Autumn with the Lopezes

It has been far too long since we posted here. Really - I think God should reconsider this whole "time" thing to add more hours to the day... Belén is growing so beautifully. Eric and I so often look at each other and marvel that this little miracle is ours. She started giggling last week. I literally jumped for joy last week when I first heard it; it is the sweetest sound in the history of the world.

She just turned five months old last week - we've hit a few major milestones: she now sleeps in her own bedroom, in her own crib (up until last month, she was in the bassinet next to our bed). To be honest, I think it is much more challenging for us than it was for her! She is now sleeping 9-11 hours each night. And a few weeks ago, taking cues from her that her tummy just needed a little something more, we started her on rice cereal. She doesn't mind it - as long as she's not too hungry. If she is too hungry, she has no patience for dealing with a spoon - she just wants the bottle. Standing up is her favorite thing. We try to give her plenty of tummy time to encourage rolling over and starting to crawl, but really, she would rather stand all the time. She can't sit unsupported just yet, but she is getting close! Her teeth clearly bother her sometimes, but we can't feel the teeth poking through just yet.

Friday, we get ready to go visit our family in Georgia - and we can't wait for them to meet her. Who could resist THIS face??!

Here are some of the highlights of fall we have shared:

The coming of the Red Cup is a great tradition in the Lopez family - and this year it was awesome to get to share this goodness with our little girl.

I love how she looks like she just took a scandalous sip of caffeinated beverage... :) (she didn't)

We had a great time visiting the Pumpkin Patch with her!

And, she enjoyed her first Presidential Election! Our friends Todd and Mandy came over to watch history unfold together with us and Belén did her part in a patriotic onesie...
Mandy made an awesome stars and stripes crudite platter with non-partisan ranch dip... and we added some Freedom Fries, and Chicken Wings (Left Wings AND Right Wings) to add to the bipartisan fun. A lovely time was had by all!

It has been a beautiful (and very eventful) autumn season here in Portland. Here is a shot of the trees that line the main road leading to our complex.
And Belén seems to be enjoying all of our Lopez Family traditions.... Good thing! 'Cause we're having a lot of fun with her!

We were walking through the mall on Friday night and were offered a free 10 X 13 photo just for coming in. Not having anything else to do, we stopped in for an impromptu photo session with our baby girl. This was my favorite one (nevermind the watermark that keeps us from stealing them... if you'd like to purchase prints or see the other prints, just go to: http://smilestore.picturepeople.com/my/images?cg=207294587118226435).

She is getting more and more vocal. She loves to sing with me. When I lay her on the changing table, I sing her "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" (because that's her favorite) and she just ooohhs, and aaaahhhhs and coos right along with me to sing her song, too. It is the sweetest thing ever! I try to catch it on video to post, but she is mighty aware of the camera these days and quickly quiets herself in its presence.

She is also discovering her hands; in fact, she is rather obsessed with them. She watches them and while she moves her fingers one at a time. She is now very skillfully grabbing at things in her play gym on purpose. She is also sitting up straight (although she has to be supported still) and doing little baby-crunches. She's going to have Baby-Abs-of-Steel in no time! :)

She has fun on Fridays when she goes over to Miss Michelle's house and plays with Michelle's daughter, Belle, who is one week older than Belén. She does really well when we need to leave her with someone for the day. We get consistent, rave reviews that she is the easiest baby ever. Although, now that I've blogged that, it is sure to change. :)

New Pictures!!

I've posted some updated pictures on Facebook. You can view them here:
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37840&l=3a9b6&id=537904122

I know - it's not ideal... but when I can, I'll add some of them to the blog page here and comment a little more.

Blessings to you all!

Working Mom

So, last week was my first week back to work and it went well. I did cry on Tuesday morning as I left, but who wouldn't? Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us during this secondary transition to parenthood + working full time... Thank you to my awesome coworkers who have made me feel so missed, and so welcomed back. In fact, special thanks to my boss, Paul Griffin, and co-workers Dave Funk, Russell Lacy, and John Mayner who dressed in costumes and danced to an updated rendition of Y-M-C-A, penned by Dave Funk. This amazing performance put an inforgettable joy into a day that could have otherwise been melancholy. Here are the lyrics for your viewing enjoyment... (Don't forget to do the hand motions!) :)
Young mom, there's no need to feel down
I said young mom, got your friends all aroun’
I said young mom, 'cause you're back in our town
There's no need to be unhappy

Young mom, here’s a place you can go (motion to seat)
I said young mom, ‘cause you're short on your dough
Welcome back here, and I'm sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time

It's fun to have you back, T-A-R-A (rpt)
We have everything, but Belén, to enjoy
You can hang out with all us boys

Young mom, are you listening to me
I said young mom, no maternity leave
I said young mom, you don’t have to feel grief
But you've got to know that one thing

No mom does it all by herself
I said young mom, put your pride on the shelf
And just call her, that is Belén Lopez
I'm sure that you will smile when she says…

It's fun to be with Dad, T-A-R-A(rpt)
He has everything that I like to enjoy
I can hang out with all my toys

Young mom, we were once in your shoes
I mean, we were down and out with the blues
We knew no one answered 5-3-5-5
We felt the whole world was so jive

That's when someone came up to us
Said this young mom, took a car or a bus
To a place there called the Multnomah U.
And there’s no no diapers to do

It's fun to have you back, T-A-R-A(rpt)
Your desk is all clean
It’s just two bucks a meal, You can do whatever you feel


If only I had the pictures or video to show you! :) It was great!

And I'm happy to report that Eric is loving being home with Belén (and he's just the best dad you've ever seen). After her shots last week, it took several days for her to get back to her normal, laid-back self, but they seem to be finding a good routine so that he can get some work done during her naptimes. So, life in the Lopez household is moving right along... God is so faithful to us and we're so grateful for this life we get to live.

Thankfully, I am happy to report that little Miss Belén is about sleeping through the night. At least half of the time, she is sleeping from about 9 PM to about 5 AM. So as long as we go to sleep when she does, we can get a full night's rest! :)

I know I need to post some updated pictures. But those will just have to wait for another day (sorry!)...

Traumatic Day!

Well, I'm sorry to say that I don't have any new pictures to post this time around. But I do want to update you all about her doctor's appointment a few days ago... She had her two-month checkup (a little late... she is now two months and three weeks old). Eric and I had a little wager going about how much she weighs. I am slightly too proud to announce that I hit the nail right on the head: she weighs 12 lbs, 8 oz! She's in the 75th percentile for her weight. And in height, she is 24.5 inches long, which puts her in the 95th percentile for height. She's definitely our growing girl. After all those weeks of not gaining any weight in the beginning, I think she's making up for lost time! The doctor was very pleased with her growth and her meeting developmental milestones.

Then came the shots. OH! It is the sadest thing ever to hold your daughter's wee little fingers and hands while the nurse quickly injects her legs with three separate injections! Belén cried and cried and cried. At first, I was laughing (you know, that really inconvenient emotional reflex that rises up and causes you to react in the most inappropriate way possible to sensitive situations... Am I alone in that?)... but after a few seconds of her screaming cries, I just held her close and cried right with her. It is a terrible thing when you child hurts, even though you know it is for thier own good.

So, even though it was rather traumatic for her (and me,too, I guess!), she seems to be doing well now - all 12 lbs. and 8 oz. of her! Man, I wish Eric and I had bet something good! :) Oh, well...

Right now, we're enjoying Labor Day weekend, and soaking up my last days of being a stay-at-home-mom. Tuesday is the big day for me to venture back to working full-time. Maternity Leave has been so amazing; I feel like I needed every moment of it to acclimate to my new role and to get to know our little girl. It has been a beautiful honeymoon of sorts - where the frightful pace of everyday life mercifully slows to afford us a sweet season to bask in the newness of this parent-child relationship. It is sad to me in the same way it is sad when Belén outgrows some of her tiny newborn clothes: it confirms that life is fleeting and that we cannot cling to any one season too long - no matter how much we love it and want to hold onto it, it is time to move on. Any parent is proud to see their child grow healthy and strong... we wouldn't have it any other way. But I do not think I am alone in mourning the passage of a time that is so new and so sweet...

Silver Lining: I am truly grateful to have such an awesome place of employment with coworkers who are some of the best folks around. My heart is heavy to think that I'll leave my girl for so many hours a day but I am grateful that Eric will get to work from home and take care of her everyday. So, if you think about it, say a little prayer for us as we transition into this new season. And if you want to, send us an email - we'd love to hear from you! ericandtaralopez@gmail.com

Playing in the Activity Gym

We wanted to share with you the joy of watching her discover things... of course, as usually happens, most of her smiles happened off-camera. But, still, it is fun to watch her play! :)

Updates

This is my last full week of maternity leave so we're just trying to enjoy some dedicated, uncomplicated family time together. Eric is still working a lot, but we try to make time to have fun together, too, before the busyness of "the real world" sets in. This week, Belén will have her 2-month check up (even though, this week, she is 2 months and 3 weeks old - that's just when we could get an appointment). So we'll be excited to see how she's growing in height/weight... but in all respects, we can really see how much she's growing every day. It happens so fast! Here are a few glimpses into an ordinary day in the Lopez household...

Belén and Eric like to sit together and think deep thoughts...

And she loves tummy time!

Seriously, this hair is 100% all natural! We don't even do this on purpose! Isn't it amazing?? :)

This is the view I get when I look down to her while she is in the front-pack carrier...
I prefer the Moby Wrap, but sometimes, this one is better for when I'm doing things
around the house with her...

She's dancing on top of the exercise ball! Her legs are so strong!