is worth a thousand words...

A few weeks ago:

With my Uncle:

My nephew, Wyatt, with my Uncle's book:

This morning... even home sick, she's still the sweetest!!

 

Trav and Gwenie are home today, and as of this morning her fever seemed to be gone. Hopefully it stayed away and she feels better today. And hopefully she sleeps better tonight... Mama needs the rest!!