11 Weeks & Back to Work!

Margaret is 11 weeks and will be 12 weeks this Thursday. She has changed so much over the past two weeks. She is busting out of her swaddle, so its time to drop it. I've read so many things about how to properly drop the swaddle, so we are embarking on the dreaded swaddle drop this week. I am having Nanny Dorothy (I'll write a post about her soon) drop it for naps this week and our plan is to take it away at night starting Wednesday or Thursday, if not sooner.

This week:

• She still loves sucking her hands.
• She is laying on the boppy propped up on her stomach, perfect access to her hands!
• Loves to be held, loves kisses and bath time.
• Loves sitting on the front porch, going for walks, being read too.
• She is sleeping through the night (Consists of going to bed around 8:30pm and waking up around 5:45am. She should be sleeping till about 7am, but she is getting out of swaddle and its waking her up).

When she smiles back at us, I just melt. I know she knows us and knows our voices. This weekend, when Charlie and I were in Charleston for a quick little getaway, I did face time with her and she smiled when she heard my voice. I don't think she could see me on the phone, but I knew she heard my voice.

We have a busy March/April coming up! Margaret's 3 month, My 3-0th bday, our 3 year anniversary, girls weekend to Seabrook, Easter and her Baptism! Come on spring, we can't wait for all the memories!

Afternoon play session

Afternoon snuggles after work!

Mrs. Dorothy the sweetest Nanny!

Weekend with Gdaddy and Baba!

Perfect weekend getaway!

Bath time is my favorite!

Daddy's girl

Don't know what we would do without you, Ms. Margaret

Strolling

Out of the swaddle, again!

 

Playing with Gdaddy

Margaret's Sip & See!!

Sweet Lala hosted Margaret's Bishopville Sip & See a few weeks ago! We had a great time getting Margaret ready for this special event. We planned it exactly during her nap time, so she would be quiet as a mouse! And boy was she super sweet. We even swaddled her for her big debut! Sorry ladies, she loves the swaddle! Below are a few pictures! We had such a great afternoon, Lala! Thank you!

Margaret's Namesake

I think one of the hardest things when you find out you are expecting is naming your child. I remember my Dad told me this the moment Charlie and I shared our news with my parents for the first time! And boy was my Dad right! I think it took Charlie and me the entire nine months to finally pick a name for our sweet baby girl. I also think the naming process is one of the most fun things when you are expecting because you are picking the Christian name of your child, forever.

We have a host of girl names we love, so I knew this process was going to take a while. We initially started this process back in the summer, right after we found out we would be having a girl. I remember making a list of names, once a week, over supper at home. Charlie and I would take turns sharing our top 3 for the day, some family and some not. We would, in the mix of the conversation, always go back to the name Margaret.

Most of you who read this blog know where the name Margaret comes from. Margaret Morrow Mimms is Charlie's paternal grandmother. I met Margaret "Gan" within a few weeks after meeting Charlie back in 2009. Her energy is like no other, her love for the Lord is like no other, and her love for her family is a witness to the way Christ loves us. She is selfless, a servant, dedicated to each task she undertakes and is a Christian mentor to my husband. Our sweet Margaret Lyerly Mimms is named after her.

Lyerly was special to both of us because it's my maiden name. I want Margaret to know how much she is endlessly loved by my side of the family too. My grandfather, Joe Lyerly, died several days before Margaret was born. He never got a chance to meet her, and she never got a chance to feel his warm touch holding her. A few weeks before he died, when he was in hospice care, I had the opportunity to spend an entire week with him because of the great flood in Columbia. The flood was a horrendous event in Columbia, but there is always good in every trail (as I was off work for a few days and spent my time with my dying grandfather.) I remember he told me how excited he was to meet her and how excited he was to be a great grandfather. "Lyerly" holds a very special place in my heart because Margaret will forever know the love and joy I have for my family and the many special memories I have growing up with a close knit family.

2 Month Photos & Update!

 

When Moms and Dads would tell me that each stage of their child's life is the absolute best I had a hard time believing them. But you know what, IT IS SO TRUE!! Each day keeps getting better and better. I love each day with her because she changes daily, from her naps, to her sounds, (including crying) to her physical features. I don't think she looks anything like she did the first few days of her life, as her skin color has changed and hair color. She truly amazes me each day.

 

Every morning when I go into her room at 7am, she is full of giggles with a huge smile on her face. I know she slept well by the huge grin on her face and those cute little dimples poking inward.

 

I can honestly say now that Miss Margaret is sleeping through the night. We have been following the Moms on Call schedule since she was about two weeks old, and she has adjusted well to the schedule. We are currently on the 2-4 month schedule feeding five times a day with a few naps lasting no longer than 1.5 hours. She is very awake in the evening now, with a catnap of maybe 20 minutes, so eating supper is quite a challenge.

 

Her favorite things right now:

smiling, cooing, her crib (finally), seeing her Mama & Daddy's face, kicking her feet, moving her arms, sucking on anything (she has found her hands), her bouncy seat, big swing, little swing and play mat. Loves to be held outward during playtime, so she can see the world around her. If you stop, she tends to get fussy. (Am I creating a DIVA?) She absolutely loves to be around Charlie and me when we are both home, meaning she wants to be held and in the conversation, so suppers now tend to include one of us holding her.

 

I transitioned her to the new schedule right at 8 weeks, about the same time I transitioned her to the crib. The crib was a struggle for a few days (as expected) but with lots of prayer and letting go, she did it all by herself. Most of you who read this blog know me very well, as I am type A and somewhat controlling, but I find myself with Margaret the exact opposite. Yes, I want to keep her on the schedule, but I feel for the most part, I have been laid back with her and her accomplishments and milestones. When I say laid back, I mean I give my concern to the Lord. She will accomplish and move to the next step when she's ready. I won't push.

 

I probably take way too many pictures of her, as I can't keep up with storing them from our camera. Below are a few pictures of Margaret at two months and a few of Margaret and me goofing off one cold February afternoon.

 

I can't imagine life without her now. Charlie and I talk all the time about what we use to do with our spare time!