{Dear Ivy}

My Dearest Ivy,

You are 11 weeks old today. My goodness the time has flown by since you came into my world. My life has been nothing like I imagined it would be. It's better!! You are such a blessing to me. Each and every day I look at you thinking how I went 23 years without you. As I watch you sleep in your swing, I count the ways my life is different now. I no longer sleep 8-9 hours straight. I get up every 4 hours or so to feed you and to put a new diaper on your bum. I don't always get out of the house like I did before. (Mainly because we only have one car and I hate taking your Daddy to work at 5 am)

I'm perfectly happy staying at home though. I get to spend all day every day with you! 

I have a little more laundry to do than I did before you were born but I rather have a load of cloth diapers to wash than spending who knows how much money on disposable diapers. 

I don't always get to do the things I want to do when I want to do them, but I am okay with this. Like this morning when I had just poured my milk onto my cereal, you decided that you were hungry also... So the cereal had to wait and after you were full I went to eat my cereal but it had become a very nasty mushy mess and not very yummy looking so I did without. 

I'm ok with still having to drink decaf coffee although somedays I allow myself a treat to one caffeinated drink! 

My pants started fitting about a month after you you were born but my tops have yet to fit like they used to. My 'Ladies' are a lot more voluptuous than before so not many of my bras and tops fit but I am okay with this as well. I rather give you the most nutritious milk right from my body than have my clothes fit the right way. 

These are just minor ways my life is different now. I can't describe the happiness I have in my heart because of you. I can't tell you how thankful I am that God chose me to be your Mommy. My love for you is also indescribable. I would do anything for you. You are my daughter and my greatest treasure! You mean the world to me and your Daddy. Don't ever forget that. I love you sweet girl and I have to go now so I can feed you! 

Love Always & Forever

Mama

P.S. Please stop growing so fast!!!  

  

{Mama's Favorites}

I thought it would be a fun {and maybe helpful} idea to tell y'all what items I {as a Mama} just love!

These are in no particular order!

 {Swaddle Blankets & Sleep Sacks}

Right from the beginning Ivy loved being wrapped up like a burrito. Sometimes at night she is so sleepy but she fights the urge to go to sleep. I try to calm her by holding her, singing to her, or rocking her but none of that helps... Then into her sleep sack she goes and within 2 minutes she is fast asleep in her swing! Never fails! 

Wrapped up in her Swaddle Sack.

{Swing}
We bought a swing from a friend of ours and it is by far the best thing we have ever spent $50 on! She loves to be in motion 95% of the time so the swing is where she spends most of her time. It plays the sweetest little lullabies and birdie sounds that make her drift into a deep sleep. She loves her swing!

Asleep in her swing! Fisher Price-My Little Sweetie Deluxe Cradle Swing.

{Moby Wrap & Ergo Carrier}
Both of these products are life savers!! I have used the Moby a million times and not just out of the house but also while doing the dishes or folding laundry! Sometimes Ivy just likes to be close to Mama so I put her in her wrap and go on about my life! She loves it, I love it! And the Ergo is super easy to put on and is awesome for traveling!

Asleep in the Moby while I grocery shop!

{Music Machine}
After reading a few 'must have' lists, I purchased a music machine off amazon. The one I got is small and has a clip on it so I can put it on her car seat and she can listen to music in the car. Well little did I know that we wouldn't be able to go anywhere without it! She loves music to begin with and having it with her when she is in her car seat calms her down. (She hates the car seat) We even keep it playing when we go to the commissary or the PX!

myBaby HoMedics SoundSpa On-The-Go

{Diaper Changing Station}

I use this every single time I leave the house! It is easy to go to the ladies' room with just this in my hand rather than having to carry the whole diaper bag with me... It has a place for a wipe case, diapers, and even a pocket for other items. Plus I know what my little is laying on is clean.. You never know who or what has touched those changing stations in bathrooms!

Stretching out on her changing pad!

{Boppy}
I love the Boppy Pillow! It was very helpful at the beginning when Ivy was tiny! I would position the pillow around me and then I would lay her on top and nurse her like that. So much easier than just holding her.

After feeding her on her Boppy!

{Bathtub}
My sweet girl loves taking a warm bath! She is the most content little booger in her tub! She loves being warm and cries when I get her out to dry her off...

She loves baths!

{Sleepy Lotion}
Speaking of baths, our routine is to get dried off, put a diaper on and then I give her a full body massage with the Sleepy lotion. She loves being massaged and always has a good night afterwards!

Smells amazing!!!

{CJ's Butter}
This stuff is awesome! Since I will be cloth diapering SOON (hopefully starting tomorrow) I have to use a cloth diaper safe ointment on Ivy's bum and this stuff is not only a good rash cream, but it smells amazing too! I have gotten a few sample sizes just to make sure I like the smells but my favorite one would have to be Pixie Pie! It smells so yummy!

Love this stuff!

{Coconut Oil}
Ivy has a pretty bad case of cradle cap but with coconut oil on it every day, it is slowly going away! I massage it into her scalp and let it all absorb into her skin and then the next day I wash it out during her bath. It smells like a coconut too which is a plus!

Has so many uses!

{Gowns}
Sadly she has outgrown the ones that we used at the beginning but we use to put a gown on her before bedtime and it made night time diaper changes much easier! You could just lift the gown and not have to take any pants off or unbutton anything... Super convenient at night!

Her wearing one of her gowns!

Well that is all I can think of at the moment... I am sure there are other little things but this is just a fun list our faves!

  

{Happy 2014}

Things I am looking forward to in 2014!

1. Moving back to the good ole US of A late March/early April.

2. Finding a home in North Carolina.

3. Being closer to Georgia so our families can see Ivy often.

4. Finishing my Wedding & Event Planning school.

5. Getting back into a workout routine. 

6. Meeting my niece, Eva Marie Jewel Cannon, in March!! 

7. Traveling.

8. Celebrating our 1 year bloggiversary.

9. Thanksgiving and Ivy's first birthday is on the same day this year!

10. Celebrating our 4 year wedding anniversary! 

11. Attempting to read a book a month...

12. Reading in The Bible every single day. 

13. Writing down my prayer requests.

14. Keeping in touch with all of my "Italian" friends.

15. Writing more letters to friends and family. 

16. Ellie turning 4 years old!

17. Sponsoring a child (not sure where from)

18. Seeing Ivy grow each and every day.

19. Taking a picture everyday! 

20. Getting organized.

Blessings to all in 2014!

 I am so excited to see what The Lord has planned for us this year! 

{2013 In Review}

WHAT A YEAR, 2013!

Here are some highlights of my year!

Went to Germany with some of my best friends early 2013

Went to Venice for Carnivale with Ivy! 

In March I got to welcome home my SEXY soldier from Afghanistan! 

Went to Georgia for block leave in April.

Excited to announce that we were PREGNANT! 

Got all fancy lookin' at the Rock Ball.

He's so handsome in uniform! 

So glad these ladies were at the ball as well!

Went on a marriage retreat to Germany with Richard.

November 27th Ivy changed our lives forever!

My Mama came to Italy to visit!

We all went to Venice!

We all went to Verona!

Ivy was one month old on Dec. 27th.

I think it's safe to say that I had an AMAZING year and I am so blessed to have all these awesome memories to look back on! I can't wait to see what this new year will bring!! Happy New Year everyone and may the Lord bless you with many memories and adventures in 2014! 

{Ivy's One Month Old}

HAPPY ONE MONTH IVY VICTORIA!!! 

(She actually turned one month on December 27th)

I started using my chalkboard again for her monthly updates! In the pictures with her is her bunny that her Great Granny gave her. My granny gave me a bunny exactly like it for my first Easter. Mine was pink though. We actually found Ivy's bunny online for really cheap and it's actually from 1990! It's in very very good condition! I love that she has the same stuffed animal as me and that it came from the same person! It means a lot to me! I still have my bunny but mine looks very loved on... Ha! Here are her pictures with her bunny! 

I cannot believe my little girl is already a month (and 4 days) old! She is already growing up way too fast! Mommyhood has been an adventure to say the least but I wouldn't change it for the world! I love everything about it! Ivy is such a good baby too! She had a spell with some pretty bad diaper rash for a while but it has finally gone away with the use of Desitin like religiously. Now that that is gone she is a lot easier to deal with! It was a battle to get her to calm down when she had the rash... We are all a lot happier now! 

{Dear Ivy}

Dear Ivy,

You will be three weeks old tomorrow and I can't tell you how amazing these past few weeks have been now that you are in my life. I have never been this happy in my entire life and it's been such a joy watching your every move. You have completely changed my life and I give the good Lord all of the credit. The first few months of my pregnancy I was so terrified that something was going to happen to you. I can't tell you how many times I asked God to keep you safe and healthy in my belly. I had friends praying all over the world for you and I. Every time I went to the doctor I would pray that they find your strong heartbeat and see you growing healthy and you did! God was there with us the entire time and I am so grateful for that. Ivy He made you so perfect and so beautiful! You look just like your Daddy only much prettier! Your eyes are turning more blue everyday. Last week at your 2 week appointment you weighed 8 pounds and 14 ounces. You are growing so fast and you already look so different from the day you were born. 

Your Grammy came to Italy the day after you were born. She fell in love with you the moment she saw your pretty face. She would sing to you and you would just stare at her and listen to her lullaby songs. You wouldn't burp with anyone else but her. She has that magic touch I suppose. She was a huge help to me. I would get her to hold you while you were awake at night so I could get a little bit of rest. Grammy got to spend 18 days with us and we had the best time! You got to travel at just 10 days old to Venice, Italy! You slept pretty much the whole time we were there. You just woke up to eat and get a diaper change. We are lucky that you are a good traveler! Last weekend we took you Verona! I forgot the Moby wrap to put you in so we had to buy a new sling for you and we actually like it better than the wrap. Your Daddy loves to carry you around and show you off to the world. He is a very proud Daddy. You already have him wrapped around your little pinky. He loves you so much Ivy. He is already the world's best Daddy! 

Then Sunday the 15th came and we had to say the hardest goodbye ever to your Grammy. I hated seeing her hold you for the last time and tears building in her eyes. That was the hardest thing I think Grammy and I have ever done. We have already skyped her once since she left. Your Grammy is my best friend. I pray that one day you and I can have a relationship like she and I have. We have always been super close. I hope to be half the mother she is to me and my brothers. I promise I am trying my best to be the best Mommy I can be. As you sit in your swing all bundled up, I am so thankful that God picked me to be your Mommy. You look so peaceful right now. I love you so much Ivy. You are the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me! Never forget that I love you more than anything! 

Love Always & Forever,

Mama

{Ivy's First Two Weeks Of Life} & {Grammy Comes To Town}

The day after Ivy was born my Mama flew all the way to Italy. It was perfect timing! Our friends, Carmen and Scott, went to the airport for us to pick her up and bring her to the hospital so Richard wouldn't have to leave me and the baby. When I saw Mama walk in the room I was super excited for her to meet Ivy. Ivy is her first Grandbaby and I know she was thrilled to have been able to see her within 24 hours of being born.  To see her face light up when she got to hold Ivy for the first time warmed my heart. She is a very proud Grammy and loves her Granddaughter so very much. Because Mama got in on Thanksgiving day and we were still in the hospital, our amazing friends brought us all plates of yummy food! We were so thankful for their willingness to do that for us on a holiday! 

The next day we were able to go home! I was so ready to be in real clothes and be in the comfort of my own home with my brand new baby girl. My Mama had cleaned up my house a little bit and had cooked Thanksgiving dinner for us! It was really nice to come home to a nice meal. Mama got to stay with us for 18 days! She was such a blessing to have around for so many reasons! She would cook dinner for us, clean, and calm Ivy down by singing to her. She was also about the only person that could get Ivy to burp after I would feed her. Mama just has that special touch I guess. A touch that I hope to get soon. The 18 days Mama was here went by so stinking fast but we had a great time and made the most out of those days! Mom was able to attend Ivy's one week and two week doctor visits and we learned that Ivy was definitely a growing baby! She weighed 8 pounds and 14 ounces at her 2 week apt. She has gained 13 oz. since birth! Wow!

I took Mama and Ivy everywhere! We  went to thrift stores, markets, a winery, a purse factory, Venice, Verona, and we ate yummy Italian food. Mama loved it all. Ivy could have cared less! She just slept the entire time except to eat and get a diaper change so she is a very good traveler! She is an all around good baby. She sleeps really good at night and wakes up about every 3 hours to eat. She loves her morning tummy time on my chest. She hates for her diaper to be the slightest bit dirty. I think it's mainly because her poop has made her bottom a little raw... She screams bloody murder when she has a dirty diaper and it breaks my heart into tiny bits cause I know it hurts her... Hopefully I can heal it with some Butt paste and CJ's Butter. Her sleep routine is pretty easy to work around. She wakes up every three hours to eat and get her diaper changed. I love watching her sleep and dream. The faces she makes crack me up. She is my little butterball!

So yesterday was one of the hardest days of my life. We had to say goodbye to Grammy... Ivy and I stayed home while Richard took her to the airport. We had an amazing time having her here and I hated seeing my Mama saying goodbye to her grandbaby. I cried sad tears when they left me.. Skype is the biggest blessing to have while we are over here in Italy. We have already skyped Grammy today! We miss her already! I can't wait for these next few months to go by so we can be in the US and close to family!

Ok so here are a bunch of pictures from Ivy's first two weeks of life along with pictures from when Grammy was in town! :) Enjoy!

Grammy & I in Venice, Italy

My sweet family

Ivy & I at the mall in Vicenza, Italy

3 Generations 

Me at the winery

Ivy's first tub bath

How she sleeps in her car seat

Showing Mom how the milk machines work

Yummy lunch we got downtown Vicenza

Ivy loves  her new swing

Mama & I at Aeolia's

Pear Faggotini

Me and Richard with Ivy in the sling in Verona

Verona, Italy

Us at Juliet's house

Ivy loves her Grammy's singing