An Eventful Month

It's been about a month since I have had a real post here, and the last month has been so eventful!!

Fellow BLMs welcomed rainbow babies!!  Congratulations go out to Dawn, Jessica, Katy, Malory, Lareina, Heather and Andrea for the arrival of Maddox, Joshua, Ellie, J.D., Declan, Liam and Lauren!!!!

My last real post referenced the Shu.tte.rfly free Christmas card opportunity.  The experience was just that...an experience.  I did eventually get my 50 free cards, but in the long run the cards I got were different than I anticipated when I posted.  I was a little disgruntled at first, but once I had them in my hands, I did like them!  Here is what we finally ended up with...

 

And then there is Jenna, the cutest baby on the block.  :-)  I am sure that all mothers go through the standard sense of awe as they watch their 'first' child grow and develop, and I am certainly no exception.  (Of course, she is not my first, but you all know what I mean.)  It amazes me that I can see changes in her development on a daily basis, especially over the last 2-3 weeks.  The last three weeks have been marked by heavy chewing on her fingers, with some increase in drooling, so I am sure that teeth are not too far off.

During the week between Christmas and New Year she started reaching and grasping with purpose and intent, especially at things placed in front of her on the swing tray.  New Year's Eve day was a busy, busy day for her.  She rolled over from her belly to her back without any help...and the worst part is that no one saw her do it.  Later that day she moved a soft toy from the tray of her swing to her mouth.  We had to put the crib bumper on this week, because we kept finding her with her feet and legs sticking through the slats on the side of the crib.  I didn't take a picture of her last night (well, at 3:30 this morning) when I put her to bed, because there was no reason to take a picture.  But....

....she was in this position when I put her to bed...

...and this is what I found when I went in to get her up this morning...

The constant development is amazing to me, despite the fact that I'm a pediatric physical therapist, and I'm used to seeing kids make motor progress.  The things that she does today leave me wondering what new things she will do tomorrow.  They leave me wanting to make time stop so I can stay in this time and place forever.  Oh, how quickly the days seems to slip past already!!  I can only hope that I will be as attentive to the accomplishments of the rest of our kids as I am to Jenna's. 

Jenna got to meet quite a few new people in the week before/of Christmas.  When we were pregnant with Gracie, we attended Bra.dley birthing classes with 4 other couples.  Since Gracie's birth, the group has gotten together for  two mini reunions.  For the first reunion, there were 5 couples and only 4 babies; it kind of sucked.  We got together again the weekend before Christmas (one couple had a sick kiddo and didn't attend) and everyone had a baby this time.  :-)   Here is a picture.

During the same weekend Jenna met some of Jeff's cousins and their little tykes.  This family gathering is always a good time, and you never go away hungry.  Sadly, there will always be a black cloud for me (at least a little one) during these gatherings.  The little guy on the right in the picture below was born on my birthday last year, just 2 months and 3 days before Gracie died.  So instead of Jenna meeting her cute little blonde cousins, it should be three little blondies tearing around the room...including Gracie.  But it is what it is...a little bittersweet sometimes.  Sigh.  But next year Jenna will be tearing the place up!  :-)

Jenna finally got to meet her cousin, Trevor, who was home from Naval training in Texas for 5 days.  He graduated from basic training two days after she was born, and he went to Texas for A-school immediately after basic graduation, so he had not seen her except for pictures.  It was a good meeting, and it was love at first sight...at least it was for Trevor.  :-)

My sister was home for a 3.5  week holiday break from her Peace Corps duties in Namibia.  Although the visit was a bit bumpy, I am so glad that she got to meet Jenna. 

A few days before Christmas, Jenna, Aunt Nikki and I ventured to the mall to do a little last minute shopping and to meet Santa.  Jenna did so well with Santa!  She didn't smile for the camera, but she didn't cry, either.

Christmas itself was relatively uneventful.  Jenna is still just a bit too little to take much interest in the paper or bows or the tree, but she certainly was the center of a lot of attention.  Last year, we decided that we would get at least 1 or 2 new 'Gracie' ornaments for the tree, and it looks like we have unofficially started on the same path for Jenna.

The first ornament that I bought for her.

My dad painted this ornament.

We got one for Gracie last year, and this will be the 'matching' ornament that each of our kids will get.  

From Jeff's parents

I picked this out because of the star in the middle of the wreath that says 'Hope'.  She certainly was our hope for 2010.

From Jenna's Tuesday babysitter

From my aunt and uncle

From one of our good friends

I got one of these for each of the girls when we went to see Santa

Of course, she received lots of wonderful gifts from family and friends.  One of the best gifts this year was her I Spy quilt that my sister made before she went to Namibia, expecting that there would be another baby before she came home from her assignment.  I can't wait until Jenna gets a little bigger so we can spread the quilt out on the bed and play baby I Spy (minus the cats, of course - they're like vultures!)!!

Last, but not least, I took a few posed Christmas pics of our little star...

She just would not look at me...

She's not as chunky as she looks here...really.  :-)

I guess that's enough for now.  :-)    To read more about going green and semi-crunchy parenting stuff, check out my new blog.