Arthritis Walk

On May 16 Joey, Maya and I walked in the Arthritis Walk. This meant a lot to me seeing as I have had Arthritis since I was a teenager. The walk was at the National White Water Center here in Charlotte, which couldn't be a better setting for the walk. We had great weather; it was a little overcast, making it perfect for Maya and not too hot. We did three laps around the center to equal three miles. Joey carried Maya in the Baby Bjorn and she loved it. She was wide awake for the first lap looking around and then slept for the middle lap and a half, but came in to the finish line strong again looking around at the crowd. Overall it was a great day, we even got to show Maya off to a couple of the nurses from my doctors office.

Two Month Check UP

Maya had her two month check-up this past Tuesday. She weighed in at 12 lbs 1 oz, measured 23 inches long, and head circumference is 41 cms. Weight and Length are both in the 75th percentile and Head Circumference is in the 80th, so she is doing great! Once again, she check out perfect just as expected! Maya didn't really mind the visit until the nurse walked in with the three shots and 1 rotovirus immunization that is given by mouth. She was not impressed! I must admit it wasn't very fun for me either! I have given multiple shots in my days as a nurse, but when it is your own baby, it is VERY different.  I guess it is just the first of many necessary evils that we will have to endure. As far as her two month accomplishments... she is now smiling all the time and trying to laugh at times, she is starting to "talk" a lot more now with coos and squeals, she is able to get up on her elbows and pull her knees under her when she is on her tummy, she reaches for toys, and stares very strangely at the thing that waves in front of her face every now and then (also known as her hands).

First Mother's Day

I had an awesome first mother's day, thanks to my wonderful husband. It all started with Joey getting up with Maya for her morning feeding and letting me sleep. Maya is working on sleeping through the night for the past four nights she has slept 8-10 hours, YAY! But, it is still really nice to have that extra couple of hours every now and then! Next, Joey made me breakfast in bed, including pancakes and bacon with some flowers to go along. After we were up and moving we headed out to the Daniel Stowe Botanical gardens and had a wonderful afternoon strolling through all of the gardens. Joey was going to cook us a big diner, but because we had a late lunch, I decided that ice cream from Marble Slab would be the perfect mother's day gift for me!! So, Berny, Wendy, Joey, Maya and I walked up to marble slab and finish the day of right! When I was talking with my Grandmother O'Shields last night to wish her a Happy Mother's Day, she said that the first mother's day is always so special. I think she is exactly right! It is such an awesome feeling to be a mom! I only hope that I can be as good of one to Maya as my mom is to me! I love you mom!

First Picnic

On May 2nd Maya experienced her first picnic. She actually slept through most of it, but hey, she was there. The Presby NICU has a reunion picnic each year where the "NICU graduates" and their families come from all over the state to reunite and catch up with the staff and other families. I look forward to this every year, it is always so much fun to see how the babies have grown. It is hard to believe that I have worked here for eight years. It is amazing to see some of the children running around and playing and think back to the times when they were so sick and I was taking care of them. I always enjoy talking with the parents and this year I had a lot to talk about seeing as most of them didn't know I was pregnant, much less had a new baby girl.