Two Months Old

Dear Caroline,

On Monday, August 23, you turned two months old. That same day you had to go have vaccines at your well baby doctor's appointment. I had to send you with Daddy because today was my first day at work with students present. I thought about you all day. I couldn't wait to return home and see my sweet girl. You had two bandages on each thigh from your shots. Poor girl. You also have grown. Your weigh 11.1 pounds which puts you in the 60th percentile and now 22.5 inches long placing you in the 75th percentile. Wow! I haven't been kidding when I tell people that you are very serious about eating! The doctor did say that you were probably in the midst of a growth spurt.

You are such a bright light in my life. It doesn't matter what kind of day I have had or really anything when I see you worries disappear. You really have found yourself in the mirror; it makes changing your diapers a little more fun to watch you be absolutely fascinated by your reflection. Maybe you have found out what the rest of us have noticed...you are beautiful! Everywhere I go, you are complimented! Instead of being humble, I want to scream, "I know, right! She's wonderful and the best thing I've EVER done!" I have not gone that far, but I do have to remind myself to say thank you and move along. You adore your bath time. I got to start giving you a real bath your baby tub was unpacked and Aunt Ashlee assembled it. You even fell asleep in the bath while Mimi was bathing you! I'm with you, Caroline, baths are a relaxing way to end my day, too! You have also started smiling at us. It absolutely delights my soul to get a good 'ole gummy smile. Tonight, when I put you on your play mat you began hitting the toys over your head. I screamed at Daddy to come in and watch. We love watching you learn your world.

Know that you are loved.


Much love,

Mommy

Goodbye, Plainview

Micah just made a run for more bubble wrap and Miss Caroline is about to wake up for more snacks and I suppose I'll jot a few thoughts down about this moving gig. This is our last weekend before we close on our house in Plainview and our home in Lubbock. Back in March when Micah began his job and began driving and our house went on the market, I didn't think we would be sitting in our home in August with our little girl about to move. God had a different plan than we did. My mom says that Caroline needed to be loved on be our Plainview friends before we moved. I kinda like that thought. I agree. She sure has been bathed in love by our friends. As I sit here, our house looks weird. No candles burning. No pictures on the walls. Furniture moved here and there. Boxes piled up. It doesn't seem like our home anymore. I remember when we were really debating buying this house Micah said, "I really can see our kids playing outside in on their swing set." From that moment on, I saw that same picture above anything else in my mind. We bought our house with the idea that we would live in this home for a very long time. It's sad for me to let the idea of "our home" go. So many memories have been made in this house in just 2.5 years. It seems we became real adults in this house. I grew as a teacher as I cried LOTS each night I came home the first few months in my job. We have made a few repairmen rich as we called them out to fix things that were never broken in the first place. Some of them looked at us like we were nuts. Not nuts...just not handy and clueless. We prayed many a prayer for a sweet baby and were blessed with one we brought home to this home. Looking up at the stars at night outside the bright city lights strikes me as stunning and will never get old. And, the laughter shared in this house...I know we'll bring the same love and laughter to our new home, but there's something so special about your first home.

So among the boxes, I sit with lots of thoughts swirling my brain. Next week, I will start teaching high school history again. I haven't taught the high school level since student teaching, but I'm so excited to get back to teaching history. I start on the day the movers are at my house in Plainview. Take a moment. Seriously. I know. Crazy. I haven't really had a lot of time to prepare my mind that I'm going back to work, but maybe that's better for my own self.

I am excited about our new house. I am excited to make it our own. It has been kept in great condition and it seems like a really loving family has been living there.

Goodbye, Plainview. Thank you for wonderful memories. I wish I could pack up my friends with me and transport you 55 miles south, but will carry fond memories with me.

Much love,

28

So much to write at the moment. We'll start with...I'm 28. We'll only start with that because I have pictures to accompany.


Caroline in her 0-3 month outfit on my birthday.


Reece, my niece, has been talking about Caroline since she knew she was in my tummy. Her little words and big heart captures me...she is the sweetest little girl. She immediately wanted to hold Caroline and did such a good job of being so nurturing. Reece kept asking me where my party was since there were no cupcakes or a cake. I told her that going to lunch was my party...the concept didn't quite catch on with her.


My younger sister Karli and her two girls, Reece and Reagan came to visit me


Dodger being a great big brother. Micah allowed me an evening birthday nap and he took Caroline. It was the BEST!

Much love,