Christmas time is here again in the Shepard household and we've been busy. Laina had her first dentist appointment and we also got to see her perform in her school Christmas program. She is currently enrolled in a music program as well as her regular class so she was on stage 3 times. In those 3 appearances she did not sing one word... but she was cute all three times. :)
Amelia enjoyed these moments while dreaming about her next meal from her car seat. She's quickly assuming the role of the low-maintenance baby. She really only complains when she is hungry or tired. I can't blame her! Hope you are enjoying the holidays as much as we are!
On 10/3/11 we welcomed a new member to our family, Amelia Ann Shepard. The pregnancy was certainly not the same as carrying her big sister, Laina but now that we've had a little time to get to know her I know that she is very different from Laina. Amelia is 8 weeks old now and smiling away the days. She is a great baby that will just sit in her chair patiently and look around as I try to keep up with daily life of being a mom of 2 kids. I'm so glad to have her with us and I'm looking forward to all the memories we'll create with our two beautiful little girls. Here's a few photos from the first few weeks with our little "Mia" (Laina's nickname that we've now adopted).
Amelia's tiny little footprints
Grandpa Greg was here... thanks Dad.
Just a day old, being held by Grandma Pat
Our little Tiger, home from the hospital
Big sister Laina holding her little Mia at home for the first time.
The final days of pregnancy can be some of the longest days of a woman’s life. Not only are you more uncomfortable as each day goes on, the inappropriate comments from strangers become more and more disconcerting. When a woman appears to be carrying a Guinness Book of World Records pumpkin under her shirt it is of course suitable to ask her if her parents had ever advised her not to eat watermelon seeds.
This is the life of a 9-month pregnant woman.
Please don’t misunderstand; awaiting the arrival of a new little one is very exciting and somewhat magical. This new little person will be soon entering the world and changing the perspective of his or her parents permanently. Each day little feet and elbows poke out curiously from the mother’s belly as she wonders what this new little person will look like and what will they accomplish in their life.
Notice how nowhere in that statement was the following mentioned: requests from strangers to touch your belly (at least they ask, right?),“waddling” descriptions of the way a mother is forced to go from point A to point B or a personal favorite, the inability to feel comfortable anywhere…. Doing anything…
But, in the end, a new little person is eventually born and a whole new chapter begins in that mother’s life. The toothless man at the gas station who commented on her belly size only 2 days ago is forgotten and the joy of becoming a newborn baby stalker (one who stares at her baby incessantly, non-stop, 24-hours a day) sets in. If she listens quietly during the two minutes of peace she has each day, she can hear a voice saying “Welcome to the club dear friend, the best and finest establishment in the world, the Motherhood club.”
