One Month

( I realize that I'm a few days late, but I did write this out on the day she turned One Month old.)

My Sweet Chloe,
Today you are a month old! Your Daddy and I cannot believe it! You have already grown so much this month.

Things that have changed in this month;
When we first brought you home your hands were all wrinkly and red but now they are smooth and match the rest of your body.

A few weeks ago you hated your bouncer and swing but now you usually go to sleep soon after I put you in either one of them.
When you were in the hospital right after you were born they had us feeding you 15 ml every 2 hours (a little over 4 oz. a day). But now you drink 3-4 oz every 3 hours. You're still taking both formula and breast milk.

One of my favorite things to do with you right now is to give you a bath. You still cry when I wash your body but as soon as I start to wash your hair you stop crying and start closing your eyes and calming down. You love when I wash your hair! (I love it too!)

This past week you have started to make coo noises, It's adorable!

You are such a snuggle bug!! You love to snuggle up next to Daddy when he lays on the couch. You usually burrow your face in his chest.

 You have been in disposable diapers all month but we are about to start putting cloth diapers on you next week (you're actually big enough for them now.).

You were dedicated the day before we left Oklahoma. Everyone was so supportive and kind. Your Great-Grammy and Great Aunt Laurie even came! We promised in front of everyone to raise you in a way that would be pleasing to God.

We just moved into our own apartment and I am starting to get your room set up. I am so excited that you are going to have your own room. I can't wait to get everything set up in your room. I LOVE your crib it's so precious.

I cannot believe you have already been here an entire month! We love you so much Chloe. This month has been so life altering but so rewarding! We can't wait to watch you grow more and more into the woman God has you to be. I love you baby girl!

- Mommy

What I've learned since becoming a parent

As I was sitting in my room pumping I was trying to come up with a new blog entry.  I thought it would be a good idea to write about motherhood so far. I am obviously an expert since I've now been a mom for three weeks (please note the sarcasm). Oh and I'm sure I've heard mothers say all these things but I guess I'm more of a hands on learner...

What unconditional love actually means.

Imagine someone making you so frustrated that you want to scream and cry and then seconds later that same person making you so happy and proud that you completely forget how upset you were 5 seconds ago. I mean it's obviously easy not to hold a grudge when she doesn't understand what she's doing but still such an awaking to how Christ loves us.

Being a parent is not easy. 

I remember thinking in high school how cool it would be to have a baby. I even took one of those classes where you take those microchip babies home and have to takes care of it every time it cries. So unrealistic! There are times when Christopher and I have stretched to our limit and we have to find strength from some place deep inside. Chloe doesn't know how tired we are when she has gas all day or cries for no reason, but I do hope she learns very soon that Christopher and I are always here to help her when she needs us.

This season will one day end. 

The crying, the late nights and early mornings, the frustration of not knowing what is wrong, the diapers, the screams from my daughter as I change her clothes yet again, the checking every minute to see if she's still breathing, the breast pumping, all of it will one day fade away. As I sit here and imagine all of these things going away it gets me to thinking about all the other things that will go away with them. The sweet tiny cry she made her first week (that's already gone), the times I get to hold her and watch her sleep in my arms, the silly faces she makes without even trying, the sound of her breathing in her cradle next to me, the little baby sounds she makes, how teeny tiny she is, how proud I am when she lifts her head or finally burps, getting to put her in adorable outfits every day, when Christopher holds her with such gentleness. The more I hope for this tiring season to pass the more I see that the good will pass too. I need to make sure to breathe in this long, sleep deprived, season because it will be gone before I know it.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

I love being a Mommy and I love this girl so much!! Thanks for reading.

- Allie