MY girl :)!

Mia Dorine ~ July 2010 ~ 6 months old


Julie Michelle ~ June 1979 ~ 8 months old

I think it is safe to say that she is my girl :)!

Sweet baby Mia

Mia is just the sweetest baby - we are so lucky. A few observations on her first days of life:

• She LOVES to be held, swaddled, and bundled up under lots of blankets



• She has a ton of facial expressions



• She makes lots of little noises nearly all the time



• She has the loudest and stinkiest poops around!



• She doesn't love sleeping flat on her back, but prefers to be in the swing or carseat. And if she is tilted a bit to the side in the swing, that's even better. She's been sleeping in the swing (without it swinging) since she was 3 days old.



• She loves her food, and when it comes to eating, struggles to have any patience (like Mommy!)



• She likes to suck on her thumb or hand, and will also take a pacifier for a brief amont of time, but definitely knows when she no longer wants it and will spit it right out



• She spits up much more than Luke ever did, so I'm learning to manage that!



• She will often get the hiccups after feeding - especially if she's had a "big" meal



• She's a snuggler - loves to be in your arms, which is just the best

Leading up to Mia's arrival I often wondered (and even worried a bit about) how in the world I could love another child as much as I love Luke. Mia has joined our family and everything feels just as it is supposed to be - she was meant to be here, meant to be part of "us." I now know that I love her as deeply, but in a different way, as Luke. I guess the heart has the ability to continually expand, and to love not only one child more than I ever imagined possible, but now two...I am so incredibly blessed.

The perfect book

Over the summer I was browsing Barnes and Noble for some fireman/firetruck books for Luke when I came across this one on the bargain shelf (LOVE that shelf!).
So, for all of the obvious reasons (we wanted to introduce Luke to the idea of being a big brother, the baby in the story was gender-neutral and we didn't then know the sex of the baby, etc.), this was a great book. So, I was sold on it before I even really opened it to read it ... but once I did I was certain that Luke had to have it ... the big brother's name in the story is Luke!

Almost as if on cue just a few weeks before his new sister arrives, Luke has decided that this book, which he previously had little interest in, is his absolute favorite. We read it several times a day and the pages are suddenly starting to look worn ... and, in my opinion, there is nothing better than a book that is well worn and loved!

a BIG announcement

Guess what!?

I am going to be....

a BIG ...

brother!!!

Can you believe it???

This is very exciting news :)!

HE or SHE is due New Years Day - January 1st, 2010.