2 Months!

Julia is 2 Months "New!"

Am I really the mother of a TWO month old!? And, am I EVER going to stop being amazed at how fast the time is flying by? I think not! The last two months have truly felt like days, not weeks.

Happy "Birthday" Julia - you're 2 months new!

All is going fabulous at the Barnes household as we continue to get our love on with our little baby girl. She just keeps getting more and more entertaining, and just when I think I couldn't possibly love her more, another day arrives and I prove myself wrong!

In lieu of a long updated post, I've decided to try and start a monthly "Top Ten" list of "I love it whens..." to Julia - so here goes, our first one:

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I Love it When...

10) ...I swaddle you up extra, extra tight so you're all ready for bed, and you lie there, unable to move, and just gaze at me, so content with your little smile.

9) ...I find myself randomly swaying back and forth (as if I'm rocking you) and then realize I don't even have you in my arms.

8) ...I catch you being "oh, so intrigued" by the ceiling fans in our house. You seem to re-discover them every day with an appreciative stare-down, smile, and arm/leg wave.

7) ...you snooze in your swing and the look on your face is telling us: "I run this place."

6) ...you take a bottle with ease from me - and am so grateful for that. Now, we're working on you taking it from others!

5) ...I think about how truly amazing it feels to know you have put so much trust in us as your parents, from the day you arrived, to keep you safe and healthy.

4) ...I use the nose suction bulb on you to clear your little nose, and you actually seem to enjoy it by the way you respond with your little giggle and enormous grin.

3) ...you have conversations back and forth with us using your little "coos" and "a-goo" noises.

2) ...you stretch! After you wake up from sleeping or after you eat, you give the most appreciative stretch - arms over your head, hands in fists, back arches out, and your legs stretch long and straight. And, this is all joined with a really big "adult sized" grunt and groan. It's precious.

1) ...I kiss your, ever so soft, cheek now and know that I will kiss this same cheek years (and decades) from now and it will undoubtedly bring me back to this sweet, cherished time of your first days.

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Here is a video of Julia giggling to herself and chatting with Mommy while taking a spin in her swing

Now, on to some updated pictures!

She loves those lambies!

All bundled up and ready to go on a walk with Delaney!

Julia has recently started to really appreciate her play gym! She loves seeing herself in the "cow mirror" in the middle!

She fell asleep after a quick stroll around the house as we waited for Daddy to join us for a walk.

"Aunt" Erin gifted Julia baby legs at our shower and I decided to try them out the other day. I am such a huge fan - I think they're adorable! Julia likes them, too!

Baby Legs.

How scrumptious is that little foot?

Other pictures from our "2 Month Photo Shoot"

Lil' Chunkster

Julia is holding a rattle here that was mine when I was a baby - Can you tell she's "thrilled" with it? Also, while I'm pointing out the "artifacts" of the picture, I'll say that this adorable little dress belonged to her 2 older cousins Rachel and Megan!

Andy unwrapping Julia from a nap... we were hoping to catch her stretching on film.

The pictures didn't come out so well, but here's one of her stretching her arms up - and I'm sure a nice grunt/groan was accompanying that stretch!

Along with hitting the "2 Month" mark comes every Parent's (and baby's) dreaded trip to the Pediatrician for a well check-up and handful of vaccines. I was mentally preparing myself for this event up to a week before our appointment, and even still, it proved to be more difficult to experience than I thought it would be!! Julia was in such good spirits at the doctors and has been doing fantastic. She now weighs 10 lbs 13 oz and is 21.5 inches long (up from 6 lbs 12 oz and 20 inches long at birth).

Here's Julia at the pediatrician's on the exam table.

(I think she has learned that if she keeps her arms out wide to each side, it helps her balance her body so she doesn't experience that moro ("I'm falling!") reflex as much.... so funny!)

Getting some loving from Daddy in her cozy blankie before the doctor arrives.

Do you think she knows what's about to come?

Dr. Garza and Julia.

After having the check-up with the doctor and affirming that Julia was perfectly healthy, we were on to the difficult part.... getting THE SHOTs. The nurse came in and instructed me to hold Julia's little arms across her chest while she dangled Julia's tiny legs off the side of the exam bed. One vaccine was given orally (which I got to give to her myself), and the other three were shots in each thigh. So as I held Julia down, the nurse was going to administer the shots. Julia was giving us this "Hi nurse, how are you today? I like you!" kind of look and her eyes read nothing but contentedness.... until the first needle pricked her. Those eyes instantly turned to pain, accompanied by her adorable large lower lip pout face, and she simultaneously started a huge whimper/cry/scream that led to her holding her breath. I just kept focusing on her upset little face and my tears just started coming - I felt SO helpless while my baby just sat there in instant, utter pain! :( Meanwhile, Andy was helping out BIG time simply by rubbing my back and having to experience the same whirl of emotions. But, at the advice of Aunt Jane, I am reminding myself that the agony we had to put Julia through with those shots is much easier to bear than any one of those horrible diseases would be, should she contract one without the vaccines. So, the first hurdle of Julia receiving shots has been accomplished. And, all of us, though we suffered a little, survived.

This is the sweet, happy face we had to watch just before she received her shots.

And, believe it or not, this is Julia in the car having just arrived home from the doctors. The brave and strong kiddo is smiling! It sure helped Mommy feel a little better to see that! (She is pantless under there because as soon as she calmed down at the doctors, we took that an an opportunity to get her in her car seat and get home asap!)