11 months

Last night when I went to bed, my precious darling daugther was 10 months old. When we woke up today, she was 11 months old! How on earth did that happen? How on earth did it come to be that she has been with us for almost a year already!! Here are the normal monthly "birthday" photos. I cannot believe that the next time I do this she will be 1!!!

Makayla,
My sweet babes! How independent you are trying to be. You are walking now, well taking steps to be walking, and every time you do you are taking more steps on your own. Your top 2 teeth are in, and you have the sweetest 4 toothed smile ever! Oct was an interesting month for you, you had your first Halloween, your first snowfall, and even our first time with the nebulizer. You still don't love it, but you don't hate it either. You see it as a nuisance, until you get to play with it. You are a non stop chatterbox, and I can't wait until you start saying more words! You love to snuggle and give awes (hugs) and kisses. You love to play patty-cake and letting us know how big you are. You hate sitting still and are always on the move. You had your first experience with "Little gym" and if it wasn't so expensive we would get a membership. You love giving Shae and Joey kisses, and especially love it when you see their pictures. You still love daycare, and everyone there loves you. You are such a sweet sweet baby, and I feel so blessed to have you in my life. No matter how bad my day is, you make it better. With daylights saving, you now get up a 6:30, but because of this you are now back to taking your morning nap. Which I was afraid meant you wouldn't nap at daycare, but you still nap there too. To me that is a win-win situation. You are a spitting image of me, and I wouldn't change that for the world. Slow down baby girl. You have the whole world to explore, just stay small one more day for mommy! I love you Pumpkin!

XOXOXOXO
Mommy

9 months and 5 days later...

As you know, I always takea picture of my sweet on on her month birthday. Hopefully, one day, she will look back and see why I love her so much. Anyway, here is the picture from that day.

Makayla,
I can't believe you are 9 months old already! I have had so much fun with you! We took your first family vacation to LBI (last year you were in Mommy's belly) and I know you had a great time! You went on a Whale watch with the family and while we didn't see any whales, we saw A LOT of dolphins!  You loved spending every minute of the day with your cousins Shae and Joey, and you miss them a lot now. You have gotten super fast in crawling, and you have even started going to "school" I think you like it, all the teachers there LOVE you! You are getting better at walking with help, and you are even starting to walk while only holding on with one hand!! Yesterday you said MAMA for the first time, and I nearly cried! You miss Aunt Jaime and her magic sleep whisperer self, but we are managing trying to get you to stay asleep. You LOVE to eat, and thankfully you aren't a picky eater like your father. There isn't a food you don't like, although we still haven't tried red meat, fish, or strawberries yet. You make me so proud of the little girl you are becoming, and I am starting to panic over how fast you are growing up. There are so many firsts coming up so fast, first school pictures next week, first trip to pick apples, to the pumpkin patch. We also have your first Halloween. Just know that mama loves you very much and I cannot imagine my life without you in it. Keep growing sweet baby. Mama loves you!

XOXOXOXO
MAMA

A month...

My dearest Makayla,

You are 5 weeks old officially tomorrow. You went to the doctor's yesterday and had your second Hep B vaccine. You cried for a hot minute, not when they stuck you with that needle, but when they injected the vaccine into your little thigh. You weighed in at 10 pounds 8 oz in the 90th percentile and at 23 inches, the 95th percentile. Your physical went well although the doctor heard what he called an innocent murmur. To make sure that it is nothing major, we go for an Echocardiogram on Saturday morning. A bunch of mommy's friends have been telling her that their kids had this murmur and that everything will be fine, so we are praying that will be the case. Aunt Bet (Nana's sister) said that there is a 10% chance that it is something to be worried about. However, you know me and my faith, I believe everything will be fine. I can't believe how much you have grown in five weeks! You grew from this...









And have grown into this sweet precious piece of love.

Unfortunately, my time on maternity leave is just about over. It makes me really sad that I can't be home with you all the time. To watch you amaze me every moment, to shower you with nonstop love. Trust me, it's not easy going back to work, and that day is going to be filled with lots of tears. The 8 weeks that follow will not give us a lot of time together, but we will push through and we will be fine. "Auntie" Carissa will be watching you, and mommy knows you are in good hands. She is coming to our house so that you don't have to go out into the cold and so that the environment is the same for you. This will be a big adjustment for both of us. Then, come April, will hopefully bring spring, and mommy going to work at 3 in the afternoon. While I won't be home to put you to bed ( I am still hoping you wake up at midnight for a feeding so that I can do it), we will have all morning together. As the weather warms up you and I will be going on walks, and I am sure Pop-Pop will join us too. But mommy will use the time as mommy and you time! April will also bring taking you to daycare, another adventure for mommy. But, you will only be there 3 hours a day, and I think it will be good for you. You will get to play with other children and maybe make some friends ;) Weekends will be family time, and of course visits with your cousin Shae, Nana and Pop-Pop and Uncle Ryan and Tia Rachel. You have no idea how much you have changed me. How you have put things in perspective for me. I truly believe that you are...

You have helped mommy put things in perspective, and focus on what is truly important. But, before we worry away our time together, just know that mommy loves you oh so much. I never knew I could love someone as much as I love you. You melt my heart over and over every day. I can't wait to watch you grow and your personality flourish. January is almost over, so next month you get your first Valentine's Day. Mommy can't wait! I love you my pumpkin and I hope you know that.

Love letter

My dearest daughter,
Please, take your time and grow. Sorry about today, mommy didn't mean to get all worked up, maybe part of me was missing you and just needed to hear your little heart beat. They tell me not to worry that I might not be able to feel you move all the time, but really, they won't be able to monitor that for another 6 weeks. Can you believe we only have 18 more weeks go to?!? Mommy is so excited, I can't wait to hold you and kiss you. You are going to be the best Christmas present yet! Daddy even quit smoking so he can be healthier for you, and he also agreed to go to Church with me (even if it is only one Sunday a month). There are a lot of people eager to meet you, but no offense, we don't want to yet. Mommy has a lot more stuff to do to your room to make it your space, and then, when it's time, mommy's world will change and you will now be the center. I can't wait to take you on vacation next year and let you hang out with Peanut and Joey, but let's take it slow. Let's make it to your birthday and then Christmas, and then we will go from there. Speaking of Christmas, mommy is trying to find you the sweetest little dress to wear, Daddy already bought you cute little shoes. Hmm, maybe we need your outfit to bring you home in. No worries, between Nana and your Aunts, we have nothing to worry about. Mommy needs to go now and do some homework. Know that you are loved very much, and mommy can't wait until she feels you kicking. Keep growing Kiddo...Mommy and Daddy have all the love in the world for you.

Love always,
Mommy
XOXOXO

My dearest baby...

Dear Femus,
You are 19 weeks old this week! Wow, how big you are growing. From the readings that your mama has been doing, you are the size of a mango this week. Even, though I can't feel you moving yet (I am sure that will change) from the sounds of our last doctor visit you are a very active baby! Next week, Daddy and I will be finding out what we will be calling you based on your ultrasound. We already have names picked out, we just can't wait until we can actually start using them to address you. Daddy is hoping for a boy, but I just want you to be healthy. You will be loved unconditionally no matter what God has blessed us with. Your cousins Shae and Joey are wonderful, and you will fit in perfectly with them. Your cousin Shae is three and already looks for you. Your other cousin Joey is too little to understand what a baby is, but he is almost 2. I can't wait for you to meet them. You have 2 aunts and 2 uncles who are looking forward to meeting you. No rush, please take your time to grow! Nana and Pop-Pop are excited too, but they don't want you to come out just yet, you still have 4 more months inside mama.
Well baby, mama must get to work. She is working hard now while she feels OK, eventually I will have to take it easy. I will write more to you tomorrow. I love you! Just keep growing, everything is going to be alright.

Love always,
Mama