Red Aggie????

So it hit me- John and I have been married EIGHT years!!! (yesterday was the official day!)
And of those 8 years we have spent the last 7 right here in Aggieland. The few years here were spent thinking that we would move once John was finished working for InterVarsity. Then I got my Masters degree from A&M and we stayed some more. So now we are here not because of job, or school but because--BRACE YOURSELVES Red Raiders------ we like it!!!!!!!!!

That's right we like it.

Oh sure there are times that we want to send the entire Aggieland to a far away land- especially around freshman move in, but for the most part it has grown on us.
We cleaned out our attic that was filled with boxes- just in case we need them to move. Then I looked in my closet and realized that I own more maroon shirts with an A & M on them than any Red Raider should (but my good friend Kristin- the swim coach at A&M gave them ALL to me), and I realized-

this is home.

My parents live where?!?!?!?!

Memorial Weekend

We went to Galveston again. A beautiful Memorial weekend away. We took our beach girl back for more fun in the sun. She was the main attraction up and down the coast. I relished in the compliments, for there are many on her being so pretty, big eyes, great smile, and my favorite; "she looks just like her daddy."

My parents came up with us and we party well together. Some fish, some beer and a granddaughter was all the fun we could handle. For more pics of our weekend click on the pic above or go to our web albums.

Its nice to have a three day weekend to remember how good rest is. Not just physical but emotionally too. I go back to work but will picture myself on the beach with my two girls all week long.....

It's hard being a mommy

You know what I've discovered- It's hard being a mommy.

Reason 1:
I want to do everything right. From what to feed her, when, how to put her to sleep and what car seat she uses. It's hard when you think you are doing it "Right" but some other mommy does it her "Right" way. But the ways are total opposite!

Reason 2:
No matter how hard you try you are going to mess up in some way. This is REALLY hard for me. I don't want to mess up in a life altering horrible way. I don't want to mess up at all.

Reason 3:
Sick babies are very needy. Poor thing doesn't want to be put down because then she can't breath. She caught a cold. (They say babies get 6-11 a YEAR!!!!) But there is laundry and cleaning and everything to do!

Reason 4:
I'm still adjusting to the fact that I can't have a total agenda and plan for every day. We all are creatures of habit (just look at how you get ready for bed every night and see) and I think I would like to predict what the day is going to bring. I thought I would be better about not knowing. Some days I am, but this week is hard, when you have plans to see someone or be somewhere at a certain time and she decides that nap time is now or nap time SHOULD have been a hour ago!

Reason 5:
Even with all these reasons why it's so hard, I know that getting to mommyhood was way harder. Some one who went through infertility as well said "It's OK to have bad days. Just because your journey was harder and you feel like you should always be happy- sometimes you just have bad days."

So even with my "Reasons" why it's so hard it's- not so bad- really, but can she nap when I need to do laundry?!?!?!?! :)

Roll Over!

Guess what Gianna can do now!

Gianna Visits her Cousins

4 month Check-up

Another 2 months, another 4 shots.
Gianna was a hit at the Doctor's office today. All the nurses kept talking about my pretty and beautiful baby. And they are right!

She weighs 11 lbs and 10 oz, 23 1/2 inches and her head is 40.6 cm

She is 25 % for height and weight and 40% for her head!

She was having a big head day for sure. All of this is not adjusting for her 6 weeks difference in gestational age. She would still have a big head when adjusted.

He said she might be petite, she might have an innie belly button and she might have eczema. He said she would probably still be eating every two hours for the next 6 weeks. And that she probably isn't ready for solids (I'm not either!). He also said I need to eat more protein and it's OK for her to be a bit behind- she's not rolling over yet. And finally he said -welcome to germs, after I told him that Gianna got a cold from the church nursery, but that it helps build up her immune system.
2 months to see him again and 4 more shots then too.

First Mother's Day

Joy of Joys, today I got to celebrate my very first Mother's Day. For three long years we have cried and shed tears on this day. But God is so gracious that he allowed me to celebrate this great day with my beautiful daughter Gianna Joy!
John celebrated me by making me breakfast and stopping on the way to church for my favorite- Starbucks. He also got me an amazing embroidery machine so I can monogram to my hearts content!
In church they gave flowers to the newest mother and the oldest- I got them for being the newest mother!

So here's to my mother for being amazing. And to my mother in law for being so great!
And for all the ladies who long to be mothers, know that I lift up a prayer for you and that you will get to celebrate this day soon!

4 months!!!!!!!!!!

Can you believe that she is already 4 months old?

She's a bit bigger now

Freeze tag

I have been tagged. Basically what this means is someone way cooler than me came up with the idea and it has finally made it to me where I will tell 7 random facts about myself.
Well, since this is a blog about the baby (note the blog title) I decided that I'll try to incorporate her into each fact.

1. I love little baby girl clothes. I love to touch them, buy them and even smell them. Baby clothes and babies have the best smells! (except diapers and John already covered that last post).

2. I love to recycle. I have piles and piles of things in the garage just waiting for recycling day. I also try not to through anything out until I've use it twice. So this means I have several baby wipe boxes waiting for a second use because they are the wrong # for recycling.

3. I love a good bargain. I hate math in my head. So if something is a percent off I use my fingers and count. My mother (the math teacher) says its fine as long as I know HOW to take the percent off. I'm often in the baby isle figuring out if it's cheaper to buy the diapers there with a coupon or go to Sam's and get them in bulk.

4. I love the Gilmore girls. It's a TV show and the only one I watch every week (besides the Amazing Race.) I sing the song to Gianna every time: If you're out all alone... just call my name and I'll be with you.

5. I require 8 hours of sleep uninterrupted. Since January the longest I've gone is 6.

6. I cannot stand not to finish a book, movie, or TV show. I feel invested in the characters, or have to commit to the time I already spent to it. So I get extremely upset when shows, movies are BAD. Let me save you the trouble on the latest bomb of a movie we watched: The Good Shepard. We turned it off only 1/3 of the way through it was so bad! But I couldn't stand it so I went to the Internet to find out how it ended. Gianna was asleep before it started and she doesn't care for Angelina Jolie.

7. I know that lots of people read this blog, but don't leave a comment. Gianna does too. She reads the blog with me, but only comments to me not in the comments section. She also helps me reply to emails occasionally. If you ever get an email with no caps you know she helped.

Complete Joy

Charissa loves to save money. Every week she cuts coupons and makes a grocery list. She is extremely good at this. She has saved over $40 in one shopping trip! I have seen it and can bear witness. The next generation of savers is starting up.....

This is part of my nightly routine. Jealous aren't you? I come home, change clothes, and pick up my girl. We have been chatting alot this week. I ask her a question like "Do you believe the demoncratic party will be able to convince Americans of their platform?". To which she replies "gee gok ga ga gee irup". I don't know what she means by it but she laughs and I laughed like I got her political joke. Below is another one of her one liners she is telling. She does have a good sense of humour already.

Our magnolia tree. Its small but beautiful. Smells very much like not Gianna's diapers.