She's...

Here!!! Meet Zaylee Marie! She is now officially 15 days old. We have been enjoying our little baby around here and having the hardest time finding time to sit in front of the computer and focus on other things besides nursing, rocking, kissing and cuddling with a newborn and a 2 year old. Oh yeah and changing diapers too. 

 

Zaylee and I at her 2 week checkup. She gained good weight and grew an inch! So proud of her!  

 

She loves to smile and chuckle in her sleep. It is the sweetest thing. 

 

i kiss these feet everyday. yes, they are so good! 

 These two sisters are going to be the best of friends. We are working on their relationship right now : ) 


I will be sharing the amazing birth story soon! 

last few days/week...

i'm still alive and pregnant. just been enjoying these last few days/weeks of being pregnant. did i really just say that? enjoy?! well...just trying to be optimistic while feeling like a hot air balloon limping around here. :) Also, taking advantage of just having one baby on the outside.

probably one of the last donut dates with this little one before i go into labor. Donuts are one of my favorite desserts.. and sharing them with S makes me ooohh soo happy. : )

Mike told her to pose for a pic...and this is what he told her to do. isn't it great? i still can't stop laughing.

its been raining around these parts.. this is a father to definitely a girl.. i love how festive and pink she is next to him. you betcha she's loving every moment of it.

i think we seriously have the best local library in the world. this was a after dinner run to the library to get movies. yes, movies and not books. ha!

rainy day = baking

her little hand on my belly is the best. it warms my heart.

Sophia has been my sense of humor lately. The things she says are pretty unbelievable at times and I get so much joy at watching her little self be so independent. Just trying to savor as much as possible...

snuggles and movies

I have officially retired to just snuggling in bed and watching movies with my Sophia...its been great. Lots of pillows, blankets and of course yummy snacks. We just get to enjoy one another's company and baby girl in womb gets quite a kick out of it whenever I lay still.

Apparently, I've been wrong on this whole pregnancy weekly count thing...because my doctor told me Monday I was 37 weeks along. I could have sworn I was 36 weeks...oh well. Anyway, I got the green light to have the baby now...anytime now :)

2 years, 10 months

Dear Sophia,

You are now 2 years old and 10 months, where has the time gone by! A few months ago someone pointed out that you were almost 3 years old and it hit me like a ton of bricks. How can my little baby be 3 years old already?! I looked at you differently from that comment on, i looked at you and I saw a almost 3 year old.. a toddler ready to be 3.

One of the biggest, yet rewarding challenges you have taught me in this age is to be patient. Our life lately has been moving a little slower and everything takes about an extra 5 minutes to do because you have to do it yourself. I am learning to sit back and let you dress yourself, sometimes pick out your own clothes (which is always the pink dress with white polka dots, your favorite), put on your own shoes, unwrap anything. As much as I want to do these things for you, at the same time I love watching you do it yourself. And sometimes...the part that I wait for is "mom, can you help me" after you have tried it a few times and can't seem to get it quite right. I love how independent you are, but that you still need me as your mom.

You have grown so much in this past month, your appah and I are amazed everyday at the wonders that come out of your mouth. Things I'll never forget that you said in the past few weeks:

"Animals have tails mom, we don't have tails...we have bodies"

"I would like to pray for my baby sister and her life" (during our nightly prayer..this was your intention last night)

and...i'm pretty sure you can recite the whole movie of the Lion King back to me. Hakkuna Matata...

This is your last month of being an 'only child' and I am going to savor each moment of it. I'm going to give you extra hugs and extra kisses each day to remind you that you are loved. And take the time to rest and cuddle with you instead of folding that extra basket of laundry. I will try to find energy to run with you and play hide and go seek.

I love you sweet girl. You are my sunshine.

love,

umma

This was you this week (2years, 10 months). I turned around to find you reading in a basket. One of your favorite things to do lately is to find any type of box and try to sit in it.

This was you a year ago (1 yr, 10 months)

At 10 months old.. i miss those chubby legs and arms.

lists

My life lately has just been one big checklists. Everyday, i wake up and look at my list and hope to find it all crossed off soon. As many of you know, i have been crazy nesting this whole pregnancy (which means that every closet of this house has been re-organized)...and me cleaning out our garage again. But it feels good... but now i've very tired. I have two big container of baby clothes to wash this week... and its just been sitting there playing the starring contest with me.

My checklist is getting smaller each day.. and i am now hoping to find some energy to do some fun sewing projects and have a blank to-do list for a while.

Also, we've been bribing our little Sophia to sleep in her crib and not co-sleep with us lately. We're on day 3 today and I think so far so good. We made one big trip to the candy store today for her to pick out pink bubblegum for having a successful night (fingers cross this continues). I guess between waking up for bathroom trips at night and a toddler begging to crawl into bed with you, i'm getting some great practice for sleepless nights to come.

image via

more than just "love"

When I read this I thought of my husband, my Valentine. Six years ago when we met, we were just two souls in love with God and then through our love for God...we fell in love with each other. We made a eternal promise to God (through holy matrimony) and decided that we will be lovers forever. And this LOVE has impacted our every decision, thought, feeling and moment of our day, everyday.

Happy Valentines day to my sweet husband who is always so faithful and loving to me everyday. You do every act with great love and no complaints...even when I'm bossy (sometimes..ok, a lot). You know how to crack a smile in me and make me laugh so hard...but then again sometimes you take jokes a little too far (and i get offended). : ) You are the greatest father to our little girls and I love being your wife everyday. I love you!

Aaannnd a random story that was brought up during breakfast today.. my husband and i were reminiscing and laughing about how i told him on our 1st Valentine's day together (6 years ago) "this is the worst Valentine's day ever!" We got into some argument (i have no idea about what) and i told him to drop me off at home. lol... needless to say.. a few minutes later he came back, got on his knees to apologize. what a good man!

image via

purple heart

I have always been in love with Valentines Day...even in my single days. I love that its a day to celebrate love for everyone, not just for couples. Now that I am a mom, Valentines day seems even sweeter. My heart has grown larger than its ever have before and I have more love to give and receive.

I tell this little girl "i love you" several times a day, from the moment she opens her eyes in the morning to the moment I kiss them goodnight. Couple weeks ago, I said to her "i love you" randomly during the day and she said back to me, "i love you too, mama." It was the sweetest moment.

Sophia's outfit: purple heart shirt c/o Haddard Brands, Roxy jeans