Playing Dress Up with the Baby Girl

I absolutely love dressing Maryn every day because it's like playing dress up with a doll.  Baby girl clothes are so precious.  (Now, I think JB has some snazzy clothes, too, but these days I'm dressing him and thinking "is it okay if he destroys this today?"  Is less about looking cute; it's all about durability and functionality!)

Both of our mothers are sentimental and love to save things.  Ms. Leron gave me a beautiful crocheted sweater for Maryn that was actually a gift to baby James (although never worn, as his Daddy found it a little too "girly").  My mother passed down all the crocheted booties that my great grandmother made for me as a baby.  Little Miss Maryn looked beautiful in both, and I only took about 65 pictures to prove it.  (I'll limit myself here to my favorites!)  Maryn sat for her photoshoot in a chair made for me by my Daddy, making the pictures even more special.

Although I took the below pictures to try and capture some of the detail of the sweater, it made me realize that (when you crop out their hair) Maryn and JB look an awful lot alike!!  Especially this scowl - they are like twinsies!

Here's hoping that this little gal loves to play dress up as much as her Mama.  We had way too much fun with this!

Blue Sprinkles

On Saturday, the neighbor gals hosted a sweet "sprinkle" for Elizabeth and the new little boy who will join the gang in February!  Like his sister, he truly is a miracle and proof of answered prayers and the perfection of God's timing.

Celebrate!

Lots of food, lots of champagne, and lots of blue.  Christina's house makes you feel like you're sitting in a magazine (although she never makes you feel like you - or your crazy kids - can't touch or spill.)

The food spread

The Mimosa bar

(we monogram anything)

Maryn joined us since she's a girl (and the easiest baby ever).  She got in snuggles with her friends, lounged on the floor, and snoozed in my arms.  In other words, she had a blast.  

with Miss Rhianna

With Ms Becca

We can't wait to meet this sweet little man!  Our neighborhood group continues to multiply with all these little additions.  

Love these ladies!

Sleeping. Traveling. Living.

Admittedly I'm feeling a little overwhelmed this week after my first work trip after my first full week of work and a transition onto a very busy project.   So ready for the weekend.  What, it's only Wednesday you say?  Sigh…

Y'all, it's hard to be hundreds of miles away from your little 4 month old baby.  Well, and hard to be away from your 2 year old!  (It's also hard to be away from your spouse, but James and I are well conditioned after 10 years as a couple while very often apart.)  I have several long trips on the calendar the next few months, so I must accept them and not dwell too much.  As I remind myself often: I enjoy my job AND I'm grateful for my job.  Plus I just read Bossypants, so I'm feeling empowered as a real bad-A working mama.  :)

Last week I was convinced the best part of the trip would be a FULL NIGHT SLEEP in a hotel room. We were back to sleep training Maryn (if you recall from her 4 month update she regressed to a newborn night schedule), and the little gal was crying for hours all through the night.  Brutal.  On Friday night I couldn't find her sleep sack so grabbed the Merlin Magic Sleepsuit.  Then I went to bed and woke up at 7:30AM feeling like an entirely new woman.  That thing really is magic.  Saturday night she slept soundly again, so James made the executive decision to ignore the doctor's advice and keep her in the marshmallow suit until she grows out of the largest size that they sell.

If it's not broken, don't fix it.  

(And that Sunday night while sleeping soundly at the Hilton, there was a "fire emergency" at 4AM that caused massive disruption to my sleep. Ironic, no??)

The kids survived - even thrived - while I traveled, thanks very much to their Daddy, their Gia, and the nanny.  Maryn did go on a hunger strike on Sunday night after I left (bring on the mom guilt!!), but James reported that she quickly became a "team player" starting Monday morning. Hopefully she'll be a bottle pro after all this travel.  Speaking of bottles, no one at TSA or Delta gave me grief about all the milk I lugged back last night.  Yea!

When I opened JB's door this morning he popped up and said, "Oh! HEY MAMA!!" I melted.  Maryn kept smiling at me while she happily nursed. Homecomings are wonderful things!

So busy, busy, busy - but that's just life.  Between our travel, our working, our moving in March, I'll accept any and all prayers for our mental sanity!!

My Reading/Watching List from 2015

The previous year (2014) was one of the first years in quite a while where I actually had a reading list recap.  And it was actually more a "watching" list than "reading" list.  This past year (2015) I was determined to get in a few more books.  Nothing too crazy, nothing too daunting, but less mindless TV/iPhone time and more actual reading time.  The irony is that I love adding books to my potential reading list, and dreaming of all these best sellers and interesting topics that I could/should explore.  I just don't get to them.

READING LIST
Here is what I did read last year, according to my Goodreads App where I track all this stuff.

• Bringing Up Bebe, by Pamela Drunkerman
• The Surrendered Wife, by Laura Doyle
• Shanghai Girls, by Lisa See

(I wrote a review on these three here)

• Dreams of Joy, by Lisa See
• The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
• Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins
• Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
• The New Strong Willed Child, by Dr. James Dobson
• This is Where I Leave You, by Jonathan Tropper
• Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn
• The Other Bolyen Girl, by Philippa Gregory
• Toddler Rules: Your 5 Step Guide to Shaping Proper Behavior, by Jo Frost

I think this represents a fair mix of advice/inspiration to make me a better parent, catching up on social phenomenons that everyone has been talking about for years, and a few other random novels that I picked up and enjoyed. 

I'm glad that I finally got into the Hunger Games series after avoiding it for so long, as I haven't had anything captivate me like that in quite a while.  I'll be honest that Gone Girl did not hold my attention as much as people told me it would.  I actually liked Gone Girl, the movie, more than the book (which rarely happens), but was sorely disappointed in This is Where I Leave You, the movie (although I knew it would be impossible to translate the wit and humor of the book into a movie, despite the fact I love Jason Bateman.)

WATCHING LIST

Now, I continue to follow (and binge watch) fairly intense shows on TV.  In 2014, it was war series after war series after war series.  This past year (2015), there were several new shows that really messed with my head. 

First, True Detective, one of the best shows I've ever watched on TV.  While on maternity leave (but before Maryn joined us), I watched the entire series in 2 days.  Had nightmares for weeks, and it still haunts me - but such a good story line and darn good acting.  James and I also watched the first three entire seasons of Homeland within a span of 2 months.  We pretty much walk around thinking everyone is a terrorist now.  But it's not all killing, kidnapping, and cults (seriously, True Detective, so good).  There is still my daily ingestion of Food Network (Chopped), news (MSNBC), reruns of Modern Family and Law and Order, and PBS specials (like Downton Abby, Masterpiece Theater, and Frontline). And my other premium cable shows, like Ray Donovan and The Affair.  Fairly well balanced TV watching.  

I have a robust list of potential next reads going in my Goodreads App, plus lots of parenting books collecting dust on my bedside table.  I'm currently in one bible study that has me in my Bible every day. James and I have two more seasons of Homeland to catch up, and Downton Abby is back!  Here's to a very interesting, fulfilling 2016 when it comes to my reading/watching activities. :)

Maryn's Sip and See

Baby showers are great, but how wonderful is a Sip 'n See where you can actually meet the new addition?  I will answer this since we just have one for Miss M - they are so much fun! I loved showing off my little gal!

My SOON TO BE sister-in-law, Shawntel, hosted a sip 'n see for Maryn over Christmas so our Texas fiends and family could meet her.  (Please note - "soon to be" instead of what I normally call her, which is "should be". That's because my brother finally popped the question!!! So exciting!!!)

Shawntel outdid herself with lots of delicious food and PINK.  She left up all of her Christmas decorations, so the entire house was gorgeous.  The perfect setting.

Part of the decor included Maryn's quilt that Shawntel (plus friends and family) made for us.  People made the squares, and Shawntel stitched them all together (adding some special touches and bible verses to the back.)  JB has a similar quilt, and I love that Maryn now has one, too. So super special - love Shawntel for doing this for us!

Maryn looked lovely in the velvet red dress and (big, huge) bow that Santa brought to her.  Her hair did not cooperate and stuck straight up like red feathers, but still very cute (she can get away with it.)

concentrating on tummy time

much happier on her back!

So many friends and family drove in to see us! They came as far as Dallas, Austin, and Houston to cuddle with our baby girl.  And Maryn allowed everyone to get in their baby snuggles - she stayed content while being passed around from arm to arm. Even took a couple of cat naps.

The entire event was perfect and special. Thank you so much to the future Mrs. Kerr!!

Maryn - Four Months Old!!

Didn't I just write her last monthly update?  Is it even possible that Maryn Elizabeth is four months old!?  (Or, the reverse, that she's only been a part of our family for 4 months?  That doesn't seem possible either!)

When she's not called Sissy (or Sissypants, that's my nickname for her), we call her "Smiley".  That is because Maryn smiles nearly all the time.  They are BIG smiles, too, and she wrinkles up her little nose and squints her eyes.  It's so adorable.  She also laughs and squeals, particularly when I sing Apple Bottom Jeans (that is her jam, since she rocks boots with the fur) or hoist her up into the air (she loves that!)  Maryn also loves to be around people, and doesn't even mind if other people hold her.  Although she prefers being held, she also enjoys her new excersaucer.  The pediatrician encouraged us to use it because her core is quite strong (but her head a little flat!)

So beyond the smiling, laughing, and general social changes we've witnessed, the sleep department has seen the biggest victory (and then defeat) this month. At the end of her third month she was up all the time at night, which I wrote about in her last post.  The night of her 3 month birthday, I moved her from her rock-n-play into her crib.  Then my neighbor brought me a Merlin Magic Sleepsuit (since Maryn was fighting her swaddle so much).  Right after that, the doctor assured me that she is big enough and eating enough during the day to forgo all the nighttime snacks.  With her blessing, James and I decided to not go in to her room when she woke.  All it took was a couple of nights and 5 minutes of letting her cry before she started to sleep!!!  We had about 3 solid weeks of sleeping through the night, and it. was. glorious.  Maryn napped like a real textbook baby, too.

And then we narrowed in on 4 months and everything went to hell in a hand basket.  We traveled to Texas and Maryn cried a bit during the first night.  I quickly fed her to keep her from waking her big brother or the entire house.  Girlfriend thought "oh, great!  we're back to night feeds!" and has demanded them ever since.  Then I got very sick with a sinus infection, and my milk supply tanked.  I was (well, still am) convinced that Maryn was not getting enough milk (despite her rolls), so I fed her every time she made a peep (which is 2-3 times a night).  I also ditched the Merlin Sleepsuit (because if things were bad, might as well make it worse, right?)  No Merlin meant no more naps for Maryn girl.  AAAAAAAUGH.

Despite not eating or sleeping all that great the past week or so, Maryn is still a little ray of sunshine and super content with her life.  Let's hope we can get things back on track again in month 5.

So here we go -  her four month stats!

Maryn's Measurements:

• Weight: 14 lbs 2 oz (close to the 75th percentile)
• Height: 25 1/2 inches (still 90th percentile - where is she getting this height?)

At 4 Month Old,  Maryn...

…Eats every 3 - 3.5 hours during the day, which resulted in 5 feedings a day (until the set back).  She'll take 5-6 ounces in her bottle. Oh, and the bottle?  Still hates it.  She'll fight it with every ounce of her being until she finally gives up and sucks it dry.

…Sleeps…well, see above.  Things were good, then they got bad, and now we've got some work to do this month.  (I decided to keep her in the Merlin for naps, although she's officially in a sleep sack for the night.  This gives her access to her hands, which she loves.)

…Wears 3-6 month, 6 month, and 6-9 month clothes.  I have to cuff the arms and legs to accommodate the larger sizes, but her torso is just so long!   Still in size 2 diapers.

…Loves life in general.  But also smiling, when people talk to her, chewing on her hands, lounging on her back, the paci, her brother, being outside, being held, hanging toys above her bouncers, nursing

…Does not like the bottle, tummy time, long periods in the car seat, clothes that go over her head, hats

…Is undecided on the new baby carrier (the Beco).  Although Mama loves it because it's so much more supportive, Maryn prefers the old k'tan.  Let's hope she learns to love it once she's a little bigger and can face forward!

Month Four -  We're so happy that you're so happy, Maryn!   Now let's try and get some sleep, okay?? :)

Previous Updates on Maryn:

• Birth Story
• One Month
• Two Month
• Three Months

JB's Four Month Update  (How do they Compare?): JB - Four Months   

Ringing in the New Year!

We rung in the new year at the Ritz Carlton, so let's see if that level of sophistication will influence our 2016. We are normally not (ever?) that fancy. But we had a blast!

Gia watched the kiddos, who were in bed early and behaved beautifully for her.  Our night began at Hal's Steakhouse where we shared oysters, the Chilean Seabass special and a filet.  The group included two of our close neighbor couples, plus a few other folks.  The food was delicious as always!

After Hal's we joined some other friends at the Ritz.  That place knows how to throw a good party.  Quite the interesting, eclectic crowd, but the band was hopping and the champagne flowing.

Cheers!

The girls spent a lot of time dancing, and the boys watched football at the bar (an exciting bunch, for sure).  Midnight included noisemakers, toasts, kissing, and cheers.  I haven't had one of those types of NYEs in quite some time!

Midnight!

Here's hoping that our 2016 is as fun and lively as our New Year's Eve - if so, it's going to be a great one!!

Happy New Year!

(Let's also hope that our actual New Year's Day is not indicative of the year.  James suffered from a little too much fun the night before, and I was sick with yet another cold on top of my sinus infection.  We need a do-over of the 1st!!)