To My Little "BB" (Baby Bish)

Oh sweet little one, everyone warned me and mocked me as I plunged into my first pregnancy armed with scrapbooks, calendars, photos, keepsakes and notes that there was no chance my other children would share in such detailed recording of their in-utero and infancy. However, I must also tell you that most of your big sister's keepsakes are still sitting in an unorganized pile waiting to be filed into a book! Anyway, I want you to know that mommy is trying very hard to love you in your own unique way already and even if you don't have a whole lot recorded over the next few months (but I'll try) I don't love you any less. I had to write you a quick note to tell you what you've been like these first few months of your life. Well, you are very different from your sister at this age-see look how unique you are already! I have been a little tired, but nothing like I had been with Cole. Which is a blessing considering now that I have her I can't just take a nap whenever I want! I have virtually no nausea with you, which I also said about Colette, but now I realize how much nausea I did have with her considering I have none now! Honestly little babe, I barely feel pregnant! I am glad we have already gotten to see you twice in these 12 weeks so I can be reminded that your little beating heart is truly dwelling within me. We went to our first appointment with Dr. Flemming last week and daddy, Colette and I all got to see you kick your long skinny legs and wave your arm at us. Even at such a young age, your daddy and I agree that we can already see how different you are from Cole and how you are your own person. You have a bigger head than she did and very long legs! You're definitely not as active as she was either! Well, I'm not tired and I don't have nausea. Do I have any symptoms to remind me of you daily? Yes! And boy are they silly ones that I never had with Colette. I am having super crazy dreams-every night! I rarely dream, let alone so vividly, it is quite a ride. Now don't get offended by this next one, but I am very impatient and get easily angry. I think that it is my hormones leaning in a different direction than the weepiness I experienced last time around. Your poor daddy is so patient with me, I don't know what I would do without him. We absolutely cannot wait to meet you. Dad thinks you're a boy, I have no idea. Either way, you're gonna be the best!

Snowed in!

Okay punkstarooni...I was going to write you a little note telling you how much I love you and what you've been up to these days, but due to the circumstances, there is something else I must speak of! You, in your 6th month of life get to experience what I haven't experienced until now. Southeast Michigan has reached record lows in temperature and is getting hit by a crazy snowstorm. Over the past two days we got 16 inches of snow and the temperature with wind chill is nearing -50! Needless to say, we have been keeping you snug as a bug in a rug at home the past couple days. You and I and dad have been at home doing puzzles, playing games and looking at the snow outside. After cabin fever set in we decided to attempt visiting your Meema and Beeba. It was quite the drive, we almost got stuck in our driveway, but dad toughed it out and we made it! I wish we could've taken you for your first sledding trip, but the temperature made the beautiful snow become a treacherous sight. Hopefully someday soon it will happen. I was supposed to take you and Zelie to Chicago for a little visit to the American Girl Place but the bus was cancelled. I still look back and praise God that it was as I try to imagine what it would've been like trying to hail a cab with you in tow in that cold...

MI renaissance festival

Ah, and here it is. Our second year (and probably last) attending the Renaissance Festival! We found out after last year that there was a fairy house building competition and all entries got two tickets to the festival. Of course Adam, being who he is, dove into planning an extravagent fairy house, while I, being who I am, drooled at the thought of saving 40 bucks! So, what ensued was a great time together in planning and building the house and saving money! Of course it was also lots of fun looking for our house once we got to the festival. But, now that our family is growing, I'm beginning to realize that the festival may be a bit too risque for a family outing. Oh well. We shall see.

Apple Charlie's

Better late than never in posting this, right? We cannot forget the first time our little Colette went to Apple Charlie's! This year was a huge bumper crop of apples. Last year was one of the worst, this year was the second largest in like a hundred years or something. So, as always, we had to go apple picking. We picked a weekend when Micah and Suzanne were visiting and all headed out to the orchard. You got to see the animals, help us pick apples, we got our cider and donuts (but no cinnamon sugar b/c they were out due to the large crowds), fed the fishies and ducks, and danced to the oldies band. It was a good day.

Half a year old!

Oh my goodness my precious girl! Tomorrow you will be six months old! I just cannot believe it. You have grown so much over the past several months. Your physical growth has actually slowed a lot and you're turning into quite the petite little thing, but everything else is progressing beautifully. You are so ready to be a big sister. You sit up, roll over both ways, eat bananas, sweet potatoes, prunes and oatmeal, you laugh and talk and smile, you focus so deeply on the little details around you, you love to jump and bounce, you are just such a whole person unto yourself and it is incredible to see. As you grow older, it has been interesting to watch your personality grow and develop. While you are pretty happy most of the time, you have been becoming a little whiner as of late! Sometimes even when you're sleeping, your dad and I can hear you whining. You love people though-whether I take you to mass, to the mall, grocery shopping, or to a friend's house, you flirt with everyone in sight, dying for attention! Fr. James Mangan, a friend of ours, is very astute in picking out people's temperaments and he is pretty sure you are a melancholic. We are so excited to continue to see the revelation of all that you are! I wanted to post these pictures from when you turned three months too, to show you the change.

Snaggletooth

Yes, this is the name by which the Everts family calls their sweet Ava. However, yesterday on the solemnity of Christ the King, Colette entered the realm of the snaggletooths. She has a tooth! I noticed about a week and a half ago that she had a pointy little dagger of a tooth in the back of her mouth. I could feel the point, but was unable to see it, leaving me with little proof that my daughter was one in a million by having a molar be her first tooth! However, now there is proof of a tooth, just not in that spot. Yesterday at mass I put my finger in her tiny mouth and felt a poke! Right there in the front on the bottom left is a tooth! It is barely there, but it is there! Visible like the white cap on a wave. I can't believe our little girl is getting so big. In two weeks she will be half a year old! It never ceases to amaze me when I consider the depth, breadth, length, involvement and intricasies of the universe and all it contains, that something as seemingly insignificant as a tooth can mean so much, but it does.

Baby Bish #2

Yesterday was my 23rd birthday. As my brother Micah stated while on our birthday phone call yesterday: "Welcome to the streak of non-discript birthday." I agreed with this. I am married, have a child, honestly are birthdays all that important? I realized this morning that yes, they are. While they may not seem important as you pass from one measly twenty-something to another, they are important when they begin. Nine months before that birthday takes places there is obsessive speculation on when it will be...one's due date, late, early, and every day counts! While it seems that just yesterday I was doing such a thing in regards to Colette's day of birth, I find myself doing it once again. Yes, here on the day after my birthday, it has been revealed to me that there is a little life growing inside of me. Am I surprised? That would be putting it mildly. But to say I'm overwhelmed with joy- that barely scratches the surface. It is incredible to realize that I will probably only ever be pregnant a few times in my entire life, and yet the Lord has given me the precious gift of having two of my pregnancies so close together. Am I afraid? When I focus too much on myself and my own weakness I am, yes. I am afraid that I don't have enough love for both of you. I am afraid I do not have enough patience. But when I focus on the God who gave my children breath, I do not fear. He will multiply my love. He will increase my patience. I need only trust. For the past few months Adam has said: "I'm ready for another baby, I'm just not ready to have you pregnant again!" Well, God willing this will be a smooth pregnancy. I pray that I will cherish every moment of having you inside of me. As soon as you leave me and enter the world, I can never have you so close again. I love you so dearly. Know that you are so wanted. Know that you are so loved. WE NEED YOU. YOU. You complete our little family. Thank you for existing. Love, Mom