welcome home uncle marine!

Two weeks ago, we packed up everything we thought we would need for a baby going on a 6 hour road trip and staying 4 days in a hotel. We got up at 6 am that morning to get the truck packed, get everyone ready, and get on the road by 9 am. Our truck very closely resembled a moving van. Not kidding. We had that much stuff.

Good thing I am a Facebook stalkeraddict occasional checker. I just happened to jump on real quick to see what was going on in the world and saw a message from the Marine telling us not to leave just yet. His flight had gotten delayed (again) and he wasn't scheduled to get home til that Monday now.

Grrr.

That was a Thursday. We stayed packed as best we could until we finally left on Saturday. Mr. Perfect was super happy about having to unpack all that and then repack it on Saturday. Like giddy.

On Saturday morning, the 22nd, we gave it another go. We got the car all packed, met up with my grandparents, and hit the road. We stopped for lunch in Small Town, SC, to eat with Mr. P's family. Then Mr. P, Baby Girl, and I stayed for the night while my grandparents continued on to North Carolina.

That night we got the call that he had been delayed again. He was supposed to be coming in on Sunday (the next day), but now it looked like Monday possibly Tuesday. We decided to head on up there and see what happened.

We got up bright and early (oh how I miss sleeping in), and hit the road to finish the trip to N.C. BG was not feeling it. The day before she had done awesome in the car. She slept the whole way, but not that morning. She was restless and cranky and though we tried our best to stick to her schedule (traveling during stops for feeding time), she was still all thrown off. We got about 20 minutes down the road and had to stop.

*Side note: I can't tell you how many places we stopped that did not have changing tables in the rest room. Seriously?! Off the interstate and no changing tables? I swear I saw those things everywhere when I didn't have a child. Now? Never.

End rant.

After giving her a small feeding (not at feeding time, I was trying to be flexible!), we got back on the road. For an hour and a half. Then she slipped back into meltdown mode. We stopped at ate and then she was good until we pulled into Marine Town. I honestly think she was just over being in the carseat. I know I would be.

We checked in to the hotel and then met the grands for dinner. After dinner my parents came over to our hotel and gave us the glorious news that the boys had been delayed again.

Are you kidding me.

I'll save some time and tell you that we got that information MANY more times while we were there. But we tried to enjoy ourselves as best we could. Marine Town is not a resort town by any means, so basically we ate out a lot and played on the beach.

Good times.

BG was of course the center of attention most of the time. We just can't stop loving on her!

Mr. P and BG chilling out in the hotel. He thinks this is funny.


We rode out to my parents RV one day since they were staying at the beach. BG enjoyed the beach.. until we put her feet in the sand. She freaked out! She's going to have to get over that. I kind of love the beach.

Her new sunhat. Cute!

Dad, BG, & I out on the beach.

Trying to calm her down after putting her feet in the sand... Drama queen.

The fam out on the beach.

On Tuesday, my parents and I attended a memorial service for the guys that were killed during this tour. My brothers company lost 9 men while they were over there. Nine. Most of them were about 19 years old. I thank God everyday He brought my brother home..



After the service, I met back up with Mr. P and BG to get some lunch. This is how she gets so chunky...


On Wednesday we got word that the boys were back in the States. They landed in Maine, then flew to Charleston where they got stuck again. Finally, Thursday morning we headed to the base for the Homecoming.

Mr. P and the grands.

Baby Girl in her Homecoming outfit.

Welcome home Uncle Marine!!!

Me and my best friend and my best girl. Yes. I was crying. Sometimes it happens.


Finally meeting his niece. I think he loves her...


Needless to say we are all BEYOND excited to have him home. We went to eat lunch before the three of us had to head home and when we went to leave I saw this..

She wouldn't let go of his finger! Cue heart melting...

Fortunately he headed down to Coastal Town the next day and we've been having a blast with him since. I think BG and her Uncle are going to be the best of friends.

Welcome Home Uncle Marine! We are so proud of you!

the mister's birthday

Yes. I realize this is ridiculously late, but what are you going to do?! I'm kind of a slacker.

A few weeks back, my favorite guy turned (shhh) 33 years old. Mr. Perfect is not a huge fan of birthdays, so he never lets me make a big deal out of it, but I had to plan something. So two of our closest friends and the three of us headed downtown one night to eat at Five Guys and just hang out.




It was quite different hanging out downtown with 2 babies, as opposed to the activities we used to get into down there. But I definitely prefer it this way.

Both babies did great at the restaurant. Kathryn was perfectly alert (she's 5 months old), and Baby Girl slept through the whole experience. It was nice to get out with her and have some adult interaction for a bit.


After dinner, we walked down to the City Market area in our town. They have done a lot of work down there and it looks awesome. There was a band playing in the courtyard, so KP and I sat down with the girls for a while while the boys went looking for open stores.





Our girls. They're so going to be bff's.


But not if K keeps trying to eat Baby Girl's clothes!


Eventually we had to go find the boys so that we could head home. The girls were both getting cranky because we'd had them out for so long and it was getting late.

It was 10 o' clock. We used to head down there about that time. Who are we?!





These girls melt me..




When we got home and BG to bed, the Mr. and I dug into a Mississippi Mud Cake made by yours truly.




Yes. I made that. We couldn't believe it either.

I think he had a good time. I know he hates being the center of attention, but he deserves it. He works so hard and does so much for me and BG that we love having a day to spoil him! We love you babe!

a new trick

Look who is holding their head up!!

She started this Friday night after spending the evening with her Uncle Marine. I came home and was laying around with her on my chest, and she just started doing this.





Crazy what we find absolutely amazing these days. But in our world, everything this little girl does is pretty awesome!

2 months.

I officially have a two month old.

Craziness.

At her last appointment (when she was 7 weeks, 5 days), Baby Girl was weighing in at 12.14 pounds and was 23 3/4 inches long. Her head circumference is 39 1/2 cm. She's in the 90th percentile for height and weight, and the 75th for her head size.

Personally, I just think she's perfect!

What she's been up to this past month:

You went to your sitter for the first time on Tuesday. I bawled like a baby. You weren't even fazed. While I enjoyed being back at work, I missed you like crazy. When I picked you up, I was told you were just the perfect baby all day. But I already knew you would be!

Between 6 and 7 weeks, you became the most vocal little thing. You now coo, squeal, holler, and sigh. It's absolutely precious. If you feel like you need something, you will certainly let us know by "talking" to us. I'm pretty sure that when you learn to talk, you will never stop!

While we sat in the truck in North Carolina waiting on your uncle, you laughed out loud for the first time! I absolutely melted!! Your Daddy and I were goofing around making faces at you and you just laughed. I cried too. You're growing up so fast!!

At your 2 month appointment, you got your second round of shots. You cried while it was happening, but then you were over it. You slept the rest of the day though. No fever, but you were out. You are such a tough girl.

You are still such a social baby. You love to lay on your back and play with us. You smile (not laugh- you've only done that once!) and kick around and get such a kick out of being the center of attention! And of course we love watching you!

You are officially on a feeding and sleeping schedule and it has made you a changed baby. You eat 4 1/2 ounces of formula every 3 hours, except for one feeding when you still get breast*milk. You wake up at 6 am everyday and your schedule starts. You eat and play and then take a nap about 7:15. Then you eat every 3 hours, play for a while and then you're supposed to take a nap. You're not a huge fan of the naps. You usually miss those. You eat last at 9 pm and then get ready for bed. You're in the bed at 10 and sleep til 6 am. You've been doing that since May 18th. Rarely, you'll wake up about 3 am and want to eat, but you haven't done that in weeks. I can deal with the no naps if you keep sleeping like this!! The trick also is you must be swaddled. Otherwise you wake yourself up.

On May 13th, you moved to your room and started sleeping in your crib. You have slept amazing since then. I miss you in our room, but we both sleep so much better. You even nap in there now. Your room is definitely in use now!

You made a ridiculously long road trip to welcome home your Uncle, and you were an angel. Post on that later. But you require a ton of stuff to travel girl!

You've been out downtown with us and your bff Kathryn and her parents. We had such a good time, but your slept through most of it!

You met your Uncle Marine and I'm pretty sure you guys are going to be the best of friends.

You are such a good baby. You love the bath, you love your play mat, your swing.. You are so content. You still love to be held (I hope you stay that way!) and you can hold your head up for quite a while before you get tired. You also reach for stuff and if you can't reach it, you yell at it. It's so funny! You can hold a rattle for about 30 seconds and you put your hands around your bottle while you eat.

You hold my fingers while you eat. I absolutely love it.

You are such a sweetheart and you are the light of our lives. We simply cannot get enough of you!!

the big day.

Well.. it's that time.

The day that I've been dreading since Saturday, April 3rd, is here.

I'm heading back to ye 'ol workplace tomorrow.

Honestly, pretty sure I'm going to be an emotional wreck tomorrow. I'm having some severe anxiety about leaving my child with her babysitter. Seriously, can't even think about it.

I have absolutely LOVED these last two months with her. Not going to lie, hardest of my life, but by far the best ever. Especially since we've figured out a routine and have sort of figured each other out. She's made me realize how little sleep I can actually run on. She's also made me love in a way I didn't even realize I was capable of. That little angel is my heart and soul.

I love waking up and going to get her and just seeing her smile. She's so stinking happy. I've loved nursing her. Just me and her for a small amount of time. I'm sorry it didn't work out better for us, but the times it did were awesome.

I love curling up in bed or on the couch with her. Best naps of my life with my girl. I've loved watching her learn. I got to see her learn to play on her mat, the first time she held a rattle, and the first time she smiled.

Honestly, I'm most worried about missing all of her firsts by going back to work. I'm worried that she'll bond more with her sitter than me (I realize that will more than likely not happen, but I said I was a wreck right now didn't I?!). I'm just going to miss our special times together.

I'm going to miss all of our errands and lunches out with friends. I'm just going to miss having all the time in the world to spend with her.

I know it's all going to be fine. I read so many stay at home mom's blogs and I'm just jealous that they get to do that, but it's just not what's right for my family at this time. And I've got to do whats best for all 3 of us. Not just what I want. So I'm going to buck up and hold my head up and get through this work day tomorrow. And then I'm going to come home and love on my girl for hours.


Having a stare down after she repeatedly spit the paci at me. Yes, I'm pretty sure this one will be just like me!