Happy 5 Months!

Somehow five months have whizzed by since little Mia came into the world.  She is "everything I never knew I always wanted."  (Name that movie.)  I adore her.  She is delicious!  We all adore her and I hope we don't ruin her with too much love.  Another shot from our recent photo shoot:

Mia came along in the midst of a dark time for Chance and I.  We all go through our rough patches, but those first couple of months were enormously difficult.  Having a newborn is always a bit of a challenge.  But I can honestly say I have never felt such despair.  Work and financial stress, marital discord, exhaustion, postpartum depression, whatever ... it all piled on until I thought I would never find happiness again.  I suffered countless nights holding Mia in the wee hours; tears streaming down my cheeks and feeling an incredible loneliness that I feared would consume me.  In my mind I knew that everything we were going through would have been so much easier if she had never been born.  But in that same moment, my heart stopped at the thought of life without her.  I realize now that caring for her kept me sane, kept me focused and just kept me going.  I thank God every day for my sweet Mia.  She saved me.

"In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes."

 

~Martina McBride,

lyrics from In My Daughter's Eyes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLS0Y40WwlA

 

Shoebox of Photographs

I purchased a photo session recently for my sister and I for a steal at a consignment sale in Kent.  The photographer (Jessica) lives in Hawaii and was only here for a few weeks and did some local shoots in Maple Valley.  I wish more than anything that my friend, Ashley, hadn't moved away to Arizona.  It's tragic!  I miss her and her mad photog skillz.  In any case, Jessica did a pretty great job, too.  My only regret is that I spaced getting Noah's haircut and he looks a little overgrown.  Oh well, we're just keeping it real here.  Enjoy!

Wacky Hair Day & Other Tales This Week

Monday:  Mia is now 4 months old!  (well, actually, she turned 4 months on Sunday).  She is adorable and lovely and exhausting.  And she now sits in this seat:

Tuesday:  Emma having lots of love meltdowns.  It's takes about 27 kisses and 14 nice long hugs for her to say goodnight. I hate it and I love it.

Wednesday:  Another visit to Urgent Care for Noah.  Had to get a wrist x-ray to rule out a break.  This boy likes to experience life to the fullest!  He ages me so.  Thankfully, new insurance coverage was effective YESTERDAY.  Whew.

Thursday:  Spent another morning at the doctor's office for Mia and Emma. Mia had her 4 month shots which was very sad. Emma told everyone all about her private parts which was strange. :/

Friday:  Wacky Hair Day. I told Emma that her buns were super cute and she cried. She didn't WANT to be cute! So we put straws in them so she'd be "wacky" instead!

Emma is pretending to be a foot doctor:

Emma:  "Can you be good for Dr. Emma, mommy? Don't kick me in the face now!"
Me:  "OK..."  (Squeezes my toes....)  "Ouch!"

Emma:  "Oh, sorry. I'm just trying to motivate your toes."
Me:  "Motivate my toes?"