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Monday, February 14, 2011

Love


This baby girl has won my heart.

I'm enamored with her. Besotted. Smitten. I'm totally twitterpated.

I love nursing her during the night/early morning. She is drowsy but very hungry, and after about a half hour of eating she has fallen back into a deep sleep. I lift her swaddled body up to my chest, her head on my shoulder, to try and burp her before putting her back to bed. This is really the only time she lets me hold her this way now that she is older. If she is facing the right way I can feel her breath on my neck while I rock her and pat her back. Even though I'm tired, I usually sit for a few extra minutes because I'm not ready to let go of her.

I love waking up to the sound of her voice and peeking over the side of her bassinet to find her playing happily. When her eyes meet mine, she squeals with delight and, first thing in the morning, before I even get out of bed, it makes my day. I unwrap her and her spring-loaded arms immediately stretch out above her head. After a good stretch, her hands go directly in her mouth. Some mornings I scoop her up and put her next to me in my bed so we can snuggle for a few minutes. She reaches out and touches my face while I talk to her and my heart overflows.

I love taking her into her room for the first diaper change of the day. The sun is particularly bright in there, and it takes her a minute to adjust her eyes to the light streaming in through the window above her changing table. I talk to her about the day: what the weather is like; what we might be doing that day. Sometimes I change her clothes, but some days we stay in our pajamas all day.

I love how she looks toward the door when she hears the sound of her daddy coming home for lunch. Ever since she first learned to smile, her face lights up when she sees him. This baby girl loves her daddy. I love the sounds of laughter coming from her room while he changes her diaper. I love sitting at the table, all three of us, for lunch and dinner. Lily is usually up on the table in her Bumbo seat or sitting in Daddy's lap while we eat. She enjoys watching us put food in our mouths and I wonder what kinds of foods she will like or dislike one day. In a matter of weeks she will try rice cereal for the first time, and fruits and vegetables won't be far behind. I can't believe how quickly she is growing up.

I love our quiet times during the day when it's time for her to eat. We get settled in the big, roomy chair in the living room and she nurses while I read a book or watch TV. My favorite part is her hands, which are never still. She rubs them on my arm, grasps my fingers, tugs at my shirt. They are chubby and dimpled and oh-so-sweet.

I love discovering her ticklish spots. Sometimes when I gently run my finger along the bottom of her chin or lightly touch anywhere around her neck, it cracks her up. She usually hates having her nose cleaned, but it occasionally makes her giggle. Lately her sides and tummy have become ticklish as well. I love blowing raspberries on her soft skin and watching her eyelids flutter. Her laughter is music to my ears.

I love kissing her plump cheeks and her drooly chin. I absolutely adore the smell of her breath. The other day I compared it to a fresh bag of candy corn. It smells like pure sugar, and I can't get enough of it!

I love getting her ready for bed. She has always adored bath time. I let the soapy water out of her tub and fill it up again with clean, warm water just so she can play for a few extra minutes. I love the smell of her nighttime lotion and the way that her hair is all fuzzy after it's been towel-dried. I love wrapping her up and rocking her to sleep at bedtime. I love the way she gazes up at me while I tell her a story and sing songs. I get completely lost in her big, dark eyes that are not quite brown and not quite green.

And I love watching her drift off to sleep, knowing that in about ten hours we'll do it all over again.

15 comments:

The Blessed Barrenness said...

Aaah! Stacey, isn't the power of a mothers love so very much more than even we had prepared ourselves for.
Its the very best feeling in the whole wide world!

Melody said...

Just precious. She is one blessed little girl. Happy Valentine's Day

andreajennine said...

Love these words capturing the affections and joys of motherhood.

Amy said...

And I love this post. I was almost in tears in bed last night realizing that Sadie turns one next week and that we will start slowly weaning from nursing. I just don't want any of this baby-ness to end. It is all so catch-your-breath precious. I LOVE reading your thoughts on being a Mommy. And I'm so thankful that you get to.

Andi said...

This is such a sweet, beautiful, loving post and I hope you are saving it for Lily one day. Love you, my friend!

Hope in Virginia said...

So beautiful. All of that is definitely love. What a sweet memory for Lily to read someday, too.

Kathryn said...

You know, if i had read this by anyone but you, Stacey, my heart would be filled with some resentment and i would be (in my head) very sarcastic.

My niece, at 21, is a mama. She had no problem getting pregnant. She has all the things i will never have. I have to bite my tongue - hard - when she writes of the wonders of motherhood. Yeah, i'm envious. I think this says much more about me and how unloving i am than anything else.

But your sharing does not evoke that within me. Somehow i'm able to enter into and share your joy. Maybe because i know this did not come easily to you.

Thank you for sharing your journey and your joy. I do so appreciate it, and i am so thankful this beautiful blessing has come to you.

Alicia said...

We love her too, Jinger and I!

Anonymous said...

I just love how in love you are with your sweet Love. :)

Connie said...

I love that girl so much and her Mommy too! XOXO Happy Valentine's Day to my sweet girls!

Birdie said...

I just love this post, Stacey. How precious Lily is!

Jo said...

Hi Stacey I really love the new name of the blog and loved this post. It's so lovely to hear the love you have for your little girl. I think that you have been walking around for the last 10 or so years with all that love sitting there waiting to be used and now it has found its target. Its really nice to see! I remember when you were newly pregnant and I started reading your blog and you were so scared that something would go wrong. I remember a post where you asked your doctor if it was ok to be optimistic about your pregnancy. And now look! She is here and she is safe and well and happy. Praise god! And I couldnt think of a nicer family to be going through such a happy time. Love Jo xoxoxo

Charisa said...

So sweet. Layla's breath always reminded me of buttercream frosting. They get big way too fast. Keep cherishing these precious tiny moments.

R said...

I thought about love & Valentine's day differently this year too :) Each moment is a blessing!

Emily said...

What a sweet post about Lily! I think it's important to write down the little details of daily life, especially when it comes to children, because things change so fast. Now you'll have these details to cherish! :)