CHECK ME OUT- Day in the Life

I know, I know...I am terrible about blogging!
I promise I will be back soon.
But in the meantime check me out on Melissa's blog today!

Stafford Stories

REMEMBER

So I know I haven't done a very god job at keeping up on here but I feel like this is a post I need to right.
It isn't too exciting and it may not mean anything to anyone else but I feel like I need to write it down.
On July 13th my Papa passed away.
He was my last living grandparent. It was something we knew was coming as he was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis in November, it is a terminal disease. We got to see him on July 2nd knowing it would more than likely be the last time. He was good that day and I'm so glad.
As I was sitting there that day watching him hold Willa I was trying to take it all in and REMEMBER. One day I will have to explain to her how he looked at her. How is was talking to her. How he told her she was so beautiful. How he played with her tiny little feet in his wrinkled hands.
I want her know and I am so worried I won't REMEMBER the details.

She was named after him and they share the same birthday.
He's not the only one that I want her to feel like she knew but also my grandmother, Celestine, Paul, and other people who have blessed my life along the way.
I feel like I am taking in more now that I have Willa. I want to tell her about when she was young and all the amazing things she did and people that she made smile.
It is teaching me to REMEMBER and pay attention. It is something I didn't know I would gain from becoming her Mama but I am glad I did.
I have a hard time remembering things from the last 25 1/2 years that I wish I could recall.
I am going to change that and really take in the next 25 1/2 years and hopefully create a beautiful story for my daughter!

This is Willa and my grandmother. They have very similar eyes!!

Catch up- Link Up

I am linking up with In This Wonderful Life.

I am doing a little Catch Up post...
So I have been so bad about updating this and it really makes me sad!

We have had so much going on and learning to be a mommy has kept me so consumed. 

We seem to spend our weekends playing catchup and trying to enjoy our full days with Willa. 

Here are a few ransoms from the last few weeks. Tomorrow will be a 3 month post!! Baby girl is growing up soooo fast!!! 

Brian's first Fathers Day!! My how she had changed!!!

Such a cutie!!

Enjoying Spending time in Lusby with the Young's!

Willa's first boat ride!!!

Bath time is still her favorite!

Oh the SMILES!!! They get me every time!!! Waking up to this is heaven on Earth!!! I am just waiting for the giggles to start!!!

 

Until next time...

Love from MD!

 

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2 Months Old!

Dear Willa,
You have grown so much in the past month! Your Daddy and I are blown away everyday at the new things you do and the new sounds you make! We are constantly acting completely silly trying to get you to smile at us and love our Saturday and Sunday mornings laying bed with you smiling at us. You love to snuggle up against me in bed and hang on to my shirt so I stay nice and close to you! You bring us such joy everyday and we are lucky to be your parents. We talk about all the fun things we can't wait to be able to do but I don't want you to grow up too fast! You are such a sweet little girl and are very easy going just like both of your parents and we like it that way. Everyone that has met you is so enamored by you and says how perfect you are! That always makes Mommy and Daddy smile! We are so proud of you already and love you so much!

Love you sweet girl,
Your Mama

Weight/Height: 11 lbs 2 oz & 23 1/2 inches

Health: Perfect report again...you had to get your 3 shots!! It was so sad but you were a trooper and never had any affects from them!

Social: Much more social this month...you started cooing and making this hilarious squealing sounds when you want attention!

Diet: Exclusively Mama's milk!

Clothes:  0-3 month still

Mama’s Favorites: Smiles in the morning...looking at me when you nurse...telling us all kinds of stories!

Crying: Still very little...you have to be really upset!

Sleep: Still sleeping 9-3 and started sleeping in your crib at 9 weeks!!
Baby Likes: activity mat, bouncer, bath time, fans, lights!

Postpartum: Same...need to start working out!

Milestones: Cooing!

Best of times: Hearing your little voice, getting you in your crib at night, smiles in the morning!

Worst of times: Your worst time is from 7-8...we aren't too sure why but all you want to do is be held at that time every night!



Pretty girl



Celebrating Mother's Day!



Spending time in Charlotte with Emma!



So Pretty!



Hanging out with your friend Emma!



Cheesin' it up in your bouncer!

1 Month Old!

 

 

My Dear Willa,

Oh my little girl! How you have rocked our world! I never knew I could love someone so much! I have so many important people in my life that I love deeply but nothing compares to the love I have for you! You amaze me everyday and have brought me joy I never knew you could experience. You can make me smile and cry instantaneously! You have gotten so big in just a short month! You are more alert too. I am so happy with our little routine and am dreading going back to work. As scary as it will be you have already shown us that you are resilient and I know you will have so much fun one day with all the other kids at daycare. Our days are filled with snuggles and cuddles and now smiles here and there. Your Daddy loves you so much too and comes running through the door to get to you. I never thought I could love your Daddy any more than I did before you were here but to see him be your Daddy has made me love him so much more. He is so gentle with you and worries about you constantly. I know he is so scared of you being a teenager which makes me chuckle. I know you will be sweet little girl even at the age of 16! You have made us so happy and I can't wait to see what the future holds for you. It is a big world out there but I want you to always know you will be safe at home with us!

I love you sweet girl...more than you will ever know(until you have your own children)!

Love,

Your Mama

Weight/Height: 9lbs 14 oz & 23 inches

Health: Got a perfect report!

Social: Starting to smile at Mommy & Daddy!

Diet: Exclusively Mama's milk!! YAY!

Clothes: 0-3 month

Mama’s Favorites: Smiles, Snuggles in the morning, looking for me when you hear my voice!

Crying: Very little...only when you are really tired or want your paci. Sometimes when we get you out of the bathtub too because you like it so much!

Sleep: You are such a good sleeper!! You just started giving us a good 6 hour stretch from 9pm-3am!
Baby Likes: Activity mat, bouncer, bath time

Postpartum: Down to my pre-pregnancy weight...have about 10 more to go!

Milestones: Rolled from tummy to back at 1 month exactly

Best of times: Meeting most of the family, Going to Mommy's work, mornings in bed!

Worst of times: None really, You are such a good baby. You are easily consolable and are content most of the time.

Wearing my very first onesie!!

Playing with Brady!

 

First 2 weeks home!

So I have done a horrible job keeping up with the blog. But...I do have a good excuse, this cutie:


So rather than going through and writing it all down I will just do a photo collage instead!
These are from the 2 weeks!!!

First Bath

She slept through the whole thing!

Happy Girl!!

Heading to the doctor!

Uncle Will came to visit!

Daddy giving her the 1st bottle!

Sweet Emma came!!!

Tummy time!

Pretty girl!!

Starting to keep her eyes open some!

Beauty!

Week 2:

Sweet little toes

First bath in her tub!

She liked it better!!

Sweet family of 4!

hanging out with Daddy!

Sweet cuddle bug!

Play time!!!
 

Birth Story

So I left off when my mom got to the hospital around 5:30. But first a few pictures from the 1st evening and morning...

Here I am just hanging out before things started hurting!

 

Daddy's side of the room. Our room was HUGE...(Side story: when I was in triage watching my BP, our nurse was about to switch over to the charge nurse for the evening. Once they decided to admit me and took me to my room she came in and told us since she liked us so much, she gave us the biggest room on the ward! It was so nice and I was thankful to have such a wonderful experience)

 

Waiting on Baby B!! It was so neat looking at this and knowing in a short period of time our little one would be laying in there!

 

Babies heartbeat...

Contractions over night...they weren't really regular yet!

 

Ok so back where I stopped yesterday...

When she got there Brian went down to get something to eat and brought them coffee back up to the room.
We were just chatting and waiting on the doctor for a while.
Around 8:00am they turned up my pitocin.
Around 9:00 my midwife, Shakira, came in and broke my water. At this point I was around 3 cm dilated. This is when everything changed very quickly. My pain level went from a 1 to an 8 within 3 contractions. It was so intense I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I kept debating whether to try Stadol or just get the epidural.
About this time Brian's mom came in briefly but I was in so much pain so she didn't stay in the room long. She never left the hospital that day though just waiting for Baby B to arrive!
Around 10:15 the pain was so intense I just couldn't take it anymore. After talking with Brian and my Mom who both told me that I needed to do what was best...I asked for the epidural.
Little did I know that it would take over and hour and a half to get it!!! That was the worst hour and a half...they wanted me to sit on the edge of the bed so I would be ready when the anesthesiologist got there. Too bad that is the worst position to sit in when you are having contractions every 2 minutes! I was in so much pain and really don't think I would have gotten through it if it hadn't been for Brian and my mom.
I finally was ready for the epidural which was much more painful than anyone had told me. The initial "numbing medicine" was way worse than the "sting and a pinch" like he said it was going to be! I also had 2 contractions while he was putting it in which was incredibly hard to stay still. Brian did such a god job talking me through them and getting me to hold still and stay calm.
Once the epidural was in my mom came back in the room and I felt relief immediately. Within 2 contractions I could no longer feel them. At this point they checked me again and I was now 6cm dilated. They said it would take at least another 4 hours before I would be fully dilated and then it would take between 1-3 hours to push.
Everyone kept telling me to get some sleep but I couldn't really...I was just so excited!!! Brian's Mom came back in for a bit and we all just sat around chatting a bit. Around 2:30 something felt different so finally after some convincing, the nurse checked me again and Baby B was right there and I was fully dilated. Our moms went to the waiting room for the delivery.
Shakira came in and everything was set up...I started pushing at 2:44.
We told Shakira that we wanted Brian to announce what the baby's gender was and she agreed.
After being told I was awesome at pushing and laughing with everyone in between contractions, Baby B was born at 2:54!!!
I knew the gender right away by the way that Shakira lifted her up and put her on my chest but poor Brian couldn't see it. I was so overcome with emotion that I started crying! Brian finally said well what is it??? I was able to get out...IT'S A GIRL!!!
I really couldn't believe it and I was so excited to be able to say that we had a beautiful daughter named...

Willa Mae

Born: March 26, 2013 at 2:54pm

Weighed: 7 lbs 14 oz

Length: 20 1/2 inches

 



Big girl 37 weeks 5 days!

Cleaned up a little bit!!

Daddy holding Willa for the first time!

First family photo!!!

 

Holding my little one again!

 

 

Brian went out and told our moms...they were really excited. They came back after I nursed her for the first time.

 Mimi (my mom) holding her for the first time!

 

Nana (Brian's mom) holding her for the first time!

GDad (my dad) and Pappy (Brian's dad) holding Willa!

They both got to the hospital around 5:30 which was so exciting!

Willa's first bath...she hated it!!! This was the only time she really cried!

Hanging out on Mommy's bed!!

So that is all for now...we have had so many visitors and I will do another post soon!