The Beard Babies: July 2014

Sunday, July 20, 2014

6 Months Today

Dear Elizabeth,

You are half way to your first birthday. You can roll from your belly to your back and from your back to belly. We think your fingers are made of sugar because you love to suck on them right before you go to sleep. You squeal in protest right before your eyelids get their heaviest and you LOVE to meet new people. You are a little nosey and want to know where everyone is and what everyone is doing. You like to play with your tag blanket and love cloth books. You get so sleepy in the stroller, but never fall asleep because you don't want to miss a thing! We cried a little dropping you off to your first church nursery class this morning, but we felt much better after we knew you were happy. We love you, our firstborn!

Dear Mary Charlotte,

January 20th was six whole months ago. Our sweet baby girl has grown so much! You love taking in the world around you and really like to have your diaper changed. You give us a smile anytime a warm wipe hits you. You can roll from your tummy to back and have strong legs. You love to play the piano on your exersaucer and you like to try new foods. You have a huge heart-warming smile and giggle. You still love Clifford and he goes everywhere with us. Outside on the porch is your favorite place to be. Today on your first day of church nursery, you loved the glider rockers and didn't even need the bottle we packed for you. You have the cutest bottom lip when you pout. All we want to do is make it go away and usually standing and walking with Daddy does just the trick! We love you, MC!

Daddy with his two girls

MC, Mommy, and E

Mommy and her girls

Daddy, proud of his six month old babies

Daddy has shiny buttons

"I've got a secret," said Mary Charlotte. "Let me in on it," said Elizabeth.

"Hehe, that is funny!"

It sure is bright out here!

We wore our diaper covers so we didn't get mixed up in nursery class.

"Daddy, come get on the quilt with us for a picnic," says the Princess Patrol.

"Hey, you come here often?"

They are dropping like flies!

Mommy is funny!

Double trouble

Elizabeth showing her best side

E after bath

MC after bath

Elizabeth on her first day of nursery class

Mary Charlotte on her first day of nursery class

MC being a sweetie while Mommy and Daddy eat.

Friday, July 18, 2014

Mary Charlotte makes a Liar out of Mommy

I guess everyone has those weeks and at the Beard household, it's been one of "those" weeks. At several points during the past few days, I've felt like I am completely losing all sanity! Mary Charlotte has been particularly fussy the past few days and not at all herself, so on Wednesday and after my sister-in-law mentioning something could be wrong, I called her doctor and they asked that I bring her in that afternoon. The appointment went well and Dr. Smeltzer (aka Mr. Rogers) explained how she had reflux and sent us home with a prescription that she'll be on over the next couple months. He said in premies, it's common that the flap (for lack of a better word) that goes from the esophagus to the stomach is not totally developed and that as she grows and is able to sit, stand, or just move more on her own, it should get better.

So, trying to be the cool, calm and collected mom that I am not, I just tried to relax and follow instructions. Last night, after hours of crying, flailing of arms and legs, and trying anything I could think of to give our baby girl some relief, I just completely melted. It's the most frightening feeling as a parent when you've done all you know to do, pulled out every trick from the bag, and nothing seems to work. So, we called the doctor back and they recommended that we take MC to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. They wanted to rule out anything more serious. At first, I felt really silly loading up and heading to the hospital, but in the back of my mind, I felt those screams that turned into wails that had become more like whimpers were not normal for her at all. Upon entering the ER, a rush of emotions came over me as I once again had to trust the doctors and nurses to take care of my baby. Seeing them once again strap on a hospital identification bracelet on her small, sweet little ankle, took me straight back to almost six months ago when we were craning our necks over her isolate in the NICU back in Germantown. It's a hard place to go mentally and I think there will always be a part of me still in that NICU any time one of my girls gets sick. I don't go to that "happy little it will be ok place." I tend to think the worst and freak out more than a little at the unknown. It only takes a few moments in a hospital setting while watching patients, doctors, and nurses interact to realize how fortunate and blessed we are, while at the same time a reminder, that we really are not in control of the number of days we have and that at the drop of a hat, any of us can be changed forever. At these moments, it makes you truly think about what is important in life, and let the "small stuff" go by the wayside. She was so brave as they did an x-ray and ultrasound and I think I may have cried more than she did. As we were describing to the ER doctor about what had taken place that day, sweet little Mary Charlotte starts smiling the biggest smile you've ever seen at the doctor. I can't wait to tell this precious little booger one day, that she had all the ER doctors and her parents wrapped around her little finger on July 17th and made the biggest liar out of her Mommy. They reassured me to not feel silly, that it is always best to check and be sure and that "better safe than sorry" is still the right way to go. So now we know how to get there from our new home, how long it takes, and which garage or door to enter if we ever need to again. :)

Heading home that night, with bundles of healthy baby girls in my arms, I began to look around and pray for those families sitting right next to us that didn't have as good of an outcome and are facing weeks of treatment, surgeries, and time in the hospital. I hope you and yours have a great weekend and enjoy those sweet moments with your families. Hugs from Nashville!

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Uncle Darren and Aunt Denise

The girls got to meet their Uncle Darren and Aunt Denise from Arizona this past weekend for the first time. They were in the Midwest to take their kids to camp and drove down Saturday night and stayed through Monday to spend time with the twins. It was great to see them. They both helped a lot and my brother remembered exactly how to carry a car seat and at times, even two! Thank you Darren and Denise for coming to see us! We may be brave one of these days and fly out to see you!

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Happy Saturday!

As I lay beside my twin girls this morning in bed, I'm reminded of how lucky I am to be their mom. I love to watch the flutter of their eyelashes, the quick little Sandman smiles, and the way they stretch and yawn all at the same time and make it look so good, I find myself doing the same. I love Saturday mornings as we can all be home together and enjoy simple things like sitting on our front porch, enjoying coffee without rushing, and catching up on the week without worrying about where we need to be or what has to be done next (especially since last Thursday was cleaning day). :)

Yesterday I was able to attend my first Bellevue Moms Group meeting and it was nice to get out of the house and visit with other moms for an hour or two. The meetings basically consist of a speaker and refreshments each month and this month's featured presenter was a nutrition and exercise mom/daughter duo. I think I may be brave once it gets a little cooler here and enroll in one of their stroller fitness classes. They meet in a nearby park and push strollers, stopping every few minutes and doing a mini- workout. I may get double the workout pushing two babies around, but she assured me that it was doable with two.

Some of our favorite little people from Memphis visited last night. Sally, Abby, and Emma along with their parents stayed with us on their way to Nashville Shores. It was SO great to see them. I've really missed a lot about Memphis this week and when Mary and Tom came in with Muddy's cupcakes and all their girls, I just about got teary-eyed! Visiting with them and watching their three little girls interact and giggle with ours was so much fun. Jason and I talked about how someday our house will be filled with those same sounds of footprints, giggles, and princess television shows. We look forward to those days, but are also thankful for the times right now that are filled with cooing, tasting new things, cuddling, and listening to baby cds. There will be challenges and blessings at all these stages and we're trying to soak up each part with our girls each and every day. And by the way, we have now tried peaches, green beans, sweet potatoes and bananas. Peaches still remain the pick of mealtime!