Milestones

One of the most wonderful things about babies, besides their smiles, coos, giggles, and snuggles, is that they are constantly reaching new milestones. Each day is filled with new milestones, big and small. At 3 1/2 months old, Maya has become so expressive. She loves hearing her own voice and responding to voices and facial expressions of people, especially her mom and dad :) Not only is she aware of the world around her, she is also beginning to try to interact with people and things. Just this last week I have observed her beginning to reach out to toys, especially those that dangle in front of her. She also has a new interest in sitting up. She is outgrowing her bouncy seat, as she doesn't like to recline back much, and is showing interest in her Jumperoo, where she can sit up and jump like a big girl! She has also begun to roll over. She has mastered the rolling from her belly to her back, but tries sooo hard to roll from her back to her belly. She will kick and rock until she gets enough momentum to put her up on her side. However, her arm gets in the way and she just can't seem to get past it. I am continually amazed at how my baby girl is growing and changing each day! I am just taking it all in, enjoying each moment with her. One of my favorite things is watching her interact with her daddy. When he talks to her, she just lights up. She kicks and squeals as he makes faces and talks silly to her. Here are a few photos of what she's been up to lately! :)

Big girl in her high chair!

Reaching out for some toys on her tray!

Trying out her Bumbo... not too thrilled :)
Loving the Jumperoo though!
Tummy time!

Doing the "Superman!"
Trying desperately to roll over to her back!

Taking a break...
Trying again...
Babies are sooo fun! <3

Quite a little chatterbox...

3 Months old

Just a couple pics from Maya's 3 month "photo shoot" :)

Her nursery.... {finally}

Here's a peek at Maya's room...

2 Months

So, I'm a little late on this post, but I thought these pictures were too cute to not put up. (Of course I do, she's my baby!) I had good intentions of posting much more often, but I get distracted by this sweet little girl in our house. I spend my time snuggling her, listening to her "talk", playing with her, ... I often create posts in my head, but by the time I get around to writing them, something new and more exciting has usually come up. I still intend on posting pictures of Maya's nursery. Maybe next week ;) Anyways ~ I have been blessed to have spent the last 10 weeks around the clock with this sweet little girl, snuggling, learning about each other, and falling more and more in love. Unfortunately, harsh reality set in last Monday when I headed back to work. It came much too quickly. Gone are the days of sleeping in, watching Regis and Kelly, taking mid-morning naps, afternoon naps, watching Oprah, etc... I had been anticipating this change for a long time, knowing it would be awful. I couldn't bring myself to leave Maya in another room, much less leave her for 8 hours while I was at work?! All I have to say is that we survived.... but it wasn't fun. I cried each morning that I left her and counted down the hours until I could come home to her. I was much more sad than Maya was. In fact, she wasn't sad at all- she didn't even know I was gone. (And THAT made me sad) Don't get me wrong, I'm glad she loves her daddy, but part of me was sad that she was perfectly happy with a bottle {of pumped breast milk} and hanging out with Dad all day. But at the same time, I am THRILLED that they get that bonding time. I made it through one full week and even went back to work again today (not that I had a choice in it.) I often wonder if I should have taken more time off of work, but I am convinced it wouldn't matter how much time I took off, it would still be hard. Hard, as in: cry for days before going back to work, not want to put her down, break all the rules (like bringing her to bed with me) kind of hard ;) You get the point. But, did I mention that we survived? Thanks for following all my rambling. Now that I have made a short story long, we are doing wonderfully. Happy, healthy, and very much in love! I love my family! <3

One month!

Our baby is one month old!

Words cannot describe how amazing the last month has been!

Baby Love

Maya Grace Liddell....

arrived on Saturday, October 23rd at 5:53pm. She weighed 5 pounds, 14 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long! We are soooo in love! Who would have thought it would have taken me four weeks to FINALLY get a post up about our baby girl?! Oh - that's right, you all did!! Apparently the first four weeks (and then some) with a newborn are extremely emotional and tiring! Who knew? :) Wow- I have barely opened my laptop since we arrived home from the hospital!

Her Arrival ~

I don't really know how to make a long story short, but I'll try my best :) On Friday, October 22nd, I went to bed feeling rather "yucky." I woke up around midnight and realized the "yuckiness" had become mild contractions. This time it was the "real ones." I always wondered how I would know when the contractions were "real" and not just Braxton Hicks. Everyone assured me that you "just know" and boy, is that true. The pain of contractions is very real! Rob began timing my contractions and continued throughout the night. Early Saturday morning I finally made the phone call to the hospital when my contractions were about 3-5 minutes apart for a good hour and a half. I was really hoping they would tell me to come on in, but that was not so :( Instead, the nurse told me to give it another hour or so and then call back. By this time I was really beginning to feel the pain, as the contractions were getting closer together and more intense. We finally packed up the car and headed to the hospital around 6:30 am, desperately hoping they would not send us home. Much to my excitement, we arrived at the hospital and they determined that the contractions were, in fact, progressing labor. YAY! An added bonus was that my midwife also happened to be in labor and delivery that day! They admitted me, asked me a million questions, began my IV, and ordered my epidural. Before going into labor, I was undecided as to whether or not I would get an epidural. However, once labor began, it didn't take me long to determine that I absolutely wanted one! It was such a life-saver. I had been feeling pretty miserable {and crabby} and once the epidural was hooked up, I was finally able to relax and rest as labor progressed. How do women do it without?? I don't ever want to know ;) I progressed pretty steadily throughout the afternoon, pain-free I might add. Rob and I hung out around the room, watching tv and napping here and there. Around 5:15 my midwife came in to check me and I was complete and ready to push! I pushed for about 20 minutes and Maya was born. It was the most amazing experience I have ever had in my life. Rob was such a trooper! They immediately brought her to my chest and I was able to hold her skin-to-skin. I cried and couldn't believe how absolutely perfect she was. I couldn't get over her perfect fingers and toes, her beautiful eyes and little nose... I was just in awe, overwhelmed with love for this little girl I had just carried for 10 months. It truly is amazing! Here are a few pics from the first days... will update again soon about "life at home." More pics to come because God knows we already have hundreds of them ;)

Our new family of 3!