That went by quickly...

Our baby girl is one month old! I know, I know...time flies, especially with little kids. What a joy this past month has been. I can't imagine our family without Philippa; she has been a perfect little addition (unless you ask H&H...they would disagree very strongly with that statement!)

Pippa, in one month you have completely stolen our hearts. I never knew it could be so easy to love another child just as fiercely and wholeheartedly. I'm blown away at how beautiful you are, and I swear you grow more beautiful every single day. You've changed so much, but you still have the most calm and content demeanor. I have been accused of being too obsessed with you...and there may be hundreds of photos and videos to prove such accusations...but I simply cannot help myself.

You are a snuggle bug. You have been swaddled almost 24/7 and spend your time on our chests, in your swing, or in your little cradle seat. And man alive you can sleep-which I promise none of us are complaining about! But sometimes I get so excited when I see your eyes open I have to stop what I'm doing to enjoy them for awhile! 

In one month you have been to the doctors a couple times, two museums, a baseball game, church, the library, daddy's work, a birthday party, all our favorite stores (multiple times :) and our favorite restaurants, and you've had two auntie babysitters. You may have slept through it all, but you have been quite the busy baby! It has been a great month, and I prefer to carry you around much more now than I did while I was pregnant. Plus you're cuter now! 

I don't want to forget this month with my teeny tiny baby girl. I know I'll forget some of your noises and funny things you do because I've already forgotten what your brother did at this age, but I've been trying to journal and take photos and videos to hold on to some of these memories--your cute hiccups, silly grunts, appropriately timed sighs, crazy startles, darling poses, funny cross eyes...you know the only things newborns do while they're awake. 

I love you so much more than you can imagine and I know that love will grow as you grow...but please don't grow too fast! 

Here is Pippa's month in pictures. 

just a couple hours old

her first bow

leaving the hospital

first bedtime story

what she does all day long...rough life

first bath

first time at church

one month old

Being Big Brother

It's been one of those days. You know, the ones that every mother have. You start off with a devotion titled "No More Unglued Mama Mornings" and end it snapping at a disobedient toddler while you chase him down to discipline him while nursing a baby in the other hand. 

To be fair to my 21-month old son...he has been behaving very well with the crazy month we've had bringing home a baby and rocking his perfect only-child-world. We expect a lot out of him and frequently have to remind ourselves he isn't even 2. He has never taken any jealousy out on Pippa, he has always been enamored with her. But this week there has been an exponential increase in  crying and begging to be held. My baby boy isn't my baby anymore. He knows it and he doesn't like it. 

I lost my cool this evening while waiting for my husband to come home. I wanted to apologize to Elliott. I was still nursing, so I reached to him with my free hand and he thought we were praying. What a smart idea! So I sat there and prayed for patience, discernment with discipline, and obedience. While our heads were bowed Elliott's head was bowed on my cup and he was drooling into my iced tea the whole time. I simply said, "please don't drool in my cup" and he had his 597th meltdown of the day. So...he's upstairs "resting" in his room while I sit here and blog to just decompress for a minute before it all starts again! 

Nothing like this happened earlier this month. Zack's paternity leave and all the special guests in town allowed for plenty of special Elliott time. Now he's stuck with just Mama and we all have some adjusting to do. But he's still my little helper and I think he's learning all the fun things only a Big Brother can do. 

For instance, only Big Brothers can go on adventures with Daddy...

Or play with their baby sisters...

Or help Mama cook...

Or play with all the cool toys...

I think all these moments are worth those few unglued-mama-moments. And we've had some pretty perfect days this week...so I'll just focus on those!