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Friday, July 29, 2011

Dear Stella:

I think you are starting to teethe because you are constantly drooling and sucking your hands. It also seemed like your bottom gums were a little swollen.

I made you and me matching headbands today!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Dear Stella,

You qualified for physical therapy to treat your torticollis so that means we will have a lot of exercises to do in order to stretch out your neck. We did the stretches a lot today and I think you are a little more fussy because your neck is probably sore. I feel so bad when you cry today because it seems like you are crying in pain and there isn't much I can do to help you. I love you so, so much! You are the prettiest little baby girl.

Love, Mom

Here is a video of you talking to your octopus today:

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Dear Stella:

I haven't written to you in a while. I'm sorry. You have started to suck your thumb more and more. It is so cute! You even pull your paci out and stick your thumb in. You rolled over for the first time last weekend, but you haven't done it again yet. Hopefully I will be prepared with the camera when you decide to rock n' roll again. You get more beautiful every day. And, I think you also start to look more like your daddy every day. I love you little girl!

Love, Mom

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Dear Stella,

We had another fun day together. Just you and mom. You slept a lot, though. This afternoon we were able to Skype (video chat) with Grandma Lynch, Aunt Peggy and your cousins Chloe and Meg. I put you in your purple Bumbo seat in front of the computer so they could see you. They think you are so cute and that you are getting so big! You even showed them a few of your beautiful smiles.

I can be in a really bad mood and having a horrible day, but when I see your smile - nothing else in the world matters but you. Love you sweetie pie!

Love, Mom

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Best job in the world

Dear Stella,
Yesterday I had an interview for a job to be a preschool teacher. I was hoping the school would have a spot open in the infant room for you, but they didn't. Daddy and I talked about it and decided that I won't work a full-time job until we get to our next duty station. That means I get to spend the first year of your life with you at home! I am so so happy because being a mom is the greatest job in the world. You are the best baby! Every time I tried to get you to take a nap today, you would look at me with those big blue eyes and give me the biggest smile. You make my heart melt. I love you so much little Stella and I can't wait to see what adventures you have in store for me!

Love, Mom

Monday, July 18, 2011

Decisions, decisions...

Dear Stella,

We spent some time playing and reading today, but most of the time you just slept and ate. I think you are in a growth spurt. Your favorite books are "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" and "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". You like to look at the bright illustrations and I use a silly voice when I read to you.


This afternoon I have an interview to work at a place called The Goddard School. I would love work, but I really enjoy staying home with you and watching you grow everyday. I also worry about sending you to a daycare because you are more likely to get sick and it's very expensive. So, daddy and I will have a big decision to make.

I love you so much. You are the best little baby girl in the whole world!

Love, Mom

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Hello Again

Dear Stella:

Sorry I have missed a few days of your letters. We had a busy weekend because Dad had duty on base and my friend Nikki came to visit. You, Nikki and I went to Annapolis yesterday. You had so much fun looking around at everything. You are getting to be such a big girl. You amaze me everyday with all of the new things you discover. I love you so much!

Love, Mom

Stella and Mom hanging out at home.

Enjoying a relaxing time in your stroller while Mom and Nikki eat lunch at Acme Bar & Grill in Annapolis, MD.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Swingin' Away!

Dear Stella:

I love you soooo much! You and I took a little trip to the grocery store this morning and you were a good girl. Now you are just swinging away taking a long snooze. You are so precious and peaceful when you are sleeping. You are my little angel.

Love, Mom

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Sleepy.


Dear Stella,

Well, last night you didn't sleep as well as you have been lately. But, that's ok. You are so precious in the middle of the night. And, you must have been tired because you took a nice, long nap this afternoon.

We were able to do some tummy time and play today, too. You love to look at your Baby Einstein octopus and shake the rattle on him. I have so much fun watching you discover everything around you.




Looking forward to another fun day with you tomorrow!

Love, Mom

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

My first letter to you

Dear Stella:

I decided to start writing this letter-a-day blog to you so that you can read it when you are older and know all of the fun things we did together. You are almost 3 months old when I am starting this so I have a little catching up to do. You were born 2 weeks early on April 17 at 12:29 p.m. at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Dad is in the Navy so we are living in Maryland right now. I was due to have you on May 2, but around 4 am on April 17 I got up to go to the bathroom and felt contractions. I woke dad up and told him I wasn't sure if they were actually contractions or just "in my head" because I wanted to have you in my arms and out of my tummy so badly. I called Labor and Delivery and told them I thought I might be having contractions so they had me come in.

We got to the hospital around 7:15 am. The doctors were in a meeting so the nurse took me to the triage room and hooked me up to monitors to hear your heartbeat and to keep track of my contractions, which were regular and strong. The nurse was in and out of the room to check on me once in a while and I told dad to go get her so that she could unhook the monitors because I had to go to the bathroom, but only about 10 seconds later when he was looking for the nurse - my water broke! I knew that I would definitely be meeting my sweet little baby that day. I was so, so excited! The doctor was pulled out of the meeting and came in to check on me. She said that I was going to have you very soon - sooner than we thought!

I got some medicine to help take away some of the pain and about 3 hours later (at 10:30 am) they had me start pushing to get you out. I thought it was going to be really hard and tiring, but it was amazing! Dad was right by side helping the whole time. He held my hand and made me smile and laugh until you were born at 12:29 pm. We didn't know if you were going to be a girl or a boy because we wanted to be surprised. Dad was VERY surprised because he thought I was going to have a boy, but when the doctor announced, "It's a girl!" We were both so, so happy! You weighed 6 lbs, 15 oz. and you were 19.5 inches long. I cried the first time that I held you because I was so happy to have you in my arms. You are a beautiful little baby and we love you so much! You have grown so much in the first 3 months of your life and you have given more joy and love to your daddy and me than we ever thought we could experience. Thanks for being you! We love you little Stella. You are such a blessing!

Love, Mom