Sweet Bella - 11 Weeks

Update: She cries ALL day. She's actually horse sounding right now from screaming so much. Has reflux really bad. Projectile Vomits. Doesn't sleep well (if at all). She rests in her car seat instead of a bed because she's happier when shes propped up. She often smells like sour milk because she can't keep anything down, she goes through about 50 diapers a day (okay, I'm allowed to exaggerate since I'm going on 2 hours of sleep)! HOWEVER...she has a smile that will melt your heart. She coos and sings for her papa. She has a big dimple that is too cute for words. She loves to snuggle on your neck. Shes happy when she's being held by her mommy. Her eyes get huge and happy when her daddy walks in a room. She LOVES to pull up a chair to the milk bar (if you get my drift), she smiles HUGE for her big sister, and she is truly the perfect addition to our family! She is perfect...smelly milk vomit and all!!

I was bored...so I went blonde. And yes, they really do have more fun!!

Kids Say the Darndest...

On Jayda's last day of preschool I was talking with her teacher. She tells me that Jayda is doing really well with sounding out her words and learning to read. I tell her teacher that my goal for the summer is to start some basic reading with Jayda. Miss Elizabeth shows me some of the flash cards that the kids have been working on.

Miss Elizabeth: "See, most of the kids are learning these words." (She shows me the cards and they say "dog," "cat," and "car."
Me: "Oh, that's great."
Miss Elizabeth: "Yes, some of the more advanced kids are learning this word." (she shows me the card and the word is "Fossil."
Me: "Cool. Which is Jayda comfortable with?"
Miss Elizabeth: "This is what Jayda is working on right now." (She hands me the card and the word is......."Paleontologist.")

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Jayda:" Mom, I sure had fun today playing in the water fountain at Fairfax Corner."
Me: "Yeah, me too Jayda. It felt good to be outside."
Jayda: "Yup. I loved it. I realized I need more sun in my life."

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I took Jayda to get her first manicure/pedicure at the nail salon for the wedding she was in. All of the women working there were speaking in Vietnamese.
Jayda (really loudly): "Hey mom...are they speaking Spanish?"
Me: "No baby, they are speaking Vietnamese."
Jayda: "Oh. Can you tell them to stop?"

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Jayda: "Mom, is Jesus real?"
Me: "Yes, Jesus is real."
Jayda: "Like really real?"
Me: "Yes, he's really real."
Jayda: "Can he come over and play?"
Me: "Not exactly." Before I could explain myself she says...
Jayda: "Oh, is it because he is old and has a beard like daddy?"

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I was a bridesmaid in a wedding and Jayda was a flower girl. As I was being escorted down the aisle by one of the groomsmen during the rehearsal, Jayda ran over and said, "Mom, are you holding his arm." I told her yes and that he was walking me down the aisle for the wedding." Jayda said, "but, but, but, but, but." Then she paused for about 20 seconds and thought about it and then said, "but, but, but," and then she just glared at the poor guy! It was the first time I can remember that Jayda was truly speechless. She was obviously ticked off that it wasn't her daddy I was holding onto, but she didn't know what to say. She was so confused and pissed that she just kept repeating "but" and staring at us like we were two evil aliens! Too funny!!

Thanks a bunch Jayda

Jayda: "Mom, I have to tell you the truth about something."
Mom: "Ok, what?"
Jayda: "You are getting REALLY old."

Thanks Jayda. Nothing like a little dose of 3 year old to brighten my day!

What a difference 5 weeks makes!

5 Weeks Ago. Living in a little incubater & looking pretty weak & tiny...

Now she's home, happy, healthy...and already pushing 7 lbs!

My dearest Jayda Grace...

Times have been tough these past few weeks. I barely recognize you lately because your attitude and demeanor has been so dark. You have been a very difficult little girl (that’s an understatement). I don’t know if it is just your age, or the new baby, or the fact that I was on bed rest and in the hospital for so long with others caring for you, or what...but lately, I have found myself referring to you as “Captain Evil” (not in your presence of course). I can’t begin to describe how hard it has been to be around you because you’ve been so mean.

I have yelled at you, put you in time out, spanked your bum, cried, screamed, prayed, and everything else in between. Nothing is working. Your attitude changes on a dime and you seem so unhappy. You whine, you cry, you disobey, you do the exact opposite of what I tell you to do, you have been behaving just downright nasty.

However, I love you more each day and really felt the need today to express my love for you at this exact stage. I guess I’m putting this on the blog partly so you can read this later and know how much I love you and partly to remind myself of the sweet, heavenly gifts that you bring to my life.

Jayda I love you more than words can describe. I love your sweet laugh, your bouncing blonde curls, your big blue eyes, your sweet-tiny dimpled hands, and the sounds of your feet running around our kitchen in your dress up heels. I love seeing you dance and lip sync to Queen’s “We are the Champions” (who requests Queen at 3 years old?? LOVE IT). The sweetest sound in the world is when you say “I love you mommy.” I adore the times you hold my hand and reach up to me with open arms, I cherish the quiet moments where we are alone and you snuggle up to be held and I truly savor each kiss. I am blessed to be the one to kiss away your tears and wipe away your hurts. I love that you need me and that you are mine. You are my soul, my life, my breath, my heart. Please know that regardless of how you feel or act at any given time I love you unconditionally and irrevocably. I love the sound of your voice, I love that you look just like your daddy, I love seeing you sneak in sweet kisses to your baby sister. I love you. I love you. I love you. Forever and ever.

I love you to the moon and back little Jayda Grace!
Xoxo,
Mom

Quick update and proof that Jayda will be a helpful big sister!

Things are great here! I am finally home from the hospital (after 6 long days) and am back to resting in my own bed. Sierra is still in NICU, but she's doing great. She just needs to eat, grow, and maintain her body temp and she should be home in no time. We can't wait to bring her home so we can all be together. It's difficult having one car, one toddler at home, Russ needing to work, me having blood pressure concerns which still make me really REALLY sick, and a baby in NICU...there's just not enough time in the day...yet we realize how blessed we are and wouldn't trade this for the world.

I just wanted to share the below picture of my sweet Jayda Grace. I went downstairs to get something today and when I walked back to my room I found Jayda sitting in my spot with the Breast Pump next to her. She had "hooked herself up" and was watching a movie on my lap top computer. When she saw me she smiled the sweetest little smile you'd ever want to see and said "look mommy, I'm pumping my boobies so I can get some food for my baby sister!" She was so proud of herself. She's so stinkin' cute!!!!!!