so many changes in so little time

I can't believe that next week my little lady is going to be 2 months old!  I seriously don't know where the time has gone!  When I look at her everyday, I see so many different changes.  She's starting to recognize her daddy and me, she smiles all the time, she's very chatty, her face seems to get chubbier and chubbier by the second!  I know she's on the verge of laughing any day now!

When I look back to how my life has changed in the past 2 months there are just too many changes to count.  But when I look back to how my life has changed in the past year, there are a million more changes to consider.  For instance, the month of March used to be, well, a blur for my friends, husband and me!  We'd celebrate my hubs' birthday, Mardi Gras, Arch Madness and St. Patty's Day...all which included a not so healthy amount of booze...then in April, we'd have a funeral for our livers and then there was a rebirth of our livers just in time for Cinco de  Mayo.  When I think about this summer, I get so excited about all the things I'll get to do with my little lady, but a part of me is also sad that my summers will probably never be the same again.  There have been so many great memories of watching the Cards play from our "crack seats" and annoying the hell out of people at Paddy O's before AND after the game.  Taunting/screaming at/heckling Cubs fans during the Cards/Cubs series (CUBS SUCK...SINCE 1908!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).   Basically, on Friday night, we'd booze it up with a ton of Bud Light (we would avoid any open flames because we would probably catch on fire) and then sweat it out at Paddy O's and then treat ourselves to some late night/early early morning Taco Bell...and then do it all over again the next day for the Saturday afternoon game.  This might not sound like a fun time to most of you, but it's been some of my most fun summer moments that I've ever had.  I realize that my life isn't over because I had a baby, but it certainly will never be the same again.  I mean, can you see me heckling Cubs fans while my baby is sitting in the Baby Bjorn??  Actually, don't answer that because I could totally see me doing that...  I guess my point is, I wouldn't change my past summers for anything...and I'm sure I'll wish I could have some of those summers back.  But at the same time, I can't wait to start spending my summers with Violet and doing fun things with her.  I already can't wait to see her in her little bikini...and mama might have a margarita or two while sitting by the pool!

Mel and me doing what we do...which is to steal random stranger's bar props and using them for our own photo opp...

These towels were later used at Paddy O's for 'Bud Light sweating out of our pores' towels...

No green beer or Irish car bombs for me this St. Patty's Day, but I was more than happy to spend it with my not-so-Irish looking baby!!

I Never Imagined...

...that a person so small could have so much power over me.

...that I would gain 40 pounds while being pregnant.

...that 32 of that 40 would literally just fall off.

...that I would hate having bigger boobs.

...that my complexion would be worse than when I was going through puberty!  

...that a toothless grin would be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

...that I could miss my family so much.

...that one little person could make so much dirty laundry.

...that I would value my friends' opinions and advice so much.

...that I would fall in love with my husband all over again.

...that a person so small could have such loud, long and smelly farts.

...that I would want to be a stay at home mom.

...that having a newborn baby would be so easy!  (That's right, I said easy...I'm sure I just jinxed myself!)

...that the sound of cooing and gurgles would be music to my ears.

...that I could eat so fast when there is a screaming baby.

...that I would care more about my baby's wardrobe than my own!!

...that my 3 bedroom home could feel so small after having a baby.

...that I could shower in lightening speed.  

...that my baby would have better swimwear than me.

...that working out could be so hard.

...that I could love someone so much.  

Speaking of imagining, I just wanted to share Violet's birth announcements that Sherry Reichert at Imagine Photography did.  Can I just say, she is THE BEST photographer!!  Not only did I fall in love with the birth announcements, all of the pictures that she took were just breathtaking!  I mean, I knew that Violet was stunning but I had no idea she was that beautiful!  She really captured the beauty, simplicity and innocence of a newborn baby.  I really can't wait to keep taking Violet back to Sherry.  The images below really don't do the announcements and pictures justice.  You'll just have to book Sherry and see for yourself!  

Side 1

Side 2

Violet and I wish you a happy and loved hump day!

Dear Violet...

Today, you are a month old and I can't remember what life was like before you were here.  When I look back to the day you were born, I am amazed at how much you've changed and all the new things you do everyday.  But I'm most amazed at how much I love you more and more everyday...because I think there is no possible way I could love you more than the day before, but my love for you just seems to grow and grow.
Some of the things you've done in the first month of being my daughter:
--In the first 2 weeks of being here, you just mostly slept the days and nights away.  But now, you stay awake from about 8 - 10 in the morning and then again from 7 - 10 in the evenings.
--You gained 1 1/2 pounds in two weeks and grew an inch!  You are probably about 9 pounds by now.  Needless to say, you're a great eater.
--You still wear newborn sizes but are going to grow out of those in a week or so.
--You only get really angry when you're really hungry and I don't whip out the boob fast enough.
--You're a great sleeper and are hardly EVER fussy.
--You are starting to coo and make the cutest noises.
--Sometimes you make a noise that sounds like a cat.  It's weird...but cute.
--You smile in your sleep a lot and it's just the cutest thing EVER.
--You're starting to look right at me when I talk to you and it's as if you're listening and understanding what I'm saying.  You even open your mouth as if you want to tell me something.
--You love to stretch.  You could stretch for days.  I think I have a future yoga guru.
--You're going to need a hair cut soon!  You might be Katie's youngest customer...and cutest!
--You grunt a lot in your sleep.  And it's really loud.
--When you're mad, you look like your dad...which is really weird because your dad is rarely ever mad!
--You love to stare at the Hello Kitty doll that Auntie Linz got you when I change your diaper.
--You're still sleeping in the bassinet next to our bed...not sure when I'll be ready to move you into your crib!
--We had our first outing today (other than a doctor's appointment) and met Daddy, Nam and Pop for lunch.  You were an angel.
--We had our first road trip this past weekend to see Grandma and Grandpa and once again, an angel.
--Everyone says that you look more and more like your dad...but I see a lot of me in you.
--When you cry, you now have tears and it breaks my heart.  
--You have beautiful long fingers and Grandma says that you'll be a great pianist someday.
--You've made Daddy and my bedtime around 9 o'clock...Candy Lane becomes Zombie Lane after 9!
--You don't really like to take a binky, but you will every once in a while.

--You're not sure what to think of bath time yet...sometimes you hate it and most of the time you're pretty zen about it.  

--We watch Teen Mom together and although I may not be the perfect mom, I know I have it more together than those girls!  

--You've changed a lot about me inside and out...and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I love you more than anything in the whole wide world.  Thanks for the most wonderful, fulfilling, beautiful, magnificent, amazing, inspiring, sensational, joyful, delightful, first month!

Love,
Mommy

Our first non-doctor appointment outing!  

This is your typical bath face...not sure what to think about bath time!