Monday, December 31, 2012

Baby's First Christmas




          As mentioned in a previous post, we have been celebrating Christmas for over a week now.  It has been so much fun to watch books and toys be opened as well as the oohs and ahhs...by ADULTS!  ha!  Yes,  RLT has certainly enjoyed the holidays, just not in the way most kids do.  She has dressed up and dressed down.  She has snuggled with all sorts of friends and family.  In fact, she has done most of this while sleeping.  What a multi-tasker!  It has truly been the best Christmas that her mommy and daddy have ever had!
          On the 23rd we were so honored to be invited to have Christmas Dinner with the Bridge Group. A little over a year ago, the Cheathams, Mom, and Gary taught us to play Bridge.  Maybe I should say that the Cheathams and Gary taught us how to play Bridge, and Mom taught us how to host Bridge!  Anyway, we have subbed for members of the group when they are unable to come to the monthly get-together.  We have had so much fun learning the game but more so enjoying all of their company.  It was so nice on the 23rd to be invited to cocktails, singing, and dinner.



On Christmas Eve, we spent the afternoon at Mom's Open House.  All of Gary and Mom's kids (and their kids) along with other friends and family come to celebrate.  And then, of course, Chad played for two different Candle Light services at Beargrass and Park.  We wrapped up the evening by setting out cookies and milk for Santa before his first visit to our house!








We found out that Santa loves Oreos and Bourbon! 
          On Christmas Day, we spent the morning at Mom and Gary's.  RLT slept through just about the whole thing, but that's okay!  That evening, we went out with friends for the 3rd year in a row to have Christmas Sushi.  We sunk the Titanic at our favorite Japanese restaurant, Osaka.  The Titanic is a four foot wooden boat that has about 100 pieces of sushi on it.  This year, it only took our table of nine 15 minutes to devour it.  Yummy!










RLT cried every time Uncle Bradley held her.

Well, not every time...

Yup, every time!

The Christmas Bib Fashion Show 2012






          A few days after Christmas, Louisville got its first accumulation of snow for the year.  RLT loved looking at the bright, white outside.

          We, as a family of three, also braved the cold to go to the outlet malls.  Shopping with a baby is certainly different than we are used to.  But, we were successful at finding some great deals and not having too many meltdowns!  Us, not her!

         And, finally, we took a trip to the doctor this week.  A couple of weeks ago, RLT began getting baby acne.  No big deal.  In the past few days, though, it seems to have morphed into a very dry rash that has yellowish spots.  It feels almost crusty like a scab.  Sorry that sounds gross, but it is what it is.  It spread onto her chin, down her neck, onto the top of her chest, and even up to her eyebrows.  We began to think that maybe she was having some sort of allergic reaction to either my milk, my clothes, or her bath soap.  It turned out to be none of those things.  Our pediatrician walked into the room and immediately named what was wrong upon seeing it.  Seborrheic Dermatitis is basically cradle cap on the skin, not on the scalp.  The doctor said that it does not bother RLT at all.  She said that it bothers parents a great deal because of the redness, dryness, flakiness, and above all how it looks in pictures!  While, it looks painful, we are relieved to know that our little baby doesn't seem to notice.  And, thank goodness, it shouldn't scar when it goes away in a month or two.




Saturday, December 22, 2012

Baby Dedication



...and boy has it been an exhausting week!  RLT had her Baby Dedication at Beargrass Christian Church on Sunday.  It was such a meaningful moment when Chad and I pledged our parental support and publicly named her.  The congregation, in turn, vowed to love and care for her.  It was so special!

Rev. Leigh Bond




What a fine group of ladies!

        After the dedication, Chad and I got some stressful news.  I called our in-home child care provider to ask what her daily schedule was.  I want to begin working with RLT after the holidays to prepare for the time in February when I go back to work.  Well, it turns out that RLT's spot was given to another baby.  I was stunned!  I reminded the lady about our discussion in September when she told me that she would happily take care of our little girl.  She didn't quite respond and just said that she would not be able to take RLT anymore.  Chad is right, though.  Maybe we really don't want her taking care of RLT if she is that flighty and doesn't honor her commitments
        So, that day I cried.  The next day, I was just mad!  Are you kidding me?!?!?  We now have six weeks to try to find daycare.  That's crazy!  I have called several places and have been put on a wait list for next fall!  Yup, next fall!  Now we're just focusing on finding someone who can take RLT through the end of the school year.  So if you have any leads, please, PLEASE let us know!

         On a contrasting note, RLT continued to surprise us this week as she began making the occasional sweet sound with her voice.  She only does it a couple of times a day, but those moments are so wonderful!  She's definitely beginning to show her curious side as she turns her head from side to side to follow her daddy's voice and my voice.  She has also started pushing with her legs.  She loves pushing her body up and locking her legs in place as if she is standing on your lap.  She's so sweet.  We love her so much!





Laura, Terrianne, and I grew up together at church.  All of our kids are doing the same!