Lesson(s) Learned

Things I have learned as a new mom:

• The first three to four weeks after bringing home your child are insane, especially if you're new to the whole parenting business. Next time, I'll try to remember: It. Gets. Better.
• I thought Oahu roads were bad... Then I pushed my sleeping newborn in a stroller on our sidewalks. Yikes!
• Just when you think you're FINALLY settling into a schedule, things change.
• eg: weekends
• I thought maternity leave would allow me to catch up on DVRed shows while rocking my new little bundle of joy. Reality: My DVR is fuller than ever, and that's ok with me. I've got something better to watch.
• Losing baby weight is no problem... There's no time to eat! Ha!
• The best gift anyone can give new parents is food. (On the off chance there's time to eat, there is definitely no time to cook!)
• All the chores that would take me a week to finish before Ella arrived can now get completed in one nap time.
• There is no longer such a thing as procrastinating. If I see something that needs to get done, and I don't do it right then, it's not going to get done. Something else will come up.
• If a baby poops, wait a few minutes. They're probably not done. (Lesson learned the hard way... I think our record is 5 diapers in one changing session.) Oh, which leads to another point
• Diapers ARE NOT CHEAP! And babies go through them fast!
• My parents highly enjoy listening to my stories of parenthood, and then sharing a good laugh together after we hang up the phone. (Ah, the joys of being a grandparent, and having your kids experience what you went through... Right, Mom and Dad?!)
• Not all babies are the same, and comparing stories with other mommies will only accomplish one of three things*:
• Provide you with helpful information
• Make you jealous
• Make you wonder if something is wrong with your child, which leads to another no-no... Google-ing.
• * Note to self: Two out of three are bad, so stop comparing!
• Getting out of the house is an accomplishment. Getting out of the house and remembering everything you need, including the baby, deserves an award! (Right, Greg?! Always double check that the baby carrier actually has the baby in it.)
• A little spit up and poop never hurt anyone.
• Grandparents are awesome. Having three sets of them is even better.
• The drier is not shrinking your newborn's clothes. They're actually growing. You just don't notice because you see them all day, every day.
• All the things I swore I'd never do as a parent (like lick my finger and wipe her face) happened in the first week of her life. 
• The "I don't want to sleep and you can't make me" cry during nap time is both heart-wrenching and insanely cute because it is soooo fake. 
• Your fur baby becomes a D-O-G. Please don't tell Lili. Poor thing.
• Dads are essential and amazing. What a tough job to work all day and then come home and give Mom a break.
• Daddy paternity leave is a blessing. We got lucky that Greg was able to take vacation and then work from home. Four weeks of help was amazing, and gave us all a time to bond, and to figure things out.
• Ella got lucky in the Daddy category. She has one of the best.
• Having a child does not divide your love for your partner in half... It doubles it.
• There is no way to turn off "mommy mode", and no way to get around the fierce need to protect and look out for your child.
• There is no job more difficult, yet no job more rewarding, than being a parent.
• Children are TRULY a blessing from the Lord. 

Our First Weeks

Dear Isabella,

   I can't believe you're almost three weeks old! (And I can't believe I've been trying to post this for the last week and a half... Seems something, or rather someone, now occupies all of our time.) You came into this world one stubborn little lady, and things haven't changed since. 

   You refused to come out on your due date (or even a little early as Mom had hoped), and ended up staying in exactly one extra week. Why not, right, when you got lots of Christmas cookies that everyone baked for your pregnant mommy and excited daddy, as well as tons of french toast that Mommy was craving (and Dad so loving prepared). I'd stay in, too! Thankfully, my labor was pretty easy, considering I was induced and it could have taken up to 3-4 days, and only lasted for about 19 hours. Not sure you're going to have any siblings at this point, but we'll explore that option again sometime later (when Mommy starts to forget everything that happened and just sees you). 

   We figure you stayed in an extra couple of days so you could celebrate Eli's first birthday with him in Heaven, too. I remember the first night I had you at home, I was rocking you to sleep, and you smiled this huge smile... I whispered in your ear and asked if you were playing with Eli in your dreams, and you smiled again. I asked you to tell him hello and that we loved him, and you squeaked your cute little squeak, and then about 5 seconds later, you did it again. Mommy took that as Eli saying hello back, and then proceeded to cry all over you. Sorry about that. 

   Since then, we've had our ups and downs... lots of sleepless nights, trouble with feeding, tummy issues, and those sorts of things... but the good is outweighing the bad. As soon as you came out, we knew God had saved one of his most precious angels for us. Dad and I couldn't believe that we had made something so beautiful. Not sure where you got your looks from, but baby, you're the most perfect little girl I've seen. We love sitting and watching all the faces you make, listening to all of your new baby noises, and trying to enjoy every moment of parenthood. We know this newborn phase will pass quickly, and we'll miss these moments soon enough. (Maybe not the five hours of crying in the middle of the night, or the endless need to feed during growth spurts, but who knows...)

   When Daddy first saw you, he told me that your birth was the most amazing day of his life. (All you had to do was be born, and you easily surpassed the day your dad and I met, our engagement day, our wedding day... pretty much 10 and a half years of just the two of us, out the window. I guess I can take a step aside and let you hold the honor of "best day," sweet girl.) Daddy also proceeded to tell me at some point during your first week, amongst his comments of "Wow, she's so cute," that he definitely had his work cut out for him in the future, keeping all the boys away. He's right! And man, can I just tell you for a minute what an amazing dad you have? He wakes up with us for every feeding during the night to change your diaper and to swaddle you after. He provides extra hands to me during the day when I need a minute, cleans up around the house like I used to do (because all my time is dedicated to you right now), reads stories to you from your children's bible, and just enjoys the quiet moments of holding you. You are so lucky to have him as your daddy. He told me the other day can't wait for you to be big enough to play in our neighborhood park. I'm excited to continue to watch your relationship grow as you grow, little one.

   You also have a very loving golden retriever, who couldn't quite figure out what was making those squeaking noises the first day we brought you home (the only thing that squeaks around here are her toys, and you're definitely not a toy). Since then, Lili has become a very protective older sister, making sure to stay close by your. She joins us in your room for each feeding, laying at Mommy's feet, she watches over you when visitors come and hold you, and she even nudged Dad one night when both he and I slept through your whimpering because we were so exhausted. You two are sure to have fun together soon, and potentially cause a lot of trouble. I can't wait!

   I've included a few pictures below that I took during your first week home. I made the quilt you're laying on, and hope to take your monthly pictures on that so we can track your growth. There's also a picture of you in your bassinet in our room, and you on your changing table in your room. And, of course, a picture of you with your dad. Melt my heart!

   Ella, we can't wait to continue this adventure of parenthood with you. So many people have come to see you and love on you. We can't believe you're finally here, and you're all ours to love on and raise to be a woman who is strong in her faith, who values her family, and who loves herself and life. We can't wait to see all that you'll become.

   Our love,

   Mom and Dad

Belly Week by Week

Dear Ella,

   You're already here, but I figured I should wrap up the rest of the belly pictures since I never had a chance to before your arrival. Even I can't believe how much my tummy changed over the weeks. You actually stayed in for 41 weeks, but Mommy and Daddy were in the hospital in the middle of contractions that day, so there's no picture to show how much bigger I'd gotten in one last week. Not to worry, though... We have plenty of pictures of you from that day, which is what really matters!

   Love you, baby girl.

Mommy