It is official.....I STINK at blogging!!!!!

Life feels like it is just flying by. Lily is 6 months and two weeks old!! Just yesterday she decided to sit up! She falls to the side and to the back when she reaches for something...but baby girl can sit up!!! Since the last time I have posted Lily is sleeping in her crib and in her room!!! It has been fabulous for Mike and I- PLUS she sleeps through the night! AMEN ;)

We had our first holiday season with our little bean, and it is wonderful to experience it through Lily's eyes! She loved Christmas! I think she enjoyed the tissue and wrapping paper more than the gifts!!!

Yikes- the bean is up and rolling around in the crib- hopefully I will be able to post later, but here is picture of Lily....how I love that smile!!!

This is LOOOONG overdue. I have expressed my deepest gratitude to my husband personally and I want to let all my friends and family know how the last year would not be possible if I did not have such a supportive partner in Mike.

For obvious reasons I would not be sitting here today looking over at the sweetest child swaying in her swing if it wasn’t for my “co-producer” Mike. From the day we found out I was pregnant Mike was ecstatic for our growing family!

From reading my past posts it is quite evident that I did not have the happiest experience being pregnant. Thanks to my husband and loving mother I do not know how I would have had the peace of mind to last the entire 9 + months and labor without them!

When we found out we were going to have a little girl I was a wee bit nervous, as I knew Mike wanted a boy so bad.  I knew that if he had a boy first it might be easier to get all the “baby firsts” out of the way until he juggled joining team pink. But it was somewhere during the sixth month that while driving Mike confessed he was actually happier to be a daddy to a girl….that day I fell in love with him even more. I knew he would be that dad holding flowers for Lily as we watched her dance during a recital. That dad that would stand up to give a huge “Goooooo Lily” when she ran onto the stage for a cheer competition. The dad that would allow his daughter to put a dress and hat on him for a late afternoon tea party with her favorite stuffed toys.  That kinda dad. I had always known he would be that way…it was a main reason why I said, “I do.”

During my pregnancy he was wonderful. Do NOT get me wrong there were tons of moments in my high hormone rages that I wanted him to pack up and leave for a few days. It did take him a LONG time to figure out how to cope with a pregnant wife. There were some days I almost fell asleep at the dinner table and couldn’t listen to how his day went because I was so tired. There were weekends were I slept the ENTIRE time to catch up from work or prepare for work the next week.  Then there were those moments where every pregnant woman cries. Cries for any reason at all. Those were the toughest for Mike. Especially those huge crocodile tear fests. When I would get all Miss Diva Hormone. He had a hard time just sitting back and accepting that this “B!%@h “ attitude was something I could not control. I eventually went to Barnes & Noble and bought him a book. A funny book written to explain to him what us woman truly going through while we grown a human being inside our bellies! That booked saved us from so many future arguments. There were a few points were I would start to moan about a new pregnancy symptom and Mike would jump into the conversation telling me he understood what I was going through because he read it in the book! One.Of.The.Best.Purchases.Ever! 

Besides the lack of knowledge on how to deal with a raging bull of a wife, Mike stepped up big time in all other avenues of being a supportive daddy-to-be (well minus back rubs- his consisted of a one finger dagger rub- very painful!). Basically during my entire pregnancy I had a horrible time preparing food. The smells made me want to curl up into a ball. Mike was my amazing in home chef. And by in home chef I do mean- mac-n-cheese and pankcakes….meals for champions! Also during my every hour bathroom trip during the middle of the night I would find myself dehydrated and often starving! Mike would get up, fill up my cup and bring me some oatmeal or cheerios.

I also had an extremely hard time during my pregnancy at how my body changed physically. No one can prepare you. And by the way, SCREW those Mtv teens that pop out their babies and look normal by the next episode.  Sorry had to vent as I just saw a commercial on tv for that horrible show. When it came to what was changing physically, Mike was my rock. Between the acne, gas, grey hair (yes I got grey hair people!) stretch marks and apparent massive weight gain, Mike told me he loved me everyday.  

Once Lily was born I discovered I really hit the jack pot when it came to husbands. I mean he truly goes out of his way to make sure he is there for both of us. I know it kills him to be on the road. So sometimes Mike will get up extra early to get on the road instead of leaving the night before so he can be there just for bath time rituals! Every morning he is home he helps me tremendously by taking Lily in the morning so I can take a shower ( a luxury for mommies!).  He makes coffee every day….something I know we both need to combat the day, but still it is one less thing I have to do in the morning. These are just some of the many things Mike does....

So to my loving husband, I thank you. Thank you for being my better half, my rock….Thank you for loving me through the good and the bad times on the road to being parents. You have given me so much, but the most amazing gift you have ever given me is the gift of motherhood.  I love you so much muffin…. 

soaking it up....

Where has the last 3 1/2 months gone??? It is true that the time leading up to having a baby goes at a snails pace and as soon as you deliver the minutes fly by. I try to soak up every minute. We recently went to Hilton Head to visit my Nana & Papa and as we were riding around in my Nana's golf cart she gave me some great advice. She told me not to wish away my baby's life. As soon as she said it I didn't understand. I quickly skimmed over things I had done or said that may have provoked her to say this. My Nana explained that I shouldn't wish for future milestones, as they will be here before you know it. Just soak up the time now because she will be grown before you know it. She would know raising seven kids!!! I have caught myself since then saying, "Oh Lily I can't wait until you can full wrap your hand around me and hug me!" After I said that I stopped and reminded myself of what my Nana had told me. So I just hugged her tight and was happy with where we are today. Today, when I hold Lily (btw no holding her like a baby any more! She must be held sitting up so she can view the world!) she will hold one of her arms over my shoulders and wiggle her fingers around searching for something to grab. Sometimes she just grips my shirt or rubs my shoulder. Most of the time the princess snags a hold of my hair- OUCH! So I am soaking this up. One day she will hug me back....but at the moment I am content watching her little fingers squirm around learning the sensation of textures.

What else am I soaking up- the trip I told you about. My mom, Lily and I drove to visit my Grandma, Aunt, Uncle and cousins in Augusta Georgia and then hiked it to Hilton Head to visit my Nana & Papa. I was so excited that Lily was meeting her great grandparents on both sides! I never got the chance to meet my great grandparents, and it was so special to give Lily and my grandparents that moment. I was so nervous about the long drive to Augusta- BUT Lily did awesome! Better than awesome! Of course she cried when she was hungry but other than that she had a grand 'ole time hanging out with my mom, her Nana, in the back seat! It just was a looooooooong trip for my mom and me. Lily is still on a every flipping 2 hour feeding schedule- so by the time I pulled over, fed her, changed her, ran to the ladies room and started driving again we only got about an hour or so of driving before I had to pull over and start it all over again!!! So we left the house at 10:30 am and reached GA at 8:15 pm! I learned my lesson, so we left after supper from Hilton Head and Lily slept the entire way home. I look forward to going back so I can capture some more memories for Lily, BUT we will be waiting until she can go longer in between feedings and will be driving at night!!

Lily and her Great Grandma Boykin (GA)

Lily with my cousin Will (GA- go dawgs;))

Showing her a fallen leaf ( don't get to many of these in FL)

Enjoying the outdoors with my fabulous Aunt Jane (GA)

Lilster and her Great Papa Montgomery (SC)- I heart this picture

Lily enjoying herslef with her Great Nana (SC)- I caught the right moment ;)

Aunt Carla drove down from Charlotte

Four generations :)