I was so excited to buy something with your name on it right after you were born. I was so happy to finally know your sex and to have your name solidified, that I wanted to proclaim it to the world with some item. I think sometime in that first week that we were home from the hospital I ran to an arts and crafts store and bought unfinished wooden letters spelling out your first and middle names. I’ve been needing to paint them but haven’t gotten around to it. Finally today I painted them yellow, to match the accents in your room. You sat and watched me; you seemed very intrigued by the process. I think they turned out nicely.

Your name in wooden letters on top of the bookshelves

Of course we knew life would be different after you arrived. We realized that our activities would be altered by a need to bring you with us or to arrange for childcare. We were excited though by the prospect of engaging you in the things that we love most – skiing, hiking, soccer, etc. However, we’re quickly learning how complicated the logistics can be when a little one is involved.

We’ve been so lucky to have my parents around to help us out so far, and we’ve taken advantage of their willingness to watch you on many occasions. However, we cannot utilize them every single time we want to do something, and also, unfortunately, they’re back in NV for a couple weeks, packing up their house for their big move out here. So, today we had a few adventures with challenging logistics.

First, the cleaners came the minute we got home from milk club. I had delayed our return as long as I could, hoping that they’d be done by the time we got here. But we did not succeed. Since there is no place we can go in the house to get out of their way while they’re cleaning, we went for a walk around the neighborhood. However, we kept circling around to check if they were gone, and after three stroll-bys, we gave up and went to sit at the park. Thankfully it was a nice day and you were in a sleepy mood, but roaming around the neighborhood for over an hour wasn’t how I’d planned to spend our afternoon.

Hanging out at the park

Then tonight we had an indoor soccer game. I had only planned to play part-time this season, whenever your grandparents could watch you or when there were plenty of guys and Jeff could sit out and be with you. However, one of the women on our team got injured over the weekend, and they needed another player. So both your dad and I were needed for the game tonight. Luckily you were in a deep sleep at game time, and we were able to bring you comfortably tucked into your car seat and you slept the whole time. Your dad and I would sit with you whenever we weren’t on the field, and when we were playing our teammates would sit with you. It was so nice of everyone to be with you – they were so nice and supportive – but it was a little bit crazy. If you had woken up, or been fussy or hungry, it would’ve been much more complicated. This isn’t a strategy we can deploy often. For now you’ve been a great trouper as we’ve lugged you around, but soon you’ll be awake more often, more mobile, and we’ll need to make sure that we’re putting you in the best situations for what you need.

Today was pretty uneventful, filled mostly with errand running. I do believe we found the elusive, appropriately-sized sun hat. I’ve been having a hard time finding hats small enough to fit you right now, and we really need a sun hat for our walks, snowshoeing, soccer, etc. Everything at Gymboree was a little too frilly and girly for me, but they all fit you and so I tried to pick the least flowery one of all. You’ll model it soon in a picture on the blog once we have a nice, warm day.

You were so cute in your elephant hat that apparently people had a hard time resisting touching you. One lady sort of tickled your belly, which didn’t annoy me as much as the sales lady touching your hands and fingers. I was frantic the rest of our time out thinking about all the germs that must be on her hands from handling money and dealing with people all day long, and I kept trying to keep your hands out of your mouth (impossible). I washed your hands the minute we got home. I need to find a polite way to tell people to keep their hands off!

Today was my first day back at soccer. I sure had a hard time keeping up, but enjoyed being back on the field. Since we had lots of guy subs today your dad hung out with you on the sideline so that I could play. Despite being a really cold and windy day, you did great and slept almost the whole time.

Cheering on mom (in my dreams)

Today was St. Patrick’s Day (and your cousin Emmett’s birthday) and your nana bought you a cute dress for the occasion. Your dad got you dressed for the day, and then we went out to brunch with your grandparents and a friend of theirs. After we got home I was holding you and realized that your dress was on backwards! It’s ok, you looked so cute in it regardless. It says ‘lucky girl’ on it, and I hope you feel like a lucky girl. We sure love you so much and are trying our very best to be good parents for you, and your grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins all love you so much. You’re lucky to have so much love.

Happy St Patty's Day!

Hanging out in our St Patty's gear

The cutest part of the outfit is the shamrock on your bum

A new development is that you’re starting to smile! Your nana has been saying that you’ve been smiling for awhile, but I think that yesterday and today you’ve started to have your first real, conscious smiles. Grandma Stephans was the first one that seemed to get you to smile, acting like she was eating your feet. Then today while Grandpa Stephans was holding you, you smiled big for the camera. So cute!!

Smiling with grandpa

Looking around with grandma

This afternoon we hung out outside some more, and played some more cornhole. It got cool as the sun started setting so we bundled you up. You’re so cute in your elephant hat!

Keeping warm in my elephant hat

Today we went out for brunch in downtown Boulder, and then went for a really long walk with grandma and grandpa. The weather has been record-breaking, with a high today in the upper 70’s. It was nice to get out and enjoy it! This evening nana and papa came over, and we all hung out and relaxed and played some intense games of cornhole. I must say, your grandparents are quite good! We had a nice dinner at the dining room table, and pulled up your bouncy chair so you could join us.

All of your grandparents enjoying dinner

This morning I had my six week doctor’s appointment and was so happy to be given the go-ahead to resume all normal activity…I can ski and play soccer, and swim and run. Yah! After the appointment we went to the mall with your nana. It was your first time shopping and you did great.

This afternoon your Grandma and Grandpa Stephans arrived. They were so excited to meet you, and they showered you with lots of love and kisses.

Grandma Stephans meeting you for the first time

Grandpa Stephans meeting you for the first time, and leaning in to give you a kiss.

Well today was yet another beautiful day, and I was excited to dress you in one of the cute dresses I’d bought after you arrived. Today was the first day you’ve worn a dress. This outfit is very fun, especially since it came with jeggings (you know, jeans/leggings/leggings that look like jeans). You were so cute in your outfit!

My first day wearing a dress

Chatting with mama about my dress

We had another ‘first’ today – our first walk with the dogs, sans dad. This is a milestone your dad was a bit hesitant about, since your furry brothers can be a little bit (or sometimes a lot bit) hard to handle on walks. But I feel so bad going on all of these walks without them, and so I figured we should give it a try. Before we left I told them they better behave or we wouldn’t be taking them again, and they did great!

Today we went on a walk with Jane and her baby, Isabelle. Isabelle was born 5 days after you. They live right down the street from us and so it’s fun to be able to get together with them so easily and chat about everything we’re going through with our new little ones. We each ‘wore’ you guys and we did the same walk your dad and I did on Saturday. It takes about an hour, and I discovered that at least while you’re this little, it is much easier to carry you than to push you in your stroller. You’d been having a very fussy day, but you were content and even slept on the walk. In fact, when we got home I decided to just keep you in the wrap. You seemed really happy in there, and then my hands were freed up to catch up on email and pick up around the house.

This afternoon Lauren and her little girl, Eleanor, came to visit. Eleanor is 8 months old and so cute and fun. She and her parents were here last fall for a dinner party, and actually she did a trial run in your nursery at that time, using the changing table and breaking in the rocker. Lauren was excited to meet you and we had lots of fun watching Eleanor crawl and climb all over the place. It’s hard to believe that in about 7 months you’ll be that alert, social, and mobile. Lauren also brought your dad and I some yummy food for dinner, and some beers; it was so great to have a meal brought for us and to not have to worry about dinner for a day.

After everyone left it was still really warm out and you were quite alert, so we decided to go lay on a blanket out front. You enjoyed looking around and you also did some tummy time. I’m so excited for the weather to warm up and to get to spend more time with you outside.

Loving the warm weather; thanks for my blanket Aunt Jen!

Tummy time (and about to kick myself over onto my back)

Before you were born, your dad and I would wake up every day and take your furry brothers for a walk first thing in the morning. We’ve done this for years, and we’ve hardly ever skipped out on the walk. We’ve even walked in negative and single digit temperatures, although when it gets that cold Moguly doesn’t seem to enjoy it, and neither do we; Guinness seems to be the only one loving it when it’s that frigid. But this winter, as I got bigger and the cold weather set upon us, I opted out of some walks when it was really cold or really icy out.

But since you’ve been born, dad’s been going on the walks with the dogs but without us. Usually I’m either busy feeding you, or we’ve just gotten back to sleep, or I’m just too tired to even fathom a walk. But today we had just finished feeding you and you were awake and content, and I didn’t feel too exhausted, so we decided to join them. I put you in the wrap, and your dad walked the dogs, and off we went. It felt really nice to be doing our usual morning routine as a family. Hopefully when we get you on more of a schedule, and once the weather warms up, we can walk together every morning.