"We're gonna be okay, right?"

We all have some standard lines we repeat in our lives. Some are said hastily, just to pass the time, make conversation, whatever. (Huh. "Whatever" is definitely one of the standard lines people use.) Others have deeper meanings - the inside jokes, the sweet nothings.

One of my standard lines to Matt is the title of this post. "We're gonna be okay, right?" It feels like we've experienced a bit more change in our 5 years of marriage than is typical. 5 different living situations in 3 states. 10 plus job situations- the plus being several of Matt's part time gigs. Maybe more churches than we should have been through...

I hope to be a strong, confident woman, but I still ask that question, seeking reassurance. Usually when I ask, Matt answers, "yeah", and we move on. Today, he added, "But that's not really the point." During the quiet moments of this Christmas season, I'd already been thinking something generally along those lines, and Matt put it to words. Perhaps it's the wonder and exhaustion and total enthrallment of having Cadence in our lives that's made me think more seriously about "the point." And the point is definitely not me being okay.

Christmas is supposed to be all about "the point" - God's complete love and unconditional mercy presented to us in a very unusual and shockingly personal manner. I'm afraid I've missed the point more than I've gotten it. Tonight, though, I'm thankful for the reassurance that we will be okay - even better than just "okay" - God works and promises and offers REDEMPTION.

Cadence's Christmas Finery

Cadence has a lot of clothes. Anyone who has seen her closet knows this is one well-dressed baby. This is good because she also frequently blows out her diapers and messes up whatever she's wearing. It's a rare day that she's wearing the same thing at bedtime that she was wearing that morning.

But I digress...so, lots of clothes equals lots of holiday clothes! Last Sunday she wore a red velvet romper made by her Dassa, and this Sunday she wore her green velvet dress from Aunt Pami. She's also styling her first pair of black patent leather mary janes!

12 weeks!

Cadence is 12 weeks old! It's gone by so quickly. Despite the cold/congestion she and I are suffering from, she continues to be a charmer and is doing some cool new things.

She always smiles at me in the mornings now.
She's lost most of her hair, except a little mohawk on top - here styled by her Uncle Matty during his Thanksgiving visit.

She rolled over the other day, which I think was just luck - we'll see if she can do it again sometime soon. She likes to hold her rattles and was fascinated by her cloth book this weekend.






I am not crazy about working and being away from her. I guess that is to be expected. It's frustrating that she is ready for bed not long after I get home. We're making the most of the time we do have together, and I think that's the best any parent can do, right?

Aunt Pami visits Cadence

It was a couple weeks ago, but I had to share a few pics from a really fun visit. And historic really, because my Aunt Pami is decidely NOT domestic, yet she cooked and cleaned for us.

Cadence's First Snow

I was shocked when I opened the window yesterday morning as I was getting ready for work - snow! Of course, we had to put Cadence in her fleecy suit with a snowlady on it and then trot her outside for a picture.

Cadence update

Goodness, it's been awile since I've posted! We've been busy with Cadence and I've been back at work for a week and half now. It was very stressful to go back, but I think now we're falling into a routine, and thankfully we like the daycare she goes to 3 days a week. I have a half day today and tomorrow because I worked Saturday and that is helping me feel better.

We've made some breakthroughs with Cadie's sleep. One of my librarian colleagues recommended a book by the "Baby Whisperer." I checked it out last Friday and it has really changed things around here. Cadence is taking great naps now! She's been down for an hour and half right now! We realized we had no plan or knowledge of what to do when she was sleepy or even how to recognize that she was sleepy. Now we know what to look for and to get her in her crib when she starts acting tired. Last night, she slept in her crib all night, and I only got up to nurse her once. (We got up two other times to calm her when she woke herself up crying, but both were brief.) I also think I was overfeeding her. Most often, when she cried we assumed she was hungry, and I can see now that she probably wasn't a lot of the time. She was having gas problems and now that we're not feeding her so much that has eased as well.

So, she's been a much happier baby. Here she is during playtime earlier this afternoon. She seemed a little skeptical about the camera.

Cadence's First Halloween

She was a pumpkin, which you can't really tell from the picture, but I knit a pumpkin hat for her and her Dassa sent a pumpkin bib. She wasn't happy about it, which you can tell from the picture, I think.

We went to the Fall Festival at church, which was big doings and kind of scared her at first with all the people and noise. We all had fun though and she was very popular.

Gratuitous Cadie photo

Taken last week while she was hanging out in my dad's lap.

My secret weapon

I love being with Cadence everyday, but I also love getting things done. Since she likes to be held, and I like to hold her, I was so happy to find that she really likes the Baby Bjorn carrier. Whenever I put her in it, she usually falls asleep, listening to my heartbeat and feeling warm and cozy - and my hands are free!
I took this picture last Sunday, but today I tried out a suggestion from a friend to use the Baby Bjorn at the grocery store. Cadie and I hadn't been to the grocery store by ourselves until today, and it was great! She slept, I shopped and I didn't have to worry about her being bothered the lights or the people.

A good day for Cadie (and Mama)

First, we went to the doctor for a check-up and found out that she's gained weight and length, just like she should. Then, we had lunch with Daddy in the churchyard.

Then, we took a big nap in the crib.

Action Cadie

Cadence has been more active and alert as she gets bigger and older. Some action shots during a diaper change Friday...

Some firsts

Last Thursday, Cadie had a bottle for the first time. It went very well.

Last Friday, she got a pacifier. Sometimes she likes it, sometimes she doesn't.

Yesterday, we went to church. We just went to the early service and sat in the back. She got fussy during the sermon and I had to take her out, but we did get to sing and participate in the Lord's Supper (well, I did, at least).

Then, this morning, her umbilical cord stump came off! We were worried about it last week and when I pulled up her gown to change her diaper this morning, it just popped off. Soon she can have a real bath.

Unfortunately, she did not nap today, after having a couple really good days of naps. She cried almost every time I put her down, so I'm very tired now. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Nursery Tour

(It's 6:35 in the morning and though I'm exhausted, I couldn't sleep, so here I am posting pictures.)The nursery is really the only room in the house that is done - we worked really hard when we moved in to get it together for Cadie. You can see that she has a lot of toys - I tried to corral them all in the basket on the floor, but the blocks didn't fit.
We're really pleased with the pink and brown color scheme. A good deal of the decor came from the Dwell Studio line at Target, like the decals on the wall above the crib, as well as the crib bedding and curtains.
We love the glider for feeding and storytime. The rug is from Target too.
The changing table looks cluttered, but it's very functional.

Cadie is 3 weeks old today

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since this little girl came into our lives. She is a delight, although she's all but given up napping during the day - she just does little dozes for 10 minutes or so. This is hard for me, since I'm on my own with her now. Unfortunately, she cries when I put her down a lot of time. Sometimes I have to let her cry (because, you know, I do have to eat and use the restroom) which makes me feel guilty. The books we've read have emphasized that you can't spoil a newborn and that I should respond quickly when she cries so that she knows her needs will be met. I'm trying to do that as much as possible, but sometimes she has to cry a little bit. Hence, the pictures. Anyway, tonight I had to put her down to throw together a sandwich for dinner, and she cried pretty good for a few minutes then fell fast asleep, so I think she'll be fine.

We actually ended up going to the pediatrician today because we were concerned about her umbilical cord stump, which is taking it's sweet time to fall off. Turns out, everything is fine - we can actually swab it with alcohol a lot more aggressively than we have been. The doctor said sometimes it can take up to 6 or 8 weeks for some stubborn stumps to fall off. That's a lot of sponge baths.

Tomorrow is Matt's day off so we're looking forward to some fun family time and hopefully more pictures!

Cadence entertains visitors

Both Grandmas (Nana and Dassa) have been here helping out - cooking, cleaning, and loving Cadie.
My Nana and Dado, Cadence's other great grandparents on my side were here on Tuesday.
This was sweet, Cadence cuddles with Nana.
Another four generation photo op. In this picture, Cadence is wearing a dress I wore as a newborn!

Grandma's visit on Friday

On Friday, Cadence enjoyed a visit with her Great-Grandma. She loved sleeping in Grandma's lap, and we got a great picture of 4 generations.

Cadie's First Week

This week and a half has gone by so quickly! I'm enjoying our little lady so much, but by the end of the day I wonder where all the time went (probably to feeding her). Here's some of my favorite moments from her first week, hopefully I'll post more photos from the past few days tomorrow.

This was just before we left the hospital.

Tiny fingers!

First sponge bath.


Such a sweet face, my girl.

Going for our first visit to the pediatrician.