Three Months With Our Girl

February 3, 2009. Seems like yesterday. Seems like forever ago. It's been three months. I won't say it's all been easy, but these have been the best three months of my life. The first six weeks were very, very hard with Jackson. It breaks my heart when I think about it. But we finally clicked in mid-March and things have been pretty great since then. I love having a son and a daughter and I feel like the most blessed woman in the world.

You know what? I even like age three. People did not give me very much hope that it would be an improvement over age two, but it has been significantly better for our family. Jackson potty trained, got a little more compliant, and astounds me every day with how much he's learning and growing. At this point, Curt and I don't think he really qualifies as a "strong-willed child." A high-energy child, yes. Strong-willed, maybe not. We see a desire to please starting to take root in his personality. I can't tell you how thankful we are for that.

I loved getting to watch our videos from Annabeth's first few days of life. The first one starts when I was at a 9 and our visitors were about to skedaddle out of our room. Then it cuts off and Annabeth is being laid on my lap. I got to relive seeing her open her eyes for the first time as well as watching her purple skin turn pink. It was fun to hear all the dialogue in the room that had escaped my memory. I heard the nurse say Annabeth was the pinkest baby she'd ever seen. I heard Curtis call our daughter "Annabeth Girl," which he still calls her now. I heard the first words I ever spoke to her. I was really amazed at the peace in the room and the calmness of my voice. The next scene is me holding the video camera while all the grandparents come in and meet our girl for the first time. I love that we captured that. After that, we see Melissa holding her for the first time.

Then we have Jackson sitting on the bed with me next to his baby sister. At that point I wanted to cry because I know how much life has changed for him since then. I feel a lot of guilt that he took the brunt of my exhaustion and hormonal craziness. Thank God we have gotten past it and hopefully he will not remember those 6 weeks when his mom was a psycho.

The next videos show us leaving the hospital and then arriving at our house. Unfortunately, the camera caught my backside at one point and I about died. Never look at it! I still have a long way to go, but thank God I do not still look like that! Then we see Annabeth getting her first bath at home. Oh my gosh, what a nightmare. She cried the whole time (probably because I didn't get the water hot enough and she was freezing) and I went way too slow. Bless her heart. The video even caught the beginning of my first post-baby meltdown, which involved me not wanting Beckham to be in the room with us because I needed space and he smelled bad. Poor Curtis.

It was apparent this morning that our kids sensed what a special day it was - being Annabeth's three-month birthday and all. Annabeth did a tiny little cackle when I brought her downstairs to eat. All it takes to get her smiles going is some eye-contact. She is the sweetest thing. Then I heard my son insert the word "poo poo" into the Wonder Pets theme song. That was a first. He's now been doing it all morning. He is such a BOY!

Other things about Jackson and Annabeth:

Jackson...
Has not had any accidents in as long as I can remember. He is doing so great! He even woke up with a dry pull-up this morning.

Still loves cars and trucks more than any other thing.

Is 39 inches tall.

Loves to give hugs and kisses. If I reach my hand back while we're in the car, he'll pick it up and kiss it.

For some reason doesn't like it when we tell him he looks cool. He says, "I not cool!" Maybe we need to get with the times and tell him he looks sick.

Picks flowers for me.

Enjoys pushing the buttons on elevators and being the one to knock or ring the doorbell.

Is fascinated by space ships.

Is totally obsessed with apples and asking for "snacks."

Loves for us to tell him stories about himself. He wants the stories to involve "scary monsters" but most of the ones I make up are about dinosaurs.

Is singing more and more. My heart melted when I heard him singing "Revelation Song" with me in the car. He still loves David Crowder the most as far as I can tell.

Really likes donuts.

Annabeth...

Is getting so big! She fits easily into her 3-6 month clothes and I just moved her up to size 2 diapers. She seems to have a long torso but short legs. She gets that from her daddy. He's an inch taller than me, but my legs are like four inches longer than his.

Has Curt's blue eyes but they are shaped like mine.

Looks just like her brother at that age, but with a bow on her head.

Crinkles her nose when she smiles and moves her head from side to side like Stevie Wonder.

Makes eyes at her daddy.

Cried for the first time recently because mommy wasn't there. My mom was babysitting when it happened. I got to see it for myself yesterday when someone else held her and she just wanted me.

Has a really girly and dramatic cry. Not that she cries much.

Would give up her paci for her hand if I'd let her.

Is still sleeping through the night. She goes to bed around 9 and generally wakes up between 7 and 8. On a good day, she also takes a nap around the same time as Jackson - from 1 to 3. Jackson stopped sleeping through the night when he was 3 months old and never did it again until he was weaned, but I'm hoping Annabeth will be different!

Hates tummy time.

Always falls asleep in the car.

Is very content.

Unlike her bother, doesn't really like to be bounced around.



I forced this rattle into her hand.


Tummy time is the devil, Mom.








*I knew this was going to be a unique day! Right before I finished this post, Jackson ran over to me crying because of his "boogers." Then I saw his nose was bleeding a little and I thought it was from him digging around up there with his fingernail. I tried to help him blow his nose, but he mostly blows out of his mouth and rarely accomplishes anything. Then he told me it was a piece of a goldfish cracker stuck up there. I nearly freaked out. Curt was on a run and everyone else I know is at church (we are going tonight). I called my mother-in-law because they get out really early. No luck. Then I got Jackson to close his mouth really tight so the air would only come out his nose and the thing shot out like a bullet. Gross!