First few weeks

 Adalyn, you have been such a blessing to us this past month!

We have enjoyed watching you grow and develop each and every day. 

It's amazing to see how fast you are changing in such a short amount of time. 

You have been such an easy going baby, you hardly ever cry {you squawk and make monkey noises when you need something}, you are a great sleeper and a sweet little cuddle bug.

You're our little baby burrito and you sleep next to our bed at night. Roxie was sure to keep a close eye on you the first few nights.

You sleep pretty much all day with a few awake times in the late morning, {maybe} in the afternoon and always late at night around 10-12. You only wake once in the middle of the night usually around 3 for a feeding, you finish your bottle and 20 minutes later we are back to sleep.  Daddy feeds you at night before bed and I wake up with you in the night and we let him rest up for work. 

You are eating about 3 oz (sometimes 4) every 3-4 hours.

 You're using Dr. Brown's bottles with Similac Sensitive and seem to be doing really well with them. You're never fussy and you don't spit up! 

Of course, being your first month of life, this month was filled with lots of firsts! 

The day after we brought you home was Thanksgiving, so you were quick to celebrate your first holiday!

Starting traditions young with the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade! 

We were so so thankful you came into the world a few days early and were there with us!

The weather has been unseasonably warm and we were able to take you outside on your due date.

 Your duck and geese friends were anxious to meet you.

 They were with us throughout the whole pregnancy! 

You had your first photoshoot at 6 days old and you did so well! We got so many awesome pictures that we will cherish forever!

You are always smiling in your sleep and showing off your dimples. 

I snuck the Patriots PJs on you without daddy knowing, he wasn't very happy!

Your first time in your swing- which actually seems to keep you awake rather than put you to sleep!

 It was also your first time in cloth diapers. I wasn't planning on starting quite so early (1 week), but you were starting to get a diaper rash so I figured we might as well give them a try! With the help of the cloth diapers, cloth wipes and olive oil your little bum cleared right up! 

Because of your diaper rash I decided to give you your first bath a little early. I made sure to keep your umbilical stump fairly dry though! 

You were a little freaked out at first, but then you liked it. 

You preferred to be wrapped up in the towel though.

We went on our first family walk.

And your first trip to the mall. I felt bad that you weren't able to have Chick-Fil-A like you did in my belly- we went there pretty much every week, it's one of my favs!

After taking all our belly pictures by the pond, I could't help but take you out there for one last picture while the weather was still nice.

At 10 days you lost your umbilical cord- such a relief! I didn't know if I should be weird/gross and keep it or just throw it away...so instead I took a picture that we can keep!

Your first pair of shoes- I was so excited to put you in your super cute boots.

You wore them to pick up Nana from the airport. Her and Papa came for a weekend visit to soak in some extra snuggles and kisses before their next visit at Christmas time.

While they were visiting we brought you to church for the first time at 2 weeks old. You looked so pretty in your dress!

A few days later we celebrated Auntie Julia's 9th birthday! 

You love to snuggle on our chests or on my legs.

You are kind of sporting a baby mullet-it's long in the back and shorter in the front. 

You love to hang out in our bed at night before it's time to sleep. We love it too!

You fell asleep in your swing and I went in the living room and found you smiling with your paci squishing your cheek- it was so cute!

I think you and Roxie are going to have a really sweet relationship. She has really surprised us with how well she is doing with you, although she does make us nervous sometime with her paws! She likes to show love with her paws and sometimes it's a little rougher than I think she means to be, so we just watch her carefully when she is around you. 

I have a feeling when you are a little bit older you guys will be best buds!

You're my little doll and I have to dress you up!

It's too much fun!

Our mornings are usually spent with you in the K'tan while I clean and get things done around the house. 

And your nights are spent snuggled up in Daddy's arms when he gets home from work. 

We often times find your hands holding your thumbs- the old "got your nose" joke! It's pretty funny!

I started putting you in your cribs for naps so you could get use to it before we move you there for nighttime. You are doing really well in there, I think you will like it. You really enjoy sleeping flat so I think transitioning you will be pretty easy.

In the mornings after daddy leaves for work I bring you into bed with me for some extra sleep and you look like such a big girl. Lately you have preferred sleeping on your side in the bed. 

Your neck is getting stronger, but you're not a huge fan of tummy time. 

You love bright lights and you are really starting to like your play mats. It's so cute when you smile at the toys. 
Your smiles are starting to become more intentional, which we are loving! 

I couldn't believe I had to pack up your newborn clothes so quickly! At about 3 weeks you outgrew most of your newborn clothing and have been wearing 0-3 mos.

I put your coming home outfit on your hippo that plays your heartbeat from when you were in my belly. I can't believe you are already getting so big! 
At your 2 weeks check up you were 8.9lbs and 21.25 and you're getting bigger and bigger every day! 
You're long, but chubby- absolutely perfect! 

You went Christmas shopping with mommy and Mimi. 

You don't always love getting into the sling, but once you are in there you usually fall right to sleep. 

We love love love those chubby cheeks of yours! 

We are still in disbelief at how quickly time has gone by and how fast you are growing. It is very bittersweet. We are so excited to see your personality develop and to watch you reach new milestones with each passing month. You bring us so much joy and we love you so so much! 

Thanks for being so good to us! 

We thank the Lord for you every single day. 

Wordless Wednesday: Scary Momma

This is just a hunch...

but I'm thinking she thinks I look a little scary in the mornings. 

Newborn Pictures

I was so happy when I found this photographer about a month before I was due. 

She was just what I was looking for and best of all super affordable.

She's a stay at home mommy starting up a new photography business and she was offering a discount for newborn pictures to expand her portfolio so it was a win-win for both of us.

Adalyn was 6 days old when these were taken. She came to our house with tons of props and a vision {which is so important!}

She knew what she wanted, she knew what we wanted and she totally made it happen!

There were over 60 pictures and we had to narrow it down to 20-it was so hard!

This is the style baby photos I used to drool over. 

I was always obsessed with Anne Geddes and it was seriously a dream come true to have pictures like this of my very own baby. 

So amazing.

Such a blessing. 

And so crazy to think that just days after this photoshoot she didn't even look like that same baby any more. 

She has grown so quickly and I am so happy to have these photos of her. 

Pictures that will be cherished forever. 

Funny and Fitness

While I continue to play catch up here's a funny video of Mr. B trying to keep Adalyn awake. 

Which is nearly impossible by the way. 

When girlfriend is tired she is going to sleep and there's nothing you can do about it.

For a while she was sleeping most of the day and then decide to be all awake and smiley from like 9:45-1ish. 

This mama is tired at that point. Let me remind you that my bedtime pre-baby was around 9:30/10 so all this partying til 1 in the morning was a problem.

As much as I loved seeing these bright eyes and smiles, I'd prefer to see them in the day time!

So I decided we have to try and keep her up at least from 7-9:30. 

So we strip her down, we bounce her, play with her, talk to her etc etc and this is what we get. 

Operation "Stay awake it's not bedtime yet" didn't quite go as planned. 

Since then we have a new bedtime routine that seems to be working well. 

She even slept through the night for the first time on Saturday night!
And now I see this face at reasonable hours during the day

Now, onto the fitness...

I have joined the bandwagon and joined my fitness pal. 

So if you're on it send me a request: jpsmelser is my username.

I always go over my calories and I haven't worked out yet- but I'm a great encourager :) 

I've also lost 4 pounds so far! 

So if you're on there- friend me, if not check it out and join! 

It's free, they have apps for the iPad and iPhone and probably the other smart phones too

AND

the coolest feature ever: it has a barcode scan so you just scan the food you're going to eat and it plugs it all in for you! 

Welcoming Adalyn Faith

We kept Adalyn in our room until about 1 in the morning and then {sadly} sent her to the nursery for a few hours so we could get some sleep since it had been such a long day.

It was a very painful night of sleep, but I did end up getting an hour or two.

I'm pretty sure Mr. B slept like a rock...but that's no surprise. 

That guy's got some crazy sleeping skills. 

I am so thankful that Mr. B was able to stay the night. I don't know how I would've made it through without him there those few days. He was such a trooper helping me move around and all that other fun stuff that comes with having a baby.  This is where I saw the new side to him, he was so so helpful and I know it stretched his limits too. After seeing what I had just been through I think he thought helping me go to the bathroom was the least he could do!

Thankfully, I never ended up taking any strong medicine-just Motrin every 6 hours and that was enough to help take off the edge. 

Because Adalyn was born late at night we didn't have any visitors until the following day. 

We were happy to have her back after a few hours in the nursery! 

I wasn't a fan of not having her in my belly or my arms!

I was able to shower and get ready before showing of my new little beauty. 

The kids were so excited they got to skip school to come and visit their new niece. 

The girls even made a dance video the night before- if I can find it I'll post it later. 

Uncle C even pulled his tie for this special event- it was really cute. 

Auntie A and Uncle C holding their first niece for the first time.

Auntie O and Auntie J holding little Miss Adalyn.

Meeting some of her great-grandparents

My grandpa brought in a picture that he had of him and I from when I was first born. He was so proud.

{me on the left, Adalyn on the right}

Cousins- only 6 months apart! Too bad they're also many states apart! 

More snuggles from Mimi

Spoiled by our family and friends

That night the hospital gives us a special celebratory dinner. It was delicious and way more than we were able to eat! We had filet mignon, potatoes, asparagus, salad and cheesecake with strawberries and whipped cream. Our first meal as a family of three!

I gave her her first manicure that night. The night before she came back from the nursery with a scratch on her face and I didn't want that to happen again. I was too nervous to cut them {I've still yet to cut them!}, plus they were still flimsy so I just filed them down. 

Wednesday morning we waited for the pediatrician to check her and then we were free to go home!

Ready to go!

We live literally 2 minutes from the hospital so it was a safe and uneventful drive. 

She was happy to be home

We also enjoy snuggles at home much better than the hospital

We also met our mountain man Uncle R on our first day home

{He has since got a hair cut. Praise the Lord!!}

And of course got more snuggles from the rest of the fam too!

We were able to relax at home and rest up for Thanksgiving {and meet Roxie!} the following day!

And I couldn't decide which one to choose, but here's a comparison of me as a baby