Two Month Check-Up and Thanksgiving!
(Marcus holding Bethany at her two month check-up. I love that he wants to be there at her appointments!)
Bethany's two month check up went really well. She went in at exactly nine weeks and was a champ when she got her shots. A little bit crying and then it was all over! Actually, her mommy had a much harder time with it. Marcus actually leaned over and said, "Are you going to update your facebook status to say that you cried harder than your daughter did over her shots?" There is a little bit of hyperbole in his statement, but regardless, it's not easy for any mommy to see their precious child in pain!
Bethany's doing great with her growth even with GERD. She is 24" long and currently in the 95th percentile for height. She weighed in at 11 lbs. 13 oz. and is in the 75th percentile for weight. Her head circumference is 15 1/4" and is in the 50th percentile. The doctor told us that she is perfect! But she didn't have to. Haha. We already knew that!
At two months, Bethany smiles, fixates on objects, has cooing conversations with us, loves to flail her arms and legs, and has squealed three or four times. (Haha. The squealing is rare. I'm always super excited when she does it!) She sleeps through the night, but is an early riser! Actually, I'm okay with the 5am mornings because they will make getting ready for work easy. I've heard patterns change once babies go to daycare, so we'll just see what happens. Again, I am always optimistic and she has been such a good baby, so I'm hoping for the best!
After her appointment, we registered for daycare. Aside from the few tears I shed over her shots, it has been awhile since I've cried. Well, I definitely cried over daycare registration! (The director even called the next day to check on me. Haha.) Even still, I'm pleased with the daycare we've chosen. It's brand-new (Literally. No baby will have had Bethany's designated crib before her. It's her very own!), uses a fingerprint system, and has internet cameras. In addition to all that, there are no televisions and the teachers follow a fun curriculum geared toward infant stimulation, growth, and learning. Plus, there are tons of fun infant toys for her to play with in the infant room. It's hard going with a place that hasn't built up a reputation yet, but every interaction we've had with them so far has been a positive experience and for that, I'm thankful. (And since our deposit is still good at the other daycare we're wait-listed with, if we want, we can always move her when our spot opens up.)
We celebrated Thanksgiving with my family and it was wonderful! My cousin Duane's wife, Donna, hosted this year and I think everyone agreed that it's the start of a new tradition! (My Aunt Linda was also very thankful that it didn't all rest on her shoulders this year!) Their home is absolutely lovely and dinner was delicious. Actually, she has inspired me to get more serious about making my house more of a home! We certainly don't have the means to make all the updates I want to make right now, but I've been inspired to do the best I can with what I have and I'm looking forward to the changes that will come with time.
God is so gracious and so good - in all seasons - but I am reveling in the current season of my life and am so thankful for all these undeserved, unmerited blessings He has given! There is a joy that is being rekindled in me that reminds me of a much younger version of myself that I thought I had lost. (Seriously, I'm singing out loud all the time again and I haven't done that since high school. I hope Marcus and Bethany do not find it too annoying!) I'm so thankful God is constantly pursuing me. I pray that He helps me pursue Him with the same fervor.
Even with so much joy, there is a little sadness too. This was our first Thanksgiving without Toto and I missed her. I thought about her as we drove to Melbourne and how thankful I am for the Thanksgivings and Christmases she gave me while I was a little girl growing up. I'm thankful for the importance of family, celebration, and tradition that she instilled in me and I'll be thinking of her today as I decorate for Christmas which I am suuuper excited to do!