little love

no time for words, but here is my little love...

3 months and growing up...

Well, the posts are getting less frequent as work is in full swing, but i still try to snap pictures when i can. My little love turned 3 months old on August 19th and she is changing faster than i can keep up. I've always heard that with your first bundle you are always looking for the next stage and wanting things to move along. It's not until your second or third child that you hold on to everything they do. Well, not this Mama! I have honestly relished every second. I mean I definitely cheer on those big smiles and little giggles that she blesses us with now, but i haven't forgotten her billy goat sounds and endless cuddles that have already gone by the wayside.
At 3 months Lofton weighs 10lb 2oz (still looks like a little baby doll!)
New tricks include "talking" which started on the 17th and is my favorite thing! Out of nowhere she found her voice and makes tons of sounds and will try to mimic us when we speak to her. Also, big news....she rolled over today! She has fought tummy time from the beginning (which is why her head looks like a helmet may be in our future...) and today she officially figured out how to get from her tummy to her back.
Likes-Daddy!! I talk and sing and make a fool for that child and get smiles when she feels like it, but she so much as sees Dewey and her grin cannot be contained. I feign jealously, because I actually think it is adorable.
Dislikes-um, um...not much! She doesn't like when she gets sleepy or has a wet diaper, but I'm pretty sure that's universal. Oh, and tummy time, but she's cured that problem

8/8/10 Lofton and Davin Bergeron (8 months and SO cute!)
Bumbo!!

Adorable!

karate punch!

Southbound 35

A couple of weeks ago we took our first roadtrip as a family of 3! I really only packed what we needed for one night away (really!), but it has become apparent that dewey will be sporting a mini-van when baby 2 (and 3 and 4 :) come along... Anyway, we headed to austin to have a little family celebration after my bro chris' wedding in vegas. While we were there we tried to squeeze in at least fifteen minutes with every austin-ite we know and love. However, since the world now revolves around little miss, the pictures do as well. We first went to Chris and Leslie's new pad to see wedding pics, hang out, and eat. The Mitchell clan then headed to the Thompson's brand new beautiful home to shack for the night. Carly just finished her pediatrics residency and joined a great group in south west austin. She only thinks she has days off-I call on her expertise 24/7! Sam coaches football (and much more) at a private school in austin. He is a great mentor for these guys. Their daughter, Charlotte, is 4 months older than Lofton and is an absolute doll. Big blue eyes and a never ending smile. I look forward to many more trips as the age gap b/w these 2 virtually closes and they become dear friends! Lastly, we all joined Chris and Leslie for a yummy brunch on Sunday and my aunt Bobbi and bestie Juli came to meet my little angel. The traffic coming home was a nightmare, but as usual, Lofton was great! As a reward, we treated her to Ninfa's in Waco...

Juli meets Lofton
Chris and Lofton (practicing!)

hanging with papa j

couldn't you just eat her up?!

charlotte could...

and there she goes!

happy girl!

2 Months of wonderful...

well, sweet girl... it's hard to believe that you're two months old. my little pretermer is doing great! she had her shots :( and appointment yesterday. she did better than i did (of course). when her pedi asked how she was doing and i said "perfect!" he chuckled to himself. BUT after examining her while she smiled and cooed, he had to agree with me. my little love is now on the growth chart, woohoo! at her 2 week she was in the 3rd percentile for height, but not on a curve for weight or head circumference. and this is where we are now...
Height: 20.5 in (3%)
Weight: 8lb 12.5oz (9%)
Head Circumference: 36 (8%)

she is getting stronger and more alert by the day. she sleeps 4-6 hours at night which is great for any 2 month old, not to mention my little one that is supposed to be lagging behind... she loves to be on her playmat and stare at the flashing lights or on her tummy to scoot around. she is giving us more smiles all the time, although we can rarely make them come on demand. she clearly does not find her parents amusing... you would be hard pressed to upset this little one. she fusses (barely) when she's sleepy or needs to burp. otherwise, she's happy as a clam! here are a few 2 months cutie pics.

just chillin' after her shots (and after the 5 hour "nap" that followed the shots). i read that babies generally either fuss for a day or 2 after their shots or choose to sleep them off. i should have known that she would opt for the latter.

showing off her cute bandaids

we celebrated dewey's 35th bday this weekend. he got a real live baby doll! we did escape parenthood on saturday night, got dressed up, and went to nick and sam's with the mccants. we had a great time...but i was ready to see my girl by the time the night was over :)

yeah...this girl :)

Hodge Podge

Well, since I last posted several things have happened...
1) dewey had his first father's day and Lofton had her first illness all rolled into one. the pic below is father's day after dewey and I were up all night with little bit and her stomach bug. it was pitiful but truly more upsetting to us than to her...
2) Lofton made a host of new friends. Most of her new friendships were built while she was dreaming BUT the foundation was laid i'm sure.

Shelly and Champ (4/23), Jordan and Lofton (5/19), Betsy and Flora (5/5)

Hayden Luce (6/4) and Lofton

Charlotte Thompson (6 months) and Lofton (5 weeks)

3) Lofton celebrated her first July 4th at Gigi and Papa J's. We had several flash floods and our plans to experience the pool for the first time faded and the night ended in a meltdown... but otherwise it was a great time. Jeremy, Marti, Parker and Peyton as well as Dewey's parents (Mimi and Pop Pop) came to celebrate. I think Lofton was held by 8 different people in a 3 hour span. No lack of love for this sweet girl.

Gigi and Lofton

Mimi and Lofton

Mommy and Lofton

Mitchell Family

4) lastly, I returned to work :( I LOVE my job, but leaving your angel at home feels so unnatural. I have always wanted to be a mother AND I have always wanted to be a doctor. However, until I actually experienced motherhood, I didn't understand the reality of being a working mother. In the end, I do believe that this is where I am supposed to be-delicately balancing these 2 important jobs, attempting to give 100% to both but learning to be satisfied with a little less than that from time to time. I couldn't do either without the support of my sweet husband. He agreed to stay home for my first days back and I think he got more than he bargained for. It's quite possible that I hover and "instruct" as he calls it in the matter of Lofton when we're both home, so during those three days he had complete reign. As such, one day she spent in her pj's and the other 2 spent in onesies that said something about "daddy." This was no accident I was sure. I am in general against all things princess or diva. I am well aware that such attitudes are cute until age 5 at which point you realize you've created an eye-rolling monster that the kindergarten teacher does not find amusing... That being said, the preemie and newborn collection of clothes are quite limiting and Lofton has a onesie that reads "daddy's princess." it was under a stack of 10 other onesies to be worn only in extreme circumstances, but somehow made it on her body by day 3. pretty cute i must say :) dewey did say that he fell more in love with her and really had the opportunity to get to know her better.

Lofton in her one red dress reserved for the 4th with cardigan, bow, and ruffle socks. I was excited to get a cute pic.... This is what we got. Dewey is making that face because he just realized that SOMETHING appeared to be leaking onto his hand and subsequently onto the living room floor... :)

5) Lofton smiled today :) a real, live, no gas involved smile. it was priceless and i can't wait for more. dewey brought her into our room after getting her dressed for church and we oohed and aahed over how cute she looked and she flashed us a gummy smile. and then she did it again. love love that girl!

Dress-up

everyone needs a little girl...

1 Month

well, her first month has come and gone and i could just cry thinking about it. she has added more joy to our lives already than i knew was possible. we've already cried because she was crying and done everything in our power to make her smile. my days have not been spent doing laundry, cleaning the house, washing dishes, taking naps, or writing thank you notes. i've been too busy adoring, kissing, and cuddling.
lofton has officially had her first sickness :( we went to the doctor yesterday for a little stomach virus. the good news is that in 16 days she went from 5lb 1.5oz to 6lb 13oz. i told you she likes to eat. below are a few pics celebrating her 1 month birthday. i couldn't decide which was cutest so you get 3 :)

at 1 month you are more awake and alert by the day, making great eye contact, lifting your head to scary heights, nursing like a champ, and even scooching around during tummy time.

you love sleeping on daddy's chest, riding in the car, taking baths, midnight parties, and being loved and adored by all the family around

you hate being strapped into the carseat, going potty, and going to sleep.

overall a very happy little girl

This is last night at Lakewood Country Club for a graduation dinner. Our first night out...

...sort of! we couldn't leave our sick little one at home so she joined in on the fun. word to the wise-fitted, strapless dresses do not make the best nursing attire!