Just How Much I Love You...

Dear Baby Waider,

I swore to myself that I wouldn't write anything embarrassing about you in my blog. So, I hope this doesn't cross the line. It just might. The truth is that you do some pretty nasty stuff, and I have to do some pretty nasty stuff for you. The first nasty thing that I didn't take care of, but your dad and aunt did was the umbilical cord. It was crusty and gross and bled. The umbilical cord on you was equal to how scary my belly button was when I was pregnant. Interestingly they are very similar. Your dad did a good job of taking care of it because if I looked at it I would gag. Luckily, Dr. Lynn fixed it right up, and your belly button is as cute as a button, AND I don't miss the crusty umbilical cord.

Next,let's take the night that I was trying to change your diaper as swiftly as I could and you pooped. All. Over. It was intense. Shortly after that you pooped all over you followed up by peeing. All. Over. I have thousands of poop and pee stories. One time, again as I was changing your diapers, which, might I add I do way more than I ever thought I would have to, you actually shot poop at me. It made contact all over my arm. Luckily for me it missed my face. One time at 3 AM I was performing a diaper change only to discover that you had filled an ENTIRE leg of your sleeper with poop. Lots and lots of poop.

The very reason I decided to write this blog is what happened today. For starters you woke up with a FULL diaper. Full to the point of seeping out the back and all over your sleeper. Outfit change 1. That was not the end. It was followed by a diaper that was so full that it got all over your cute little outfit. Outfit change 2. During another diaper change as I was putting the diaper under your little rear and you peed. You peed all over your second adorable outfit. Outfit change 3. Yes...it continues. Again, I was trying to hustle and get your diaper changed, but as I was wiping your rear again you peed. And this time it ran all over you, and somehow got in your hair. That was how it ended. You got a bath and so far you have been disaster free.Outfit change 4. Thankfully you have tons of clothes so we can handle some costume changes.

That's not all. Today I also "picked" your nose for you. Something I swore I would NEVER do. You had boogies hanging all over so don't worry, I hooked you up. On top of that I have to take care of your claws, I mean nails. You have the longest, thickest, fastest growing nails maybe in the world. Next to your mother. The picture for this blog shows your favorable reaction to me filing your nails. You were pretty sure I was torturing you. I was clipping your nails earlier this week and I got your finger tip. It bled like crazy and we both cried. I felt so horrible. Fortunately I got the courage up to clip your nails again today and it went okay.

Oh! Your dad just reminded me of this. As parents when you leave the hospital they arm you with a tool that every parent is armed with. It is called a booger snatcher. They taught us how to use it and everything. At the hospital they call it "bulbing you out." Pretty much it is a device used to suck snot out of your nose. And yes, we've done it to you several times...

So, if all of this doesn't prove that I love you nothing will. However, I do have even more proof for you. I have turned my iPad over to your dad. Turns our that I can't hold you and the iPad so I'm letting him borrow it for awhile. Just borrow it. I miss it, but love you so much that it doesn't matter. Turns out that people were right. Some things just aren't as important anymore when you have a beautiful little baby. In all fairness it does help that I have the iPhone which is smaller and I can hold it and you. :)

Even though you do some nasty stuff you do them in the most endearing and adorable ways.

Love,

Mom

Showered Again!

Dear Baby Waider,

Of all the loved children in this world I'd have to say you are among the most loved. Your dad's coworkers had a shower for you! It was very nice. Hillary, Ginger, Chris, Kellie, Kristy, Nicole, and Ginny put together a delicious spread and a really cute shower. It was fun to see everyone and they were thrilled to meet you!!

Your dad had a hard time sharing you. I had to remind him to let other people hold you. Sometimes he has a hard time remembering that. We had such a nice time visiting that we didn't even open the gifts until we got home! You got some wonderful clothes and gifts! All of it was so adorable. You are the most stylish girl on the block.

It was a good time had by all. Oh! And did I mention that the cake was AMAZING! Lemon poppyseed and chocolate with fabulous frosting! YUMMY!!!!

Love,

Mom

What I Like About You!

Dear Baby Waider,

Okay. I'm not going to lie. One month olds don't do much. You eat, sleep, and fill your diaper. Most people would argue that that makes for a pretty mundane day. In fact I would have argued that. See your mom isn't much for sitting still... Until now. Today as I lay in the recliner, with you on my chest sleeping, and sipping some hot coffee I realize that I don't want this to end. Ever. Unfortunately, I know that it must end. So I don't want to forget this. Ever. You will grow because that is your job. My prediction is that it will just get better from here. You have gotten better with every passing minute. That being said I have a little list in my head of all the things I love about you right now. I've decided to make a list on the blog so I can share it with you some day!

TOP TEN THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MY ELLIE (at 1 month old)

10. The way you breathe when you sleep. (Dad says it sounds just like me.)

9. How you scrunch up into a little ball and sleep in my chest. It is especially cute when you put your hands under your head like they are making little pillows.

8. When you hold my finger with your hand.

7. When you stare at me with your big, beautiful eyes. Sometimes it is like you are thinking I'm nuts. (partially true) But sometimes you look at me like you think I might just be as amazing as I think you are.

6. Your long eyelashes, little button nose, and perfect little lips!

5. The way you smile and laugh in your sleep.

4. Waking up with you in the middle of the night. (I know everyone is currently saying, "ya right!" which is pretty accurate.) Waking up in the middle of the night has pretty much been brutal. At the same time it always puts a smile on my face to have you wake me up. Plus, I can tell that you are not overly thrilled with being up either. You and I together in the middle of the night are a little disastrous. We sort of fumble through the dark. I try to feed you and you try to get fed. There is no funny business because the sooner we can get it done the sooner we get to go back to sleep! This time makes me smile because, yet again, we are so similar. No wonder I think you are so amazing. :) I wouldn't trade these moments for all the sleep in the world.

3. The little sounds you make while you are eating.

2. That I can make you stop crying. Instantly.

1. When you fall asleep in my arms.

I never would have thought that doing nothing at all, surrounded by a disastrously messy house, cuddling with a little baby could truly be a slice of heaven.

Love,

Mom

Baby's First Halloween

Dear Baby Waider,


You are spending much of the day cuddling with your dad so I am actually doing TWO blogs today! BAM! I'm am just that good. You were actually born on the eve of the major holiday season. Starting with Halloween, you are going to get to experience Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's all within a limited capacity. You will mostly eat breast milk, and you will probably sleep through much of the festivities. However, you are partaking and the only memory you will have of these events is what I write down, so here goes...your first Halloween!

Interestingly enough the above picture is from last Halloween. The reason it is interesting is that just a year ago he was the ONLY grandkid in the family. Your auntie was VERY pregnant with your cousin Finn, and well you and Harry, you weren't even thought about yet! :) See how much can change in just 365 days? I didn't even know I was going to be your mama then! You do have to admit that Vern and I look pretty darn cute! Anyway, fast forward a year. Now there are 4 grandkids all as cute as can be. You, Harry, AND Finn are all celebrating your first Halloweens. How funny!

Each year your Auntie April and Uncle Kelly have a Halloween Party. We went this year and took you. Your first Halloween Party.

This is you with your Uncle Kelly and cousins at the party.

You didn't really do much, but all 4 of you looked adorable. See, you were all Angry Birds. We wanted a cousin Halloween Picture. (An idea we copied from your Missouri second cousins.) The Angry Birds is a popular cell phone game these days and you were the King Pig with cousin Harry. Vern and Finn were the birds who I think actually try to destroy the pigs. We made an interesting choice of costume. We did get an okay picture of the four of you as you can see above, however, the lesson learned is that taking pictures of a one month old, three month old, one year old, and three year old is no easy task. Nonetheless,like I said before you were CUTE.

My adorable little King Pig.

Finn, aka, Yellow Bird.

Super Aunt arm time.

Cousin Harry is "partied out."

During Halloween weekend were were so fortunate to have a guest who came all the way from Omaha to meet you. Your Uncle Jay flew in for the weekend just to meet you and cuddle you. He had a good time doing both and mom had fun seeing her old friend.

On the actual day of Halloween you went to Grandma and Grandpa Halter's Halloween party. It was a good time. You really didn't do much at all, but you did seem to enjoy the nap and getting to wear your costume again. Plus that was where we got the great shot of you and your cousins.

You and your adorable cousins.

You did not go trick or treating. Instead you stayed home and nursed and slept.

Adorable onsie that your Auntie Katie rightfully gave you. She is the queen of candy! You wore this onsie for about 15 minutes before filling your pants and getting the onsie full of poop! It's okay. That happens.


I can't wait to share all sorts of wonderful holidays with you as you grow. You will love all of our family traditions and maybe you will even help us form some new ones. As always, Mama loves you!! :)

Love,

Mom

OMG! LOL! Labor During the Text Message Age

Dear Baby Waider,

It's hard to believe that a month ago right now I was in major pain in the hospital with you. That day was such a special day and I feel like I have so many stories for you. So, today I tell you the story of the digital record that was created as you made the journey into this world.

You happened to be born during the height of the digital age and your parents LOVE technology. My favorite way to communicate is via text messages. Probably by the time you can read this the rage will be something else, but texting is pretty convenient and an easy way to communicate with a large amount of people all at one time. Anyway, despite the fact that I was in labor I was still a texting fool. In fact my mom's cousin said that there was no way I was texting in labor, but I sure was! Anyway, there were some great text messages exchanged and I decided to share some of these texts with you on the blog. Thankfully, your Grandma Halter wrote down all of the texts sent to her and I have most of the texts that were sent to me. Some of them unfortunately were deleted because your mom texts too much. Unfortunately, texts from Auntie Katie and Grandma Halter were deleted because your mom texts them way too much. I know that their texts were really encouraging and funny. Here are some text exchanges that were my favorites.

First text sent out while I was in MAJOR PAIN: At the hospital. Not sure what is going on yet. Might be in labor. Having contractions.

Responses:

Grandpa Waider: Stay in touch, I'm at grocery store.

Uncle Kelly: game on. Hell yeah.

LynnDee Fenster: good luck. I'm thinking of you. Take a deep breath. It is all so worth it as you will soon see.

Super Aunt Becky: Give her hell girl!!
I'm so excited!!!! Take it easy and I will be praying for you!

Auntie Alicia: yay!!!!!!! Good luck!!! Can't wait to see pics!!!

Grandma Mary: that means baby. Good luck. I hope it comes quick.

Super Aunt Cathy: Good Golly girl! It must be if you are texting! Our prayers for all of you!

Cousin Kammie: good luck! Can't wait to hear she is here.

Jolisa: thinking and praying for you! Sorry to not respond sooner. Driving home.

Auntie Beth: omg!!! Ur in labor? I'm glad ur doing good!! You'll do great! How's daddy doing?

Auntie Stacie: woooooooooooohooo!!
Love and prayers.



Hilarious conversation:

Dawn Elkjer: Wanna meet up for a sec so I can give you the baby gift ?

Mom: I'm in labor and in the hospital and dilated to a 7.

Dawn: stfu are you really??????

Mom: yep and I have lotsa drugs in me.

Dawn: yay! Congrats mama! Xoxo

I had some great conversations with many people via text message during labor. Conversations were mostly casual and typical of conversations I would have even if I weren't in labor.

During labor your dad was updating the masses through twitter. Thankfully your grandma was writing all of these updates down. I wasn't following on twitter I was living it. The updates ruled and I wish I would have told people on my Facebook to follow but I don't think I ever did. Anyway here are the updates your dad sent out.

Twitter: water has officially broken, although it is just a slow leak right now.

Twitter: everyone is ready for a nap. Dr. Just came in and finished off the bag of waters and now dilated to a 7.

Twitter: disaster averted. Nancy found the cameras. Still at 7-8 cm. some petosin might be on the way.

Twitter: high or low time. Petosin might be on the way. Possibility of holding baby Waider by 5pm, but I say sooner. What do you think?

Twitter: "all right petosin, do your thing!" hopefully this will get carol over the 7-8cm hump.

Twitter: contractions are coming harder and faster but still stalled at 8cm. More petosin and more waiting on the menu. Come on baby Waider.

Twitter: check out the goals.

Twitter: shift change. Bye aunt Jackie! (closest to carol)! Misty (furthest to the left, and checked us in at 6am is back.

Twitter: nurse Wanda has a new plan. 10cm at 10 after. It seems like everyone is ready except baby Waider. Cross your fingers.

Twitter: nurse Wanda: "I am so exci-I-Ted." with a wiggle of the eyebrows) looks like it is on anytime now.

Twitter: she is feeling pushy! Did that just start?

Twitter: pushing

Twitter: she is doing great!

Twitter: nurse Wanda: 10:30 goal.

Twitter: say hello to Eleanor 10:35.

Twitter: 6 lbs 12oz.

Many people will say that texting is killing the English language. That it is causing a breakdown of communication. I am here to tell you that texting and twitter made our day so much more special. Hearing from friends and family kept your dad and me going! You are so loved by so many.

Love,

Mom