Five Months ago...

Five months ago today I delivered Haysley into this world. At 2 pounds 14 ounces, she was 10 weeks early and so tiny I could put her in my pocket...not that I really would, but still. As I was craddling her to sleep tonight I was reflecting back on our journey and how we had made it this far. It's crazy...

For starters, try having your life completely change in a matter of hours when you start contracting on Easter Sunday, in church no less. Then being rushed to the hospital only to be transported to another, all in a desparate attempt to keep you and your baby healthy.

Then, try being moved to a 'permenate' room because you've just been told you'll be on bed rest for the next few WEEKS. Nevermind your daughter now napping at home with your husband's boss watching her because you litteraly know no one in this town because you've only lived here for less than a year.

Next, try giving birth your child (with no drugs...which actually wasn't too bad, but still) two days later and learning what the letters NICU actually mean.

Then, try having a newborn baby FINALLY come home when you've already been sleep deprived for 8 weeks because you've be doing double shifts raising a 15 month old little girl and then driving to the hospital to see your second. AND you've been pumping every night.

And, finally then, try having her screaming almost 24/7 for one month until she gets diagnosed with acid reflux, common in preemies.

Wheew!

Reflecting back on it now, it was a lot. But all this to be said, I'm starting to see the silver lining to it all. Haysley is home and she is ours to love. All 9 pounds of her. This week she slept through the night, started cooing, and actually letting other people hold her, giving Mommy a much needed break. It's been a good seven days...I hope it's a trend.

So happy five months, Haysley Lynn. Your Mommy and Daddy do love you very much. We are so blessed to have you in our little family. It's getting hard to see what life would have been like without you. You are and will always be 'Our Little Early Bird'.

Vocab

So Avery's stared talking...correction, saying words, and it's awesome. I'm pretty sure she has a name for everything, I just don't know what it is yet. The running list includes: ball, duu (door), lala (flower), dog, mama, dada, baby, ba (barney), bebe (blanket), lithe (light), wah (wall), ees (cheese), rass (grass) and the best one, dough-dough (yogurt). 

It's amazing how her mind works, in fact, I don't think it every stops. She learns and does new things daily. And I know I'm a typical mother when I say, 'I love her' at this age, but I LOVE HER AT THIS AGE. If I could freeze her growing at 19 months, I totally would.

She is so interested in every little thing; it's a new discovery for her. Take, for instance, an airplane! We hardly notice them anymore, but Avery watches every single one. And wants to make sure you see it too. To her, they are amazing :)

My heart hurts knowing she's growing up so quickly. But it makes me thankful about a year from now I'll have another one experiencing the samething things all over again.