Rocking and Running

It has been a big week in our household...the littlest feet in our family took their first little steps!! It was right before bed time...she was all snugged up in her jammies....pete and I both present.. and she stepped forward 1234 steps before falling. I think our clapping and cheering nearly scared her to death. It was a big moment..it is a moment I will replay in my head with a smile for years to come. Besides walking, Shipley is now sleeping in her crib through the night again (insert more clapping and cheering here). S has always been a good little sleeper but this last month she has been having a rough go...which leads me to ROCKING.

Yes...I am a mom who rocks her baby to sleep. I rock her before her naps and before bed time. We both settle in to a cozy little position. My pandora is usually playing the Norah Jones station or the sleepy time mix or sometimes I just sing a few of my own tunes. And we rock, and rock, and rock and she drifts off into her happy place and then I lay her into her crib. This past month.. she has been waking up more frequently through out the night and not wanting to stay in her crib- which has led to more and more rocking (thank goodness we invested in a comfy rocker). Last week the chair started to squeak from all the rocking. I seriously think I am permanently always rocking...even when I'm standing still I feel like I'm on a boat. I think we have a system down now to minimize the rocking and get S to like her crib a bit more. BUT I'm not completely ready to give up the rocking. I know that day will come when she won't want to rock with me or she will be too big for me to rock her. SO right now I'm cherishing it while I still can. My rocking sessions are little breaks in my day to reflect on how fast this year has gone and just hold my sleeping little baby.

RUNNING. I've been doing a lot of rocking and not quite enough running. I completed my long awaited half marathon this past saturday. It was my goal to complete a 5k (February), 10k (May), and half marathon (November)..all before Shipley's 1st birthday. I finished the races, but not for speed. My training was not quite to where it should have been. I've found it hard to make time for long runs and pushing the BOB while running takes extra mental energy/dedication. At the start of each race I thought to myself...how am I going to make it to the finish line? But each time I managed to get my legs across that line. On mile 11 of the half, I literally thought someone would have to drag me to the end. It was raining ice and I was afraid a cougar was going to pounce on me any moment (It was a trail run in central oregon). Needless to say,  I'm grateful for some pretty encouraging running buddy-moms. Without their tips, speed, endurance, and coaching...I wouldn't have accomplished my goal. I'm also thankful for my husband's honesty when he tells me I need to pick up the pace...He was very sweet to accompany me on some of my runs and push the BOB for me too. I may not have logged as many miles as I hoped to but I sure did break my running shoes in and I feel like I'm back in the game...the game of running that is. Next goal is set...Birch Bay Half Marathon February 2014. :)

So has exciting or unexciting as my rocking and running may sound...I feel like it marks a stage of my 1st year of motherhood. It is a constant journey...figuring out how to fit everything into life with a baby-to find that perfect balance...how to get your baby to sleep...how to find personal time for things like exercise. I am almost 365 days into this journey, this adventure, this marathon...AND I'm learning new things daily...when I need to hold her hand and when I need to let her explore, when I need to teach and when I need to listen, when  I need to laugh or when I need to set boundaries, when I need to pick up the pace, lace up the running shoes, or sit on the side lines for awhile and rock.  I'm on mile 1 and this race doesn't end at 13.1. I'm pretty confident that I am running the best, yet most challenging race of my life just by being Shipley's mom! And what a blessing it is!

6 memorable months

6 months and 2 weeks...I truly cannot believe this time has come. When i was pregnant..I prepared for the birth...the first weeks...the first 3 months. BUT I never thought ahead to 6 months. It seemed so far off; I had so much time until we reached this milestone. A milestone of sitting, babaabaa ing dadada ing, kissing, giggling, teeth growing, solid eating,  and personality developing. A milestone where I laugh every other minute at her cuteness, a milestone where im constantly wiping something off the floor, and a milestone where i feel like Shipley and I are starting to connect in new ways (this baby signing thing is hilarious).

 It probably doesn't surprise most of you when I say it went by in the blink of an eye. My little sleeping newborn who wanted to be held all day is beebopping around, rolling, kicking her legs, sleeping in the crib, acting silly, and reaching for everything...including the stars. and I ask myself...where did the days and hours go?

I'm sentimental...and my heart is mixed with joy and a feeling of wanting to stop the clock and just stay in this age range forever. BUT as many of you moms have told me.."it keeps getting better...they keep getting cuter and life even more entertaining".

SO I wake up each day and watch her discover new objects in the house (like the little vase full of water she knocked off the table while eating dinner :0 ). I watch her grow(15 lbs and 11 ounces in counting)...could those thighs get any chunkier? She was turning heads in her lil romper suit at the pool today :). I watch her brain develop (thank you target for awesome toys that teach. My $9.99 block set entertained us both for hours). AND I watch her learn to love and show affection (I can only imagine the hugs and hair pulling Nellie Lu will receive when she returns home to us in 2 weeks. FYI-for those of you who don't know-Nellie Lu has been on a "vacation" with my grandma up in WA. My grandma takes better care of her than any dog could ever dream of. It might be a rough adjustment back at home for that sweet chiweenie).

So what are 6 memorable things I've  learned this past 6 months?

1.) To cherish every second. That is not a myth or something annoying that people will keep telling you. It goes fast and every second is one I will look back on when I'm 80 and wish I could relive it because it is so unbelievably wonderful (the good and the bad-the diapers, the lack of sleep, and most of all the baby belly laughs)! I've learned to STOP every day and take it in...being a mom is a gift..a blessing!

2.) Start traditions. It may not seem like they will remember it because they are so small......But as parents we are shaping their childhood from day one. Give them one darn good childhood to remember. :)

3.) Be adventurous. Sometimes staying at home all day feels like the most comfortable thing to do..and I do it quite often...but little and big outings are worth it....they were my first obstacles to over come as a new parent. I mean learning to get the car seat in and out of the car and how to unfold the stroller is a battle in itself.

4.) I've learned and accepted that target is my second home.

5.) I've learned to see Pete as not only my husband but as a dad. Our roles have changed and our family dynamic expanded. The minute your baby is born things won't ever be the same in your marriage again....they will be BETTER because you created a piece of the both of you and you have someone to take care of you both when your both old and grey :).

6.) I've learned that the term BUNDLE of JOY is true..it's not a corny phrase your nurse or DR. says when the hand you your baby. JOY floods my heart every month, every new thing she does, every smile she gives me, and especially when I wake up to her small little hands grabbing my nose or trying to put her binkie in my mouth. :)

In conclusion, I can't wait to see what the next 6 months will bring. And I won't lie...I've given her 1st birthday party a thought or two.

All Done All Done (yes i'm signing that).

It was better than sipping margaritas on any beach in the world...

well my 3 and 1/2 month maternity leave has come to an end...well "kinda sorta". It was better than sipping margaritas on any beach in the world.  I went back to work on February 26th as a resource nurse/lactation consultant. I will work 4 days a month in the clinic as a lactation consultant and four nights a month on the post partum unit as a nurse. I feel very blessed to have landed this set up as it will allow me big stretches off to be with Shipley. I also feel very blessed to have my mom (mimi) coming to Portland once a month to take care of Shipley for a lump of my days. And we feel so lucky to have  found a sweet nanny named Marissa to care for Shipley a couple of the other days each month. Pete will also get special daddy/daughter time when I work on the weekends. 

 I was actually off work a total of  4 months as I took three weeks off before Shipley was born due to pregnancy hardship (AKA  varicose veins..yikes!). These 4 months have been the most life-changing, exhilerating, breath taking, happy, growth filled, and loving months of my life. They have been full of "firsts" for Shipley and Pete and I. It has been a whirl wind of joy, worry, and getting in the groove of parenthood. So when I had my first two days of work and I cried buckets and buckets of tears before leaving the house. Those two days came and they went and Shipley was there waiting for me when I got home with a big smile on her face.

Which leads me  to the "kinda sorta part". You see I cried and cried because I felt like my endless days to hold Shipley with no place to be and no time frame was coming to an end. And yes now that I have more of a schedule with going back to work...things will be less leisurely at the Moormeier household; but my role as a mother is far from over. Even if Im gone for a day or a night...she will still be waiting for me with that heart melting smile and those big blues eyes. I will cherish the moments I spend with her all the more!

So I like to think of it like really my maternity leave is never ending. Because life will never be the same as it was before now that I have this little munchin to share it with. It is just taking a new turn as it will many times in the years to come. I find comfort in knowing that my role as Shipley's mother is permanent and she is not going anywhere. Even though I won't be home with her every single day...she is still my baby always and forever. And some day when she has her first day at kindergarten or high school...or goes abroad (help me) I will tell myself the same thing. Near or far...nothing can break the connection between a mother and her baby. :)


That being said..I wanted to document some of my favorite memories of this magical time spent at home with my little girl..it was simply the best!


-sleeping in daily-morning skin to skin sessions-bath time and dressing ship-eating breakfast at 2 pm-power walks to the coffee shop-meandering the baby aisles at target-snuggling and watching Downtown Abby (seasons 1-3)-mastering the moby wrap-watching S sleep-meeting daddy for lunch down town-doing workouts n the baby's room while she naps cause I don't want to leave her side-video chatting with family n friends-having no schedule, to do list, deadlines, or agenda-filling my freezer with breast milk-play dates with other baby friends-crock pot meals and baking cookies-reading S books and picking favorites-walking to whole foods for a snack-our first story time at the library-our first trip to the ZOO-especially meeting baby Lily the elephant-watching Shipley grow before my eyes...smiling to laughing to rolling over

4 months old!

Laughter for our New Little Valentine

My Valentine cupcakes are in the oven....the house smells delicious and Im about to tackle the dishes when I hear pete yelling my name from upstairs. My heart is racing and I bolt up our flight of stairs to Shipley's room where Pete is getting her ready for bed.  Im relieved as I hear little belly giggles. I scream with joy. My 12 week old baby is laughing! I start sobbing as it is the cutest thing I've ever heard in my life. I see a few tears at the corner of Pete's eyes too. She's growing, she's developing...and so is our love. WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR VALENTINE'S DAY? HOPE YOUR DAY IS FULL OF LAUGHER TOO!

Dear Shipley Lucille Moormeier...

TODAY, December 20th, 2012,  marks your 1 month of life. Where did these last 4 weeks go? They have been full of pure JOY. It seems like only a few minutes ago I held you for the first time, but it also seems like a life time ago....because I could never imagine my life with out you.

I've been meaning to write you for the past month...to tell you about the day you came into this world (YOUR STORY), but I could never break away from you long enough to type you this letter until now...I want to hold you every second of every day. For the rest of my days...November 20th, 2012 will forever be the most memorable, amazing, and love filled day of my existence. Your dad and I have been waiting for you for a long time. For the past 6.5 years of our marriage-we've dreamed of the day we would meet you. It took us a little longer than planned to have you...so by the time your due date was close...we were counting the hours until your birthday.

We went into the hospital on November 18th (39.1 weeks)  to be induced due to a medication I took during pregnancy for blood clots (lovenox). We had to time everything right with the delivery. We were excited, nervous, and giddy with the thought of meeting you so very soon. I was induced with cervadil and then pitocin. Things started slow. Your mimi and aunties Kelly and Ashley were there to support your dad and I. We were all having a great time...laughing...anticipating your debut. We walked the halls, I bounced on the birthing ball, and they snuck me some bites of cookies. :) By the afternoon of the 19th...I was no longer having fun. Labor became intense, painful; I was nauseous and it was hard for me to focus on anything but the end to it all. You stayed strong the whole way through..your steady heartbeat during labor was music to my ears.

I wanted a natural delivery so that I could experience it all and be involved in every moment of your birth. I made it to 8 cm dilated without any pain medication when my cervix became swollen from my body pushing before it was time. Your head was very low..both you and I were ready for you to come out...but my cervix was not. My dr. encouraged me to get a epidural for medical reasons so my body could rest and then we could try to push when I was complete. We all wanted to avoid a csection. I rested once the epidural was in, but it did not stay in. Somehow during my pushing it came out...and slowly but surely the pain rolled back in. I pushed for 2.5 hours with little progress...I was determined to push you out. I tried numerous pushing positions and your dad was such an awesome birthing partner. BUT....we needed some more assistance to get you out. Dr. S said he felt it was time to introduce the vacuum. Your dad and I were very scared. But Dr. Stewart and my wonderful labor nurse Carrie reassured me and eased my worry. I prayed over and over again in my head that you would come out strong and healthy and that the vacuum wouldn't hurt your strong and precious, innocent head.

With the use of the vacuum and some more pushing you emerged into this world at 4:19AM. Your first cries were so beautiful. I could tell that you have a gentle and sweet nature to your spirit. Your APGARS were 8,9. Your sweet body was placed against mine and we did skin to skin like I dreamed of so many times. I instantly loved all 7 lbs and 1 ounce and 20 inches of your little being. I feel like my heart doubled in size just for you. Your dad couldn't even talk he was so overwhelmed with love for you. I'd never seen such happiness in his eyes until those first moments he spent staring at you! Everyone in the room was cheering with tears, laughter, and joy. It was a feeling and beauty one can never imagine until they experience it. Your grand debut was breath taking!

My labor was not as I imagined. It was longer, harder, and full of obstacles I didn't anticipate. I left many of the less glamorous details out of this story (you can ask me when you're older). BUT we were blessed with an amazing support team, nurses, and a wise Dr who helped us through those long 30 hours from start to finish. I look back on that experience like it was magical...all the hard work paid off. I would do it all over again a 1000 times to have you! GOD answered our prayers and gave us OUR perfect baby!

We had a wonderful stay on the post partum unit (where I work) and we were spoiled by my marvelous co-workers. We made it home the night before Thanksgiving and we were able to give thanks with our family for our new life...YOU.

So SHIPLEY LUCILLE...this is your story. I can't wait to see how it unfolds month after month...year after year. Your sweet and gentle spirit makes me smile every day so far my girl!

Love Always,

Your devoted MOM