Happy 3 Months, Molly Alice!

And what a happy birthday it is!  Molly Alice came home from the hospital on March 15th, after 79 days there.  We are OVERJOYED to have her home.  Nothing, the good or the bad, is really what we expected when we were pregnant with our little bundle.  As prepared as we were to welcome her into the world, we had no idea how incredibly wonderful or how tremendously hard these first few months would be.  The highs have been amazing, the lows devastating, but here she is, home with us and healthy and happy as can be.  

3 month stats:
9 lbs. 2 oz, 21" long, with the biggest blue eyes you've ever seen.

A quick snap during an NG tube change--tube free!!  
"I'm going HOME?!"   

Daddy carrying Molly out of the hospital~she kept her eyes intently on him the whole walk.

Molly's first breath of fresh (chilly) air! 

All strapped into her car bed for the ride home!

Napping after an exciting homecoming

Meeting big sis Gouda 

Reading a story with Daddy

First real bath! (excuse the finger)

Happy St. Patty's Day!  I'd rather eat corned beef than my bottle please!

Laughing with ladybug

Tummy Time on her special mat.  Uh, mom, what do I do here?

Happy polka dot baby (there's that darn finger again)

oh my cuteness!!  blurry, but I just love this one.  

Playing on her playmat

Thank You & Forgive Me?

OK, I know a TON of you out there must be wondering in some corner of your mind: "Did they ever receive my package?" a.k.a./or "where the heck is my thank you note?" (especially now that it's probably been 4 months for a few of you!).  And to that, I say I'm SO sorry!  I am such a delinquent on this front.  But like most new moms, I've been so busy taking care of my baby and additionally dealing with so much medical/hospital stuff that I barely have time to shove a cracker in my mouth, much less sit down to write a note.  Now that Molly is home, I am definitely still busy, but I can use her nap times for things other than hospital obligations, including writing a note or two.  

Regardless of my delayed response, I want you to know that not a single kind gesture, sweet note, delicious meal, or thoughtful gift has gone unnoticed.  I think of you whenever I pull out the outfit you gave Molly to dress her, or the toy to play with her, or the blanket to wrap her snuggly, or the book to read to her.  We are so grateful for all of the beautiful, thoughtful, loving gifts you have sent us, and YOU WILL get a note.  

...It just may be 2 more months because I am helplessly wrapped around the little finger and at the beck and call of our adorable girl, who, I'm sure you will agree, deserves my attention whenever she desires.  And I know that each of you would rather me be lavishing my affection upon sweet Molly Alice than writing a note anyway.  So thank you for being patient, and for continuing to love us even though we have been so delayed with our thanks.  In our hearts, we are so very thankful for all of you and all you've done.  

The day has finally come

Tonight is like Christmas Eve, only a thousand times better, because tomorrow...

We finally get to bring this 

LITTLE ANGEL EYED BABY GIRL HOME!!!!!

Photo by Valerie Lynn Photography

We could not be more excited to have her home with us from now on, 

or more overjoyed and thankful that she is all ours!!!!  

Our first night together, part 2

Molly has moved!  She is now a patient in the rehab unit of the children's hospital, where she is in a feeding program.  The most wonderful thing about her new location?  I can spend the night!!!  So I spent her first night with her in her new, private room last night.  

I can't even express in words how wonderful it was to awaken every couple of hours (for her scheduled feedings) and get to hold her in my arms.  She slept through all of her bottles, and barely ate anything, but I didn't care. I got to hold my tiny Molly for hours last night. I got to watch her sleeping in my arms, breathing in and out, making all sorts of funny expressions in her sleep.  I got to sleep just a few feet from my precious girl, although I barely slept at all.  I stared across the dimly lit room at her. I listened to all her little peeps and grunts in the absence of beeping alarms and chatty nurses.  It was just us, for the first time.  She was all mine.  I got to be her mama and do what mamas do.  All night long.

And this morning, I woke up to my beautiful baby girl, and my heart was overflowing with love and joy and gratitude.  There is nothing in the world better than that.

Our first night together

The breathtaking, beautiful view from my bed:

It's hard to see her, and this picture was taken with my phone in a dark room, but you know what it is!  She's in there, all bundled and wedged into a comfy little nest in the middle of the huge crib.