Monday, March 02, 2009

My favorite time of day...

is when Lauren just gets up in the morning or after her nap. That's when she lets me hold her close and snuggle. It's such a wonderful feeling to have her in my arms. I think about how far she has come since our China trip and how very lucky we are to have been matched with this incredible little girl. She has been doing this thing lately when I hold her...she touches my neck or lays her hand on my chest around the neckline of my shirts. I think it's a comfort thing for her, as she is usually sucking her thumb when she does it.

I'm half way through my maternity leave right now and the reality of heading back to work full-time is starting to creep into my thoughts. Since Joe hasn't found a new job yet, he will be home with Lauren for a while until he finds something. Knowing that she probably won't need to head to daycare yet makes me feel better about going back to work, although it's still going to be hard. I'll definitely be missing out on my favorite time of day during the week, so I'm cherishing every moment I get right now.

Lauren is changing and coming out of her shell more and more each day. At the mall play center she used to just stand back and watch the other kids, but now she gets right in there. She loves play cars and steering wheels.




She also loves to walk her little baby stroller around the house and backyard...


although half the time the baby ends up kicked to the curb...


Just over the past week she has learned to rock her baby dolls and feed them with a bottle. Today she started giving her baby a hug and kiss too. It's so cute to watch her do new things.

On Saturday morning Grandma and I took her in for her first hair-cut. I wanted to get those long pointy side burns trimmed and just shape it up a bit. She hated every minute of it and screamed from the time he started spraying her hair down until she got out of the chair. My poor baby!!

21 comments:

Trudi said...

oh my I cannot believe how much she has grown since you have been home. It is AMAZING. Cherish this time - I can imagine how wrenching it is to think of not being with her all the time...but it's good for both of you, too. If that is any consolation.

Kim said...

Sounds like things are going so well..
Lauren is tooo cute..
Love her cute little smile..
I am going to dread the going back to work thing also.. but just think of her pretty little smile that is going to great you..
Hugs..
Have a great week.

Melissa said...

Lauren looks great! It is so fun to watch how much and how fast our girls change!!

Jodee said...

Enjoy every second of your maternity leave. It goes soooo fast!

It looks like Lauren is doing great. Parenting is soooo much fun!

jeanette said...

you can just see the joy in her face. she HAS come a long way since China. she is just precious!

a Tonggu Momma said...

It's so fun to see her journey. She is so precious. And is that Playful Patty thrown on the floor? The Tongginator has her... does yours smell floral? Because ours totally does.

mumma to many said...

Donna and Joe
When Emily came home we did lots of cuddles with skin on skin contact! it was great to get her to settle! Alice hasn't been keen but in the last month she certainly enjoys it more!
Nad Emily would have love to have been breast fed! Alice certainly doesn't care! It is amazing when they want cuddles and Emily will always go for skin each and everytime! Alice is too now!
The other thing we have done with all 3 is wake 15-20 minutes earlier than needed to have snuggle time!
Hugs Ruth in NZ

Jboo said...

Oh my -- look at her -- she is doing so fabulously!! What a little sweetie! Leave time goes so fast, but how nice that she doesn't have to start daycare for a while. Take care and enjoy every moment -- I know you will!

Janet

Joannah said...

What sweet memories you're making during this special time. Enjoy every moment.

:-)

Sara said...

I would love to know where you bought the little baby doll! So cute!

Natalie said...

Lauren looks great. I'm so happy for all of you.

kelly said...

Adorable pictures! Lauren looks so happy!

Anonymous said...

It's soo cute how Lauren threw her doll on the side of the road!!! Can't wait to see you guys on Saturday! By the way, shouldn't you change your "About Me" thing on the sidebar from "We hope to bring Lauren home in early 2009" to "We brought Lauren home in early 2009" or something like that? It must be hard to believe that you already have her!
Emily

OziMum said...

Gorgeous! Tari just ditches "baby" straight away!!!

Before I got to the bottom of your post, I was thinking "look at all Lauren's hair"!!!

Lauren is looking so happy, just warms the heart!

Lynn said...

So adorable and what wonderful moments you shared. Sorry to hear about your husbands job... but in hindsight, God works in mysterious ways doesn't He? Maybe Lauren (or you) will just need a few more weeks of staying home and her daddy gets some one on one time with her he will cherish for the rest of his life.

Praying he finds a job soon.

Lynn

redmaryjanes said...

She is just absolutely darling and adjusting so well.

sierrasmom said...

Linda, Lauren looks great. She is certainly thriving under yours and Joe's care.I miss the people we were in china with. Please tell your Mom hi and thank her for all the nice comments she leaves on my blog!!!!!!! Scott , David and Sierra say hi!!!!
Kathie

Christie said...

I just got a little choked up for you at the thought of you having to leave her and go back to work...

She's just beautiful...

You need to fill us in on how you're doing as a new momma...no holding back, now!

Big hug

cb

Donna said...

So cute...I bet you were glad to get that first haircut out of the way. The next one should be better!

Shelley said...

It's so great to see Lauren developing over time. She is doing great, and you guys are wonderful parents.

Okay, so when we got Charlotte, I could hardly wait to get her hair cut and shaped into a normal do. She too had some funky chop spots. I think it's all part of the fun of seeing them morph into the happy (and well groomed) little people they will become.

;-D

Enjoy your leave, Donna! Soak it all up.

Susan said...

Going back to work was hard. Being back has been a little easier.

Lauren looks like she's doing great! She looks so happy and she's really beautiful.

susan