One Month

Londyn Grace turned

 old on November third!

Londyn weighed in around 6 pounds 12 ounces (she is now 7 pounds 1 ounce) on her one month birthday! She is getting longer up from 18 3/4 inches at birth to 20 inches.  She has outgrown her preemie clothes. She is still a tiny girl wearing newborn diapers and swimming in most newborn outfits, but what she lacks in size she makes up for in personality!

She is not afraid to let you know what she does and doesn't like! 

So far she is not a fan of baths or getting her clothes or diaper changed, but Mama thinks it's just because it means not being held.

Being held is definitely on her list of likes and Mama is happy to do so even though it means a messy house!

In her first month, Londyn Girl has been out and about. She has been to church, the doctor, the mall, the grocery store and even to Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia to visit family.

We mostly venture out when Daddy is with us. During the day we stay home because she is still nursing every two hours. 

Several people have commented on how alert she is for her age!

Londyn Grace is so precious to us! We often wonder how we lived without her! The past month has been the most challenging, exhausting, rewarding, amazing month of our lives! We praise the Lord for being so good and for blessing us with our beautiful girl!

We included this verse on Londyn's birth announcement (which I will share soon), because it sums up her first month so well!

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

James 1:17

She's asleep...

but not in her bassinet. She doesn't like her swing or her crib. She likes to fall asleep on Mama's shoulder and scoot her way down to my chest before she will rest comfortably. My hair is thrown into a messy bun. As for a shower, I'm pretty sure my last one was on Tuesday. Laundry baskets are full. There are dinner dishes in the sink, but I hold her and rock her anyway. I feel the softness of her skin and smell the sweetness of her breath. I admire her tiny fingers and precious little nose.

A month has passed since the midwife put this little girl on my chest for the first time and many a night since then she has slept peacefully there.

Yes, my house is messy, my arms are sore, and I don't think I've ever known this level of exhaustion, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. For as quickly as this first month has passed, I know that the next eighteen years will do the same. Before I know it, I'll be lying in bed wishing for just one more night with my baby sleeping in my arms.

So with greasy hair and a grateful heart, I praise Him for this gift and kiss my Londyn girl again.

My Favorite Girl

I know I am behind on Londyn's posts. Between Hurricane Sandy leaving us without power for nearly a week and a little girl that I believe is having a growth spurt (wanting to nurse A LOT!), I haven't been able to type her four week post or take her one month pictures. I am hoping I can do both today, but until then here is one of my new favorite pictures of my favorite girl!

Three Weeks

10/18-10/24

This month is flying by!

On Thursday, we celebrated my birthday! My sweet parents and sister came from Maryland and after spending the day at home, we decided to head out to dinner at Cracker Barrel. I was nervous about how Londyn Grace would do but she slept the whole time! She woke up just as we got home and was definitely ready to eat! After she was fed, we had cake and ice cream. I received so many cards and sweet gifts but having our sweet girl here was the best present ever!

Friday was low key and we enjoyed time with Pop Pop, Mimi and Auntie M before they had to head back in the afternoon. We also spent the day waiting for the midwife to come weigh Londyn again. I was very anxious to know if she had gained. Thankfully, she had. She was 6 pounds 3 ounces! Up from 5 pounds 15.5 ounces on Wednesday! Friday night, Grandpap came back to visit and to pick up Grammy and Uncle Ben who had been with us through the week.

We enjoyed their company until they headed home Saturday afternoon. Then Londyn Grace watched the Michigan game with Daddy!

Sunday we went to church. Londyn did great even though it was a long day! We had a special dinner after the service, and then had an afternoon service since it was Pastor Appreciation Sunday.

Sunday night we packed for Londyn's first trip back home to meet her great grandparents and other family! When we arrived, Uncle Matt and Aunt Rebekah (Daniel's brother and sister in law) were excited to hold her for the first time!

Monday was a wonderful day! We took her to meet her Great Granny, Mom Mom and Mamal (my grandmothers and great grandmother). Then she met her Oma and Opa (Daniel's grandparents)! We had dinner at Uncle Johnny and Aunt Megan's house! After dinner, Daniel had to head back to Jersey, but Londyn Grace and I stayed an extra day.

Monday night she went to her first revival and heard Mimi, Auntie M and Uncle Johnny sing! (And Uncle Joe play! :) )

Tuesday, Londyn had more adoring fans to meet! She also got to visit the school where Mommy used to teach and meet some of Mommy's friends there!

Tuesday night it was time to head back to New Jersey. Londyn Grace was such a good girl on the three and half hour trip. We stopped halfway so she could eat!

Wednesday morning it was time for another weight check. We were so excited when the scale at the mid wife's office read 6 pounds 5 ounces!
She made it back to birthweight!

We are so in love with our girl and can't imagine life without her! We didn't get a chair/chalkboard picture this week because a certain little girl wanted to eat constantly (hence the weight gain so we are not complaining! :) ) so this one with her super big but super cute bow will have to do! She'll be four weeks old tomorrow! I can't believe it!

Two Weeks

10/11 ~ 10/17

Londyn Grace's Second Week!

On Thursday, we headed to the hospital to have Londyn's heel prick done. This is something routine that would have been done in the hospital at her birth, but since we had a home birth we took her in for it. This was particularly hard for Mommy! She was sleeping so well in her car seat and stayed asleep when I transferred her from the seat to the table. Her nurse was super sweet, but our baby girl woke up screaming when she pricked her tiny heel! My Mama had to comfort me as I was comforting Londyn Grace!

Friday Miss Lindsey came to try and get a few newborn pictures. The photographer in me thought that the morning would be best for lighting purposes but because of Londyn's nursing schedule she was not in the mood for pictures. Lindsey is so sweet and super talented, but Londyn just wanted to eat on this particular day!

Saturday brought visitors from Maryland! Londyn's great Aunt El and Uncle Joe made the three hour trip to meet her! We were so happy to see them and as an added bonus my aunt was able to do a mini newborn shoot since our precious girl was sleeping for a portion of their visit! She took the picture I posted of Londyn on the scale and also the picture I used for Londyn's birth announcements.

Unfortunately, Saturday also meant saying goodbye to MiMi and Pop Pop (my parents). This was very difficult, but we knew they were coming back for Mommy's birthday so that made it a bit easier. Londyn Grace and I were blessed to have my Mama stay with us for ten days! She was a huge help especially since Daddy had to go back to work at the church and Mommy was still slow moving due to her stitches.

Sunday was a BIG day for Little Miss Londyn Grace! She went to church for the first time! Mommy managed to get herself dressed, Londyn fed, and Londyn ready just in time for Daddy to pick us up for the morning service! After falling asleep on the way, Londyn slept through the whole service and missed everyone saying how tiny and pretty she is!

Monday is Daniel's day off so we were happy to have him home with us! Then Grandpap, Grammy and Uncle Ben arrived in the evening. This was Uncle Ben's first time meeting his niece!

Since Daniel had to return to work on Tuesday, Grammy and Uncle Ben stayed for the week. We were so thankful for their help!

On Wednesday, we loaded up for the short trip across the street to our midwife's office for a weight check. Much to Mommy's surprise and despite our marathon nursing sessions, Londyn was still 5 pounds 15.5 ounces (what she was at her appointment with the pediatrician a week prior). After some discussion with the midwife, we decided that Londyn needed an extra 3 ounces of milk a day in order to gain. So Mommy nurses her and then pumps so she can have the extra she needs to grow!


This concludes our precious girl's second week! It's so cliche but I'm already questioning where the time is going! We love her SO much and can't imagine our lives without our little munchkin (as Daddy calls her! :))!

Since she will be three weeks tomorrow, I hope to have that post up shortly!

Smile...

"A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance..!"

Proverbs 15:13

Happy Friday, sweet friends! 

Londyn's two week post coming soon!

One Week

10/3 ~ 10/10

Londyn's first week was truly the best week of our lives! I still can't believe we get to keep her!

 We spent most of the week at home, adjusting to nursing and attempting to figure out a schedule! She continued with her pattern of wanting to do everything early, when her umbilical cord stump fell off after two days! I was worried that it was way too early, but it is healing well. We found that newborn diapers are very large on her, so Daddy headed to Target for preemie ones! They fit pretty well. We also had trouble finding clothes and especially socks that fit our little peanut! 

We did venture out to her first appointment with the pediatrician on Wednesday. As far as her stats go, she did lose weight initially, but she is on her way back up! 

Grammy and Grandpap (Daniel's parents) stayed through Friday and Uncle Johnny (my sister's husband) came to meet her Friday night. Auntie M (my sister) spoiled her until she and Uncle Johnny had to leave late Saturday afternoon. Mimi (my Mama) stayed through the week to help me since I couldn't go up and down the stairs due to my stitches and Pop Pop (my Daddy) came back Wednesday night. We are so blessed that our families were able to be here since we live three and half hours and lots of tolls away! She also had several visitors from church who were sweet enough to provide dinner for us each night. 

We are excited about the next few days because our families are coming back to visit again and I turn the big two five on Thursday!