Dear Gabrielle (1 Month Update)

Dear Gabrielle,

Today you celebrate your one month birthday!   We cannot believe it's been a month since the doctor laid your little body right on top of Mommy.  Seeing your face for the first time brought back some very happy memories of when your sisters were born.  We have loved watching you change in the last four weeks.  How fast you've grown in such a short amount of time.   You have shown us love comes in the teeniest of sizes and we have thoroughly enjoyed watching you grow.   We cannot explain how happy we are to have you as part of our family.  You have brought so much joy and so much fulfillment to us.

So far at 1 month:

• You're still drinking Mommy's milk...5 ounces
• You're able to drink from a bottle now so Daddy, Samantha and Sarah can feed you.
• You've definitely outgrown newborn size diapers and those newborn outfits are really snug on those rapidly growing legs.
• You're sleeping like clockwork for 3 hours and waking for your next feeding.
• You gave Mommy a real BIG treat recently and slept for a whopping 4 hours.
• We introduced the pacifier a few days prior to today, and it seems to help soothe you after your feedings.
• You burp like a champion
• You make some EXCELLENT facial expressions.   One of Mommy's favorites is your duck face right after you wake up from a nap and you're stretching.
• You're starting to make eye contact and hold it.
• You're holding your head up for longer periods of time...which will make tummy time much easier.
• You still hate having your bath...but,
• You react very well to Samantha's voice...especially when Mommy and Daddy are changing your diaper.

You have no idea yet at how much happier we are because you have arrived.   You are loved by so many people, and that love can only grow bigger.  As sleepy as Mommy is sometimes in the middle of the night, I love to see the excitement when you know your bottle is coming soon.

We cannot wait to see what the rest of your life brings to us.   Just know that we love you and we're here to hold your hand and be with you for as long as God let's us.

Don't grow up too quickly baby girl.

Love, Mommy and Daddy

We had a quick photo shoot to mark your big day...but I think you were more interested in your bottle and another nap.

Sarah Visits the Pediatrician

Today Sarah visited the Pediatrician.  Sarah was very happy to go only because she is all caught up with her vaccinations until she's 11 years old.  Hee hee.

Sarah passed her hearing exam and did relatively well with her eye exam.  (It looks like Sarah may need eye glasses sooner than we thought.)  Overall, Sarah's Pedi was very pleased with Sarah's progress.  

(And now my favorite part!)

Check out Sarah's growth progression:

December 2014 (6 year appointment) 

46.5" tall (75th percentile) and 51 lbs (80th percentile)

2 inch and 6 pound increase since last year

December 2013 (5 year appointment) 

43.5" tall and 44.4 lbs

(BMI 80%)

December 2012 (4 year appointment) 

40.5" tall and 38 lbs
(and excellent blood pressure of 86/48!)

Advent Is Here

Every year the week leading up to Christmas, Samantha's CCD/Religious Education class gathers at the parish to hold the annual Advent play.   Each of the students who are enrolled get to choose from various characters and then present the story of Jesus' birth.

This year, Samantha chose to be the Inn Keeper.  She was in charge of telling Mary and Joseph that there was no room for them in the Inn.

On our way home later that afternoon, I had asked Samatha in the car what she thought of the play, and she said she enjoyed it very much.   Then, I asked what she learned from the character that she played.   Samantha's response:   "The Inn keeper really had to make a hard decision.   He wasn't being mean and saying "no" to Mary and Joseph.   He really didn't have any room."

We Have a Birthday Girl! Sarah Is the Big 6!

This year for Sarah's Birthday, Sarah requested that we go check out the movie theater again.  As you may remember, Jeremy and I took Sarah last year to see Disney's Frozen in theaters for an early Birthday gift.

This year, our little family of 5 went to go see "Penguins of Madagascar 3-D".   (Yes,  I said family of 5!   Gabrielle slept the entire time all curled up with Daddy).

Our Little Ninja - Update!

Sarah has now earned a second yellow stripe!

Big Sister

This morning was Sarah's turn to feed Gabrielle before getting ready for the school day. 

Sarah forgets that Gabrielle isn't going to be doing much for the first week or so.  I can't begin to tell you how many times Sarah has asked if Gabrielle can crawl yet.

Big Sister

Samantha and Sarah have thoroughly enjoyed having Gabrielle home with us.   In fact I have been told by the girls on several occasions "Thank you for having her [Gabrielle] Mommy and Daddy!"

Samantha has been enjoying feeding Gabrielle's bottle before she heads out the door for school.  She loves it!