Let it snow Let it snow Let it snow

Its only an inch or so on the ground, but its the first of the season and its my baby's first snow. Granted, she really could care less since she is oblivious, but I'm a little excited. And shockingly, I usually hate snow. Not today. Its too pretty to hate. Since there was snow on the ground, my mom and I decided it was a decorate-for-Christmas sort of day. So we put up two trees, decorated them both, and put up all the nutcrackers, nativity scenes, snow villages, angels, wreaths, and Santa Clauses we could find room for while listening to one of my all-time favorite Christmas CDs (and I am not at all ashamed of it)- 1998's N'Sync Home for Christmas. Classic. We started off with a sappy serious beautiful Christmas music medley, but it was a little too much for me to handle, so we juiced it up with my favs. Ah I still love me some Justin Timberlake. Takes me down memory lane to the days of Teen Beat magazine JT photo cutouts taped to the inside my locker for me to drool over in between bells. Ahhhhhh Justin... Oops, back to today.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas on the Turtle Bay farm.

Momma's big day #2

And I thought yesterday was the best day of the week?!! Well actually it still was, but today was pretty fantastic too. Today my baby showed me how much she is growing up. I have been really working with her on her playmat recently, trying to help her get used to laying down and strengthening her back muscles during tummy time. Until recently, she's been sleeping in her carrier for her reflux, so being upright all the time hasn't left her much time to play on her back or stomach. Since we have been in Roanoke, I have been doing playmat time at least 3-4 times a day. She still hates tummy time, but has really started to enjoy laying on her back. Well today during this time, she did something that only a momma could get this excited about. She reached for her first toy today all on her own! I was playing with her and looked away for just a moment. When I looked back she had hold of her new dangling butterfly. I thought at first it was a flook, but she let go of it, played with me then reached back up and grabbed hold of it again. She did it a few times and I freaked!! I got excited and clapped which caused her to get so excited too! Her eyes were huge like she was just as shocked at herself. I thought I might be pushing it, but she had done so well, I decided to go ahead with tummy time then too. The other day she lifted her head a little a few times but not for too long. Today, she totally lifted her head on her own and held it there!! I yelled at my mom to make sure she saw it too so I had someone else to vouch for her. Baby girl hated every minute of it, and let me know. Man did she yell at me. But I was too excited to feel bad for her, lol! I think my sticking with it everyday despite her fits might finally be paying off! :) Finally, things really are really paying off and working out. She was pretty tired after her big accomplishments and needed to go to bed. I took her to her bed and was fully prepared for night 4 of cry it out, but I literally laid her down and she was out. So far, 3 hours later, she is still fast asleep. Little girl wore herself out. It was a big day! Daddy will be so proud when he finds out.





I went in for a kiss picture and came out with a little tongue. Girl's a good kisser :)

Fantastic surprise!

All day I kept thinking, "Well its been a week since I've heard from him. One week closer to the end. I bet they won't let him call again until Christmas." I had pretty much settled in my head that I wouldn't hear his voice for a while. Pretty much that is, but of course I still keep my cell phone glued to my hand as much as possible. Tonight I was just about to give Cheyanne her bath when I realized I'd left my cell phone in my bedroom. I thought for a moment, "Oh he won't call. And I'll just call anyone else back after her bath." But as I got her undressed, I thought again, "But if he calls and I miss it, I'll just die." So I wrapped her in a towel and headed back to my room to grab my phone. I cross my heart and hope to die that as soon as I picked up my phone off the bed, it rang and sure enough a picture of a baby hand in a daddy hand (his facebook picture) popped up on my screen! BAHHH! Talk about going with your gut feelings! It was too perfect.

We were able to talk for a few minutes, a little less rushed than last phone call. But, we were still on a time limit, so we filled in gaps as much as possible. This phone call wasn't actually a casual call but was meant strictly for "business" but we finagled that one a little. He has started to get mail. I've been writing him everyday with printed pictures of the baby mostly. He has received three so far, so it looks like the mail runs about a week behind. He said he doesn't get much time to write, that is only allowed at night when lights are off and only has certain days he can mail out anything. So, like I said before, if you do get a chance to write him, please do, but don't expect much in return. He said mail is so nice. I think it helps keep spirits up, especially right now. I'm sure he'll have plenty of stories to share when he's out in a couple months. Maybe I'll even let him guest blog a few times to share some!

So that's been my night. My husband called and my baby went down for night 3 with just 20 minutes of crying. YAY! My heart is happy right now.

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And speaking of baby...





I couldn't resist. Someone has found a few new rolls! I could just eat her up.

Wordless Wednesday

Cry It Out night two

Oh. My. Word. Can my little girl cry? Last night Mission "Cry It Out Before Bedtime In Your Bassinet" was sort of a success. I mean she finally fell asleep, which was the ultimate goal. Twenty minutes of crying led to 6.5 hours of sleep for both mommy and baby! HALLELUJAH! Well I guess technically 3.5 of those hours I was actually asleep, but shoot, it felt like longer and I'll still take it! Most I've slept at one time in over nine months now! Last night, really my mom did it. I couldn't totally handle it. My poor hysterical baby finally wore herself out. But tonight, I was determined I could do this myself.



Tonight is night two. Cry-fest lasted 18 minutes and out she went. I sat by her bassinet and in 3-4 minute increments I would sit up and put her pacifier back in. That would calm her down for a few moments to catch her breath then back at it she went. Then in 3-4 minutes again, I would do it all over. One final time, my mom walked in when I had just put her pacifier in and told me to take a breather for a minute. We switched. I walked out and don't you know that she fell to sleep. Immediately. I hate pacifiers, but the kid's got a serious sucking fascination right now. Only when she is tired does she ever actually take her pacifier, so at this point, anything to calm her down I'm all for. OK, so Moms, any suggestions in this area? How did you do it? Did you let them cry it out straight or did you intervene at all? I need some pro advice. Below is a photo from tonight's cry it out attempt.



That little hand in the air broke my heart! Reaching for anything! SAVE ME MOMMA! Uuugh...