Letter Month Five

Dear Sena,

Due to your erratic nap schedule, I'm two days behind in posting this letter to you. I know, I would rather spend time with you than writing this blog, but you're growing up so fast that I want to be sure I record all of your moments.

This last month you've cut two teeth that show-up each time you smile, and you've almost learned to sit on your own. This seems really early to me, but probably not to you. I can tell you get frustrated when you see your buddy Will sit-up all by himself while you lie on the floor and stare up at him.

Speaking of Will, Will's mama, Juli and I decided to carpool over to the playgroup this past week, putting the two of you in the back of the little Honda. We thought you might entertain one another. Not quite. Will could see you, but you couldn't see him and were pretty content none-the-less playing with your butterflies (thanks grandma Sheree!) The trip home was a different matter, however, as the two of you took turns yelling at Juli & I, questioning why we kept you at Tristan's house for so long. (We blame Tristan's mama, Tara, for this mistake- she made fabulous watermelon margaritas. Some day you'll understand.)

Unfortunately, this past month also contained the first night that I had to be away from you. I went to Denver to help Jessica celebrate her upcoming wedding, while papa stayed home and took care of you. Of course he did a wonderful job, but I wanted to be home with you. I'm glad I was able to help Jessica celebrate, but at the same time, I didn't want to miss even one night of putting you to sleep, kissing you good night, and seeing your beautiful smile in the morning. Everyone keeps asking when I'm going to start traveling more for work, especially since my "work travel" is to visit spas. But to be honest, despite my affinity and love of massages, I'd rather bounce you to sleep and wake-up and see your smile- even if it is at 5:45 a.m. like it was this morning.

This next month promises to be a big one. In a week, you and I are going to take our first plane trip without papa to Montana to see grandpa and grandma Scott. And, when we return, we plan on giving you a taste of REAL (aka mashed to a pulp) food. As always, every day is an adventure. Each day that you learn how to do something on your own you move one step closer to independence, and although I'm very proud of you, I also just want to keep you protected and in my arms forever.
love you,
mama

I love Toys!!!!

So, considering that my daughter is an active thing, I finally sprung for an exersaucer. After pulling the contraption out of the box, I think Steven was secretly cursing me for buying such an obnoxious, colorful, in-your-face toy for our nearly 5-month-old daughter. Wouldn't there be plenty of time in the next few years for these things? But, alas. She loves it. The pics here prove it.

First Trip to the Mountains

For Steven and my birthday's we packed up the car and headed up to Vail, for Sena's first spa vacation. And, like her mother, she loved it. She was all smiles for most of the trip, loved dining at 4-star restaurants (as long as they were outside and let her have her butterflies to chew on), and hiked every day with mama and papa. Papa did the work though.

Here are some pics from the trip.

Letter: Month Four

Dear Sena,
Feeling inspired by a fellow momma blogger who writes to her daughter each month, I've decided to try and write you each month, marking your milestones, as well as your father and my milestones as we navigate parenthood.

On Monday, you turned 16 weeks, which is technically 4 months. (Although the doctor said that he'll call you four months on July 24th- just a technicality in my book.) This past month has been a big one for you. Papa went to Austin at the end of June for a friend's wedding and you rolled over while he was gone. It took you another week to roll over for him, but when you did, you did it twice and I think made his day. You now giggle- not just smiling when you fart- but an actual giggle. In fact, mama nearly gave herself a concussion the other day shaking her head over your bare belly, just to hear your contagious laugh. Your laugh warms my heart every single time.

We're trying to get you to sleep without your swaddle blanket, which as papa calls it, is essentially a straight jacket for babies. You are a pretty determined little gal, and are very good at getting out of the straight jacket, so we're trying to let you sleep unswaddled, which means you're getting up a lot more frequently. But, its all a lesson in parenting... once we figure out something that works we have to figure out a way to make it work better, or work differently.

You went swimming at Grandma Sheree's community pool this month, with your friend Will and his parents Juli & Chad. You were awfully cute in your pink ruffle swimsuit, and had no issues with the water spraying on your face. I can't wait to take you to swim lessons this fall.

And, your big milestone- you went on your first plane and train ride to California. We went and visited Bob, Jen and Danny in San Diego and you were a rock star on the plane. I couldn't have been more proud. Bob & Jen were thrilled to meet you, and even little Danny showered you with kisses. You slept through your first beach visit, but don't worry, we'll take you back again when you're old enough to cover yourself in sand, necessitating a plunge in the cold ocean. From San Diego, we went by train to Los Angeles. Thankfully, you were only 4 months and asleep because the day we rode the train was the Annual Mooning of the Amtrak (years from now you'll know what this means), but essentially mama and papa were quite entertained and grossed out at the same time. Great-grandpa Sam was THRILLED to meet you, and tried with all his might to get you to smile, which thankfully you did. I'm so glad that you're going to be able to grow-up knowing your grandparents and even your great-grandparents. I'm sad that my grandma Lucille you'll never know, but she's with you in spirit. She would have showered you with kisses and love, so I feel it is my duty to shower you with twice as many kisses, just to cover what you're missing from her.

Your great-aunt Bonnie taught you the Wheels on the Bus, which you loved, and great-aunt Linda (who has great taste) bought you outfits for next summer. I can't believe you'll ever be big enough to wear them. You even got to meet mama and papa's friends, Carrie & Andrew. Last time we saw them you were in mama's belly, kicking up a storm.

This month has been a big month for you,and for momma and papa too. We're learning that we need to make decisions for you (like when you go to bed), even though you want to make the decisions yourself. We're learning that nothing is the same anymore, everything is different, yet, better. We're learning that a bad day or morning can be immediately turned around by your smile, and that a good day can turn sour pretty quickly when you're upset or in pain. Thank you for the magical four months you've shared with us. We love you.
love,
mama

3 Months & Sleeping!

Sena is three months old as of Monday, and since last Thursday has slept through the night each night. For those of you who don't have children, this really constitutes sleeping until at least 5 a.m., or going for a 7+ hour stretch. She's done a 9-7:30 (longest ever), a 9-5, and so forth. But either way, I'll take it. Although last night it took us three tries to get her to sleep. She's starting to dislike her Miracle Blanket (www.miracleblanket.com), and we're extremely concerned about what we'll do when she won't succumb to being wrapped anymore. We have visions of her waking herself up with her newly-free flailing arms and legs.

Grandma & Grandpa Scott came to visit last week and had a good time with Sena. I was horrible about taking pictures, however, so hopefully someone else did, and then I'll post them.

Father's Day was fun and relatively uneventful. Steven worked in the yard- one of his favorite things- and Sena and I hung-out. We then went to dinner with grandma sheree and grandpa thomas and aunt tanya and cousin ella- who is a riot. She kept calling her onion rings "hooly hoops."

Next weekend I'm on my own since Steven is going to Austin for Mike Wangler's wedding... a bit nervous..

More pics from Sena's One Month Shoot

Sena's Modeling Gig

So, these are over a month old, but we just selected a few from Sena's one-month modeling/photo shoot.