Summer Lovin'

I've completely lost track of how many weeks Maribelle is at this point, but it's safe to say she's a little more than 3 1/2 months old now. We just can't believe how fast time has gone and how big she's gotten! The weather has been absolutely beautiful (and sticky!) the past few days, so Maribelle's been sporting her best summertime attire. And after keeping Maribelle in little more than a onesie this past weekend, I now have a whole new reason to love summer ... being able to see her yummy baby legs, arms and toes!!

Sleepy girl in legwarmers


Dinnertime nap on the deck

"Rosie Cheeks"

Wearing her Puma track suit from Aunt Laura

With the nice weather, we've been putting the Baby Bjorn to good use. It was a lifesaver this past week and helped me get through a week's worth of Maribelle's growth spurt crankiness. When nothing else would stop her from fussing, I would load her up in the Baby Bjorn, pop a pacifier in her mouth and pace the sidewalks. Within minutes she would be out like a light. She even got to enjoy her first game of Corn Hole from the coziness of the Baby Bjorn.

Sleeping Beauty

The other night, Maribelle logged a personal best when it comes to nighttime sleeping. Normally her sleep schedule involves going to bed between 8 and 9 p.m., waking to eat between 1 and 2 a.m. and again at 5 or 6 a.m., and waking up for the day around 8 a.m. However, the other night our little sleepy head ate her last meal of the night around 7:30, fell asleep around 9:30, and ... get this ... didn't wake up until nine hours later at 6:30 a.m.! Now THAT's what I call sleeping through the night! Jer and I checked on her multiple times during the night, and in fact, I woke up at 6 a.m. that morning just WAITING for her to get up! I know it was a fluke and is likely part of a growth spurt she's going through, but it's nice to know that she CAN sleep for that long of a stretch! Thanks for the extra "Zs", Maribelle!

Today Maribelle had her first play date! A friend of mine had a baby girl two weeks after Maribelle was born, so we paid her and her two adorable kids a visit today. Maribelle and Nell didn't really seem to notice one another all that much, but it sure was fun to see two babies laying next to one another!

Easter Recap

We had a wonderful Easter in Ohio as Maribelle marked a number of firsts! She celebrated her first holiday, took her first extended car ride (about five hours each way), made her first appearance in church, wore her first frilly dress and met many, many friends and family for the first time. While Jeremy and I were worried about how she would acclimate and handle all the hustle and bustle, she was a pleasant little baby and either slept or smiled her way through most of the trip!

Looking all pretty in her Easter dress, a gift from Great Grandma Moorhead

The girls


Spending some quality time with Grandma Michelle

Surrounded by cousins and aunts

Four generations -- Me, Grandpa A., Great Grandma A. and Maribelle

Getting some lovin' from Aunt Myr ...

... and Grandpa A. and Grandpa M.

After a lovely getaway, Maribelle and I are back to our usual routine. I'm trying to enjoy every last minute of our days together since I go back to work in only a few short weeks. I hate thinking about all that I'm going to miss, especially since her personality is just starting to emerge. It's all the little moments, and all the BIG smiles, that just make my heart melt. Like yesterday when I put her in her jumperoo for the first time:



Sometimes it's hard to imagine life before Baby Belle! But it did exist, and today, Jeremy and I celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary. This year we have so much to be grateful for!

In Full Bloom

Maribelle caught her first glimpses of D.C.'s infamous and beautiful Cherry Blossoms last week (and I seriously mean glimpses ... she slept the ENTIRE time we were there and just barely cracked her eyelids a few times). Since it was peak bloom time and a gorgeous day, the city was packed with people wanting to get their fill of the pale papery blossoms. The arrival of spring is probably my favorite time of year in the district -- and the only time when traffic seems a teensy bit more bearable -- as many of the streets come to life with all the pinks and whites of the Cherry Blossoms and the vibrant yellows of spring's first daffodils and forsythia. And I'm so glad we got to share it all with one of my oldest and bestest friends.

On a non-Cherry Blossom note, Maribelle had an appointment with a cardiologist last week to follow up on an echo cardiogram she had while in the NICU. The small hole (known as a VSD) that she had in the muscular part of her heart is already decreasing in size, so the doctor said that she doesn't need to see her for another year! We're so relieved. And, our little chubby cheekster now weighs 10 lbs, 9 oz! That means that all the relatives she will be meeting for the very first time during our upcoming Easter trip home will have all that much more to love!