6 Months | A Letter to My Daughter

My precious Adalyn,

With the amount of pure love I have for you, you'd think I would be bursting with things to say right now. But all I can think about is the torn-up rose plant all over the garage (thanks to a dog), the sheets that need to be washed because a different dog threw up on them, and drying out your brothers backpack and papers which are soaked from him putting an open water bottle inside. I'm trying so hard to not let little annoying stuff like this steal my joy, so I am sitting down to do this instead.

So. I guess if there is one thing I would like to leave you with this month, it is that I pray to always choose YOU. Regardless of what mess or chaos arises throughout the day, my goal is to make sure you and your brother feel loved and important.

I KNOW I don't always do a good job with this. Especially with your brother, who now that he is six seems like he is twelve. But I am trying. And I will continue to try. I want you both to always, always know how important you are.

Some notes about this past month with you:

You are SO ready to move. You are constantly turning over and I can tell you really, really want to go somewhere! Once you get on your stomach you hate it, but you just can't stop.

You tried solid food (rice cereal) for the first time. And hated it. Well, you didn't mind it while you were eating it but you screamed for a good hour during your nap that followed.  I don't think it agreed with you. We decided to wait another month and try again. We gave some to you yesterday and you seemed to do much better with it.

We celebrated our first Valentine's Day with you.

I never understood the appeal of baby wrists until now.

You experienced your first snow. It's a good bet that if Texas is ever going to get winter weather, it's going to be in February. Your brother sledded the hills on a cookie sheet, but we only took you out for a few minutes here and there so you could see it.

You got your first "stand-up" toy. You still prefer to be held over anything (even this) but you do have fun with this little (big) activity center.

You started taking most of your naps in your crib. We were so hoping the transition to your crib for naps wouldn't be too difficult on you. And relatively, it wasn't that bad. But now, I find myself really missing that quiet time in your dark room, holding your sleepy, warm body while you rest. So occasionally I will still hold you for naps. Just because.

You found another toy you love. Whoever invited crinkle books is a genius.

Here's just a picture of you with your uncle. So you don't forget what he looks like. ;) Just kidding Jacob. Your uncle is and always will be one of my very best friends, but I so wish we got to see him and your Aunt Rachel more. They were some of the first people to meet you when you were born (and were in and out of the hospital all day helping out) but work and busyness and life has just gotten in the way recently.

Your Nuna Leaf is supposed to hold over 100 lbs. But seeing you in it now, compared to when you were a newborn….gosh you just seem so big.

You are such a sweet natured baby. You would be loved and adored regardless of your temperament of course, but as I look through these pictures I'm reminded of what a happy little girl you are. As I was talking with a friend today when picking up your brother, she commented that she had never seen you cry. And it got me thinking about your personality, likes & dislikes, etc. You really don't get upset a lot these days. For awhile you had terrible reflux, and that bothered you, but after trying a few things (namely me giving up chocolate!) it seemed to be resolved. You also used to immediately cry when put in your carseat. And for several weeks in your fourth month, you would scream and scream and scream when it was time for a nap. These days though, just about the only thing you don't like is being on your own for a certain amount of time (in a swing, chair, etc.) As long as you are being held, or worn, or paid attention to, you are content. And there are much worse things than having a baby that likes to cuddle. :)

Your dad gets the biggest smiles out of you.

And I get this: :) Must be the big camera I'm always wielding.

Here are the pictures from my phone:

A friend told me I would know when you were interested in food. I think you are definitely getting there. Here you are watching your brother have a snack...

And, we finally found a toy you like to chew on...

And, you love watching ceiling fans.

Your nursery is by no means complete, but I finally finished the mobile project I bookmarked back in June. And we hung some special things on your wall too. The bottom two photos are your birth announcement. That I never sent out….

For awhile there, while you were trying to roll over, you were always laying like this. It made me giggle every time because that is the only picture we ever got of you in a sonogram. You would never show your face.

You're very into grabbing faces right now.

You seem SO big in your Solly wrap now. Compared to this!

Your second attempt at rice cereal.

You and your brother. He calls you boo boo face, and likes to call himself your Bubba.

As I mentioned…easygoing. Doesn't matter what kind of get-up I put you in, you just go with it. Much to your dad's dismay.

I finally got around to making you some headbands (the wrap not the bow) and I might make you a thousand more when I have time.

In the second picture, you are wearing one of my sweaters from when I was a baby. Your grandma gave me all my old baby clothes for you, so I'm slowly working through them, trying to figure out what sizes they are.

My biggest regret over these last few months is that I haven't hardly touched your baby book. As I was reflecting over the last six months, and how incredibly fast they have gone by, I realized that I already cannot remember so many details about your first few weeks. Like, what did we do during out first weeks at home alone? After your dad went back to work, I can't remember the specifics of our days. And I guess it's not important, but I hate that I didn't record the little things. I know I held you, pretty much all the time. And pretty much got nothing done. But I am SO thankful that it was so, and not the other way around.

So my goal this month is to work on your baby book (and write your brother's year-in-review post). You have kind of overtaken this site as of late. :) I am so, so thankful though that I at least have my thoughts here from each month to help me remember. I hope reading them is as special to you as it was for me to write them.

Every night, when I pray while putting you to bed, I thank God for making you just for us. I ask him to protect you, and to help you grow strong, and brave, and healthy. I ask him to help me be a good wife and mom. I ask that you will always know how much you are loved. And I whisper to you every night what a gift you are.

I love you more than you will every know.

Love, your mom

Stripes! | Fort Worth Maternity Photography

This sweet family has been trying to fit in a maternity/family session for weeks, and we were finally able to make it happen! Rather than spend our time driving to various locations, we decided to just hang out at their home and walk around their cute little neighborhood. This family means so much to me, and spending the afternoon with them was just not work.  I couldn't be happier to share these...the joy and light and love you see in these pictures is SO real. Can't wait to photograph their baby girl's arrival in April!! (You'll see why I titled this what I did as you scroll down…I love stripes on a cute baby bump!!)

(My) Baby Must-Haves, Part II

More baby stuff! Favorite products #5-8 below. #1-4 here!

5.)Marpac Dohm Sound Conditioner

This is what most people would call a white-noise machine. The difference between this one, and alllll the others, is that this is not producing the canned, electronic version of white noise that most of us are familiar with through apps and other baby sound machines. It has an actual motor that runs inside the housing, producing a constant, soothing hum. And somehow it is just perfect.

It is loud enough to drown out SO much background noise, yet its not disturbing. I don't get it, but I am a believer. The first time I used it I thought it was pretty loud, and I had it on the lowest setting (it also only has two volumes, which is nice and simple.) But the instructions say to give yourself about three days to get used to it, so I did. And I love it. And my daughter loves it.

As I mentioned in the last post Adalyn is pretty sensitive to noise. And I'm not talking steady noise like a TV on, or cars outside, etc. Our house is a constant madhouse of dogs barking and dinosaurs roaring and a certain boy running and jumping and falling throughout the house. I would probably have a hard time sleeping through all of that too if I was napping during the day. Or maybe I wouldn't. But anyhow, we tried everything. And there are a handful of other sleep machines that I really do like, and use, that help her calm down and get ready to sleep. But nothing that drowns out noise like this. I actually waited a couple of months before buying this machine, because of the lack of bells and whistles. I thought it seemed like a bit of an under-achiever as far as sound machines go. And I could just kick myself.

A couple other things I love about it:

• It is easy to use. The on switch either gets flipped up for low volume or down for high volume)
• It doesn't take batteries.
• It doesn't shut off.
• It is adjustable, but not overwhelmingly so. You just turn the outer housing to adjust the tone of the hum

The elephant in the room is that it is not the cutest sound machine out there. But if you can find me a mom that cares more about that than her baby's sleep I'll give you $20.

6.) MyBaby Homedics Sound Spa on the Go

Yep, another sound machine. This is one of those I referred to above, that I love because it helps induce sleepiness. It is just one of those things she has come to expect during nap time, and though it is not a magic pill by any means, it does seem to calm her down (she's not an easy napper if you couldn't tell by now.) The main reason I love this is because it is portable, and it stays on. I totally get the need for automatic shut off, but for a baby that takes forever to fall asleep sometimes, the machine turning off is like an overhead light turning on. It totally messes up her mojo. This little thing has four settings, but her favorites are the heartbeat and the lullaby.

7.) Bravado Nursing Bra

Kind of a weird baby fave, but kinda not. Also, I searched and searched but could not find a non-awkward picture of this product. Nonetheless, it is probably the best item of clothing I've owned these past few months. It's not the cheapest bra out there, but it's definitely not the most expensive, and for something you use all-day-every-day, it is worth it. My mom bought me two in the hospital, and when we got home I asked my husband to go buy me another one. It's not the prettiest thing around, but I love them.

8.) Noggin Stik

This was a toy that we registered for at the suggestion of our "registry helper" at one of the stores. She highly recommended it and said that customers loved it. I was, at that point, clueless about baby stuff. I became Ian's mom when he was 2, so this whole stage was brand new to me and I was so overwhelmed at the amount of choices to make. Now that I think of it, I am pretty sure I started crying during the store that day. Anyhow, I took several of her suggestions, and am so, SO glad I did. This one especially has been a life changer. Adalyn loves this thing. It has truly been our saving grace, because our sweet girl hated the carseat the first 3 months of her life, and going anywhere was so anxiety-inducing because we knew she would just get herself so worked up and upset. And it's never fun to see your baby like that. The only thing that ever calmed her down or got her attention was this silly looking toy. So we took (and still take) it everywhere. We will turn around after leaving to go back and get it if forgotten.

The Noggin Stik was created as a developmental tool, which is why we registered for it (but we love it regardless of what it does or does not do for her development!). The creator was an early intervention therapist who designed the toy to promote healthy brain development and bonding. There is a neat info graphic on their website, but here are a few key points they list:

• Captures a child's focus and increases attention
• Assists with the development of visual tracking-a critical pre-literacy skill
• Provides tactile interest to touch and visual interest to see
• Helps children auditorily locate sound
• Enhances grasping and holding skill

It is a bit expensive for a baby toy, but we only purchased one (one was a baby shower gift) and have EASILY gotten our money's worth. Adalyn has gotten a little better about being in the car, but still doesn't last very long without this rattle.  She is old enough now to hold it on her own, and it makes me smile to hear her back there just shaking away.

This was taken at home, but you can at least see how much she likes it :)