Sip and See

Dear Waverley,
I am so excited to show you pictures of your Sip and See! I had a blast putting it together for you, and I know everyone who came had fun celebrating your long-awaited arrival! 

The invites: 

Since I try to shop small business as much as possible, I went to Etsy for your party invites. I fell in love with these by pinkdahliaprintable!

The eats:

For your debut party, I went with sweets (because you are SWEET!).  I got a little crazy with pops...cake pops, chocolate covered Oreos, and chocolate dipped marshmallows. Auntie Caroline and I attempted to make dipped Rice Krispie treats, but that ended in disaster. Maybe for your first birthday :) I also did donut holes and milk shots, because why not?

 

 

The drinks:

I put out a mimosa bar for the adults, and lemonades and milk for the kids. I was secretly very excited to try the cotton candy flavored milk (and it didn't disappoint!). 

 

 

 

The decorations:

I have to tell you a story about the flowers. I ordered them in bulk from Sam's Club, and Daddy and Pemberley went to pick them up while Auntie C and I baked. Apparently your angelic big sister tipped over the bucked once they got loaded into the cart, and Daddy had to explain a gigantic water mess in the middle of Sam's to their floral department. I kind of owe him big time for dealing with that...haha!

 

The gifts:

On the entry table, I set out chocolate dipped pretzel rods for people to take as they left. On the little attached label it said "thank you for coming!". I tried to print "Love, Waverley" on the back, but our printer was just not cooperating. Again...I'll do better for your first birthday party!

Here you are, all tuckered out on the couch after your guests left. Pemberley doesn't look tired, but we all took a long family nap not too long after I took this picture :)

I wish you could remember this little party. We were proud parents, introducing you to all of our friends, and our family loved the extra time to hold and cuddle you. We heard so many remarks about how big you've gotten! And you have...it's all happening too quickly. Time seriously needs to slow down!!

I love you so so so much,

Waverley | One Month

Dear Waverley,
This has literally been the fastest month of my life. When the notification for your check up popped up on Google Calendar, I stopped dead in my tracks. There's no possible way that you're already a MONTH old! You were just born a few days ago!! But sadly, no. My littlest baby girl is growing up :(

At one month, you...

-weigh 10.8 pounds (82nd percentile)

-are 22.7 inches long (97th percentile)

-have a head circumference of 15 inches (90th percentile)

-wear size 0-3 month clothes

-wear size 1 diapers

-have developed very particular sleeping habits (more on that below)

-just started taking baby Zantac to help with reflux

-are definitely more of a snacker than an eater

-enjoy looking at lights and ceiling fans

-love to be worn or held

-are a total mama's girl

-hate being on your back, probably due to the reflux

-sleep for 3-4 stretches at night

-have the sweetest personality!

At night, you are sooooooo particular! No swaddle. No paci. No lovey. Fan on, in our bed, and in between me and Daddy. Arms stretched out, and heaven help our household if one of those conditions isn't met! There have been numerous incidences when we've been downstairs and you just start wailing, like wailing, until I bring you upstairs. Each time it's been around 8:30-9pm, and I now know that when I see you fuss like that, you mean business and I need to get you upstairs immediately. Once I do, though, you're happy as a lark to go to sleep for three or four hours! I've never heard of a one month old being this particular, but dang. You've got it on point, little sister! (Now if we could just work on the whole sleeping for six hours thing...)

I'm not sure I've mentioned yet how much I love your DIMPLES! Daddy and I have no idea where you got them from since neither of us have them, but they just make you...you. You're going to be a little heartbreaker, I just know it!

We love you so much, Waverley. It's been an adjustment as a family of four, and we're all still trying to get in the swing of things. But every day gets easier, and we are having a blast getting to know you and watching Pemberley learn how to be a big sister. Even though it's hard for us to believe it's already been a month, I can barely remember what our lives were like before you came along. You're happy, healthy, and beautiful. We just adore you!

Love,

Newborn Pictures

Dear little Waverley,
Be still my beating heart. Your newborn pictures are in, and I am so totally in love with them. Jo Snaps did yet another phenomenal job! You are such a beautiful four day old baby, and I will never forget you this tiny and squishy.

 

See what I mean? You're such a beautiful little girl. Daddy and I love you SO much! I can't wait to see you grow.

So much love,

 

Your Birth Story

Dear little Waverley,
You're here, you're here, you're here!!! I was SO convinced that you were going to come late because I wasn't having any labor signs, and surprise! You came nine days early!!

It was the morning of Friday, March 18th. I woke up about 8:15am feeling totally normal, got Pemberley out of her crib, and went downstairs. We were hanging out, watching cats meowing on YouTube, and about 45 minutes later I started feeling just...off. I was texting your Grandma Joanne because she and Grannie were supposed to be heading over to go to brunch at First Watch with me and Pem. All of a sudden I felt one contraction...then another...then another. I downloaded a contraction timing app on my phone and just about dropped dead when I realized they were five minutes apart! I tried to stay calm and get Pem dressed, make the beds, and clean up the toys in the living room to take my mind off the fact that help was 30 minutes away and I was GOING INTO LABOR, but panic set in when they started getting so intense that I needed to sit on the couch and cry. I texted your Daddy and told him that you were on your way!!!

Daddy got home about five minutes before your grandmas and we quickly loaded up the hospital bag and made sure your sister was okay, then it was off to the hospital, where we literally hit every red light that we possibly could. I checked myself in while Daddy parked the car, and they took us up to triage where I found out I was already dilated to a six. A six!!!! At our 38 week appointment a few days before that I was almost to a four, so you made serious progress very quickly. That should have been a sign right there that you were coming whether we were ready or not!

We were in our birthing room by 11:30am, and I waited and waited for the epidural to kick in...except it never did. I ended up getting something called a spinal block, which totally numbed me from the waist down. Waverley, it was the most bizarre feeling in the world!! Not too long after it started working, around 1pm, I was dilated to a 10 and the doctor came in to tell me it was time to start pushing.

I was scared shitless.

I told her that I would try my best, but I wasn't sure it would work because I literally couldn't feel a thing. She reassured me it would be fine and told me when I was having a contraction so I could start. About 15 minutes later, you were born. Words can't even begin to describe the flood of emotions I felt when they told me you were 9 pounds, 21-1/2 inches long, and had a full head of hair and chubby cheeks. You were given your first bath after we did skin-to-skin for awhile, and a few hours later we were moved to our post partum recovery room.

The next day, Saturday, Daddy brought Pemberley up to meet you. I would be lying if I wrote that I didn't cry the first time you two met. Of course, the tears quickly gave way to laughter when Pemberley looked at you and called you a cat, but we kind of expected that to happen ;)

We were discharged on Sunday the 20th, and I ugly cried when I got home and saw this from your Daddy. He's the best! 

I hope you know how excited I am to finally hold you in my arms, sweet little baby girl. I can't wait to watch you grow! 

With all of the love in the entire world,

Mommy & Daddy Maternity Pictures with Henderson Photography

Dear sweet little baby,

As if having my maternity pictures taken all by myself wasn't enough, Daddy wanted in on the action, too! This time we turned to my good friend and colleague, Nicole Henderson, to take our couples maternity photos in downtown Lee's Summit, where I grew up. She owns Henderson Photography, and is also the same person who photographed our wedding. We took these a few weeks ago and I'm so happy that we did. Daddy and I didn't do anything like this with Pemberley, so these are extra special. Didn't she do an amazing job??

All of my love,

Maternity Pics with JoSnaps

Dear sweet little baby,

Since this is my last pregnancy, I decided to step waaaay out of my comfort zone and really try to "document the belly." I asked the talented JoSnaps to take some maternity pictures of just the two of us, and as uncomfortable as I was the entire time (I mean, I wore JEANS), they are sooo worth it! My favorites are the ones in the dress...I've not felt "beautiful" for a lot of this pregnancy, but that dress showed us both off :) I'm so excited to share these with you!

I hope one day you look back on these and know how special this pregnancy is to me. Now we just need to patiently wait until the day when we can meet you!

Love, love, love,