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!

Sittin' Pretty

I just had to post this pic, since it's one of my favorites so far. I've started putting Maribelle in her Bumbo seat for a few minutes at a time now that she can pretty steadily hold up her head. The Bumbo is supposed to further help her develop her core strength, plus its another form of entertainment during the day! This was one of her first times in the chair. Although she looks a bit slumpy in this pic, she actually did really well! And she looks so darn cute with those chubby cheeks!

Doggie Daycare

We've been interviewing potential daycare candidates these past few weeks, and judging by these pictures, it seems as if Manny and Olivia have decided to throw their hats (or should I say ears?!?) in the ring. Sometimes they watch over Maribelle like a hawk, and that's exactly the kind of care we're looking for! Luckily, we think we've found that and more in the provider that we've chosen for Maribelle. Yes, we FINALLY found daycare! It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders now that we've made some decisions about how I will be returning to work and who will be watching Maribelle while I'm there. While a big part of me wants to stay home and play mommy all day long, another part of me is excited about finding a balance between work and family and giving Maribelle the opportunity to learn from others. I've got one more month at home before I'm back in my office at the law school ... You better believe I'm going to soak up as much baby yummy-ness as I can before that day gets here!

Baby Chatter

Maribelle had her two-month checkup last week, and our little girl is doing just great! She weighed in at 9lbs 8oz, which moves her up from the 5th percentile to the 25th percentile for her age. Her length of 22 inches moved her to the 50th percentile. She also received her first full round of immunizations, and while I was a nervous wreck about it, she took the shots like a champ. With just a few seconds of fussing, she went right back to sucking on her pacifier once the shots were done and over with.

So what else is new with Miss Maribelle? Well, she's becoming more vocal and interactive every day, so we spend a lot of time just looking at her and talking. Oddly enough, her favorite time to play is during diaper changes. The photo below is of Maribelle talking to her favorite stuffed toy (given to her the day she was born by cousin Maria!) while hanging out after a diaper change.



We've finally gotten some true, genuine smiles out of her, but man do we have to work hard to get them! She only rewards us with her gummy grin once we've displayed every silly noise/word/face that we can think of. I think she just likes seeing us make fools of ourselves, as demonstrated by the clip below. It's footage of Maribelle sort of smiling. I apologize for all the "meowing."

Eight Weeks