Colorado: day 1

We finished packing and emptying our 7 Spruce Road nest today- its strange to leave this place behind. After loading our two vehicles with the household items we will need for our temporary hotel abode for the next two months, we buckled up and drove out of East Windsor for the last time in the pouring down rain. NJ was crying at our departure- it was certainly bittersweet for us... First stop: Poff B&B in Strasburg, PA. Sushi and Lyssa are doing well so far!! 

Where is all our stuff, mommy? 

Picnic in the living room!

Um, help?!

Our transportation and home-on-wheels for the next four days. 

7 Spruce Road, we will miss you!!

5/12/2013: Mother's Day

In the past few years, I've had many firsts - but not one has been as rewarding and beautiful as the first that has made me a mother. The first pregnancy, the first child being born to a first mother and father, the first time of overwhelming feelings of love, wonder, and gratitude for a tiny human being that has completely and eternally found a place in my heart, the first time really understanding what my mom has meant all these years (I get it now, Mom)... and now the first Mother's Day. I have been given a perfect day- and while I don't want it to end, I look forward to cherishing the memories from today for years to come. 

Thank you...

Happy Mother's Day to the best mommy a girl could have. Thanks, Mom, for nurturing me, giving me unconditional love, and for your wisdom, advice, and friendship. Thanks for always being there for me. And thanks for loving my precious girl and being a wonderful Nana to her! 

Happy Mother's Day to my dear mother-in-law who raised the man I married and love more than life - thank you for being his mom, raising and loving him, and loving me too. 

Thank you to those who have guided and mentored me in my life. You mean the world to me and I thank you. I would not be who I am without your presence in my life. 

Happy Mother's Day to my sweet sisters, aunts and cousins, and friends - I hope your day has been blessed with love and joy!

Lastly, I'm grateful to God for making me a mother to the sweetest daughter a woman could ask for. Thank you for being the true example of parenthood. I pray that in everything I do, I point her to You. 

39weeks- happy 9mo Alyssa!

It's been 9 mo since her weekly birthday has matched her monthly birthday. This Sunday marks a beautiful day of remembering and being overjoyed at our little girl's presence in our lives. Can she be any more perfect and sweet?

Lyssa's perfect ratio- 41wks&3days

My dear sweetheart,
You are now at the time in your life where your age in this world matches the time you were cradled, warm and safe, in my womb. It is hard for mommy to believe that this much time has past since you made your first appearance in my life and that my love for you is even stronger and deeper than it was then. You are a beautiful baby- with your blue green eyes, your golden hair, your dimpled cheeks, and your sweet smile. But more than that, you are showing more signs of your sweet personality that we've seen since your birth, demonstrating patience, joy, contentment, and a heart full of happiness. You are so sweet my baby and your mommy loves you with all her heart.
I want you to remember always- that however much mommy loves you, which is more than you'll ever be able to comprehend, Jesus loves you even more- more infinitely, more perfectly, more beautifully, and more eternally.
I love you my little heart queen.
Love,
Mommy

Week 36-38

Tooth 5 and 6 are popping through and 7 isn't far behind! She is a drool machine at the moment, which keeps mommy cleaning up after her constantly. Her smile is changing with all these little teeth...
She is also mimicking our hi's, adding a little Queen Elizabeth wave. She greets everyone she sees with this charming little stunt.
Other new developments: standing on her own, drinking through a straw, pursing her lips, mimicking sounds like chuckles, squeals, and whistles (which produces a very warbly squeal), and climbing the stairs. She just started this adorable throaty chuckle and will spider-crawl around chuckling to herself.
She is still infatuated with the piano, always pulling herself up to the bench and reaching her little fingers to the keys. She also has been raiding sushi's toy bucket, much to sushi's chagrin and consternation.
Her appetite continues to expand, including practically anything that mashable or small enough to eat. She is becoming increasingly independent and wanting to feed herself. This is nice as it gives mommy and daddy a chance to get in a quick bite or two.
She still likes to chatter, hum, and talk to herself. Her 'vocabulary' has quite a wide range now. But she always says dada when she see her daddy and a mix of baba or mama when she sees me :) hmmm...

33-35 weeks

What a little charmer we have! Lyssa is rapidly becoming one of the friendliest babies I've seen... She's always been good with people, but she has started to really respond to others. She loves to people watch and when someone pays attention to her she gets very excited. Of course that brings more attention because, be honest, who can ignore a giggling, squealing, adorable baby who is all happy to see you...
Her hair is coming in... gold. That certainly didn't come from mommy or daddy. The red tints from mommy, sure, but the yellow? All Johnson and Cole. And her eyes are a gorgeous mix of slate blue and ocean green. Some days we think 'ah her eyes are blue' and other days they are definitely green. In any case, they're just beautiful.