Spivey Vacation on Wrightsville Beach!

Last week we spent time with Trey's family on Wrightsville Beach, NC.  We had such a great time relaxing and spending time with all the family and got to celebrate the 4th of July while we were there.  It ended up working out perfectly that I had business in Columbia, SC on Monday and Tuesday because Trey came with me so he could watch Sophia and we headed on straight from there.

We got to Wilmington Tuesday night and while we thought the weather was forecasting rain, it cleared up for us and we had beautiful weather the rest of the week.  It was a much needed trip to get some R & R and I already wish we were still there.  Trey's parents rented a condo on the beach and it was such a treat to be able to wake up and just roll out whenever we wanted.  There's nothing quite like waking up at the beach.

From the start, Sophia was surrounded with love from all her cousins, uncles and aunt and her Mimi and Dedaw.  Everybody couldn't get enough of her and it warmed my heart to see how sweet her cousins were with her.  Can't wait until she's old enough to chase them around.

It was also so fun to see Sophia meeting her Uncle Cameron.  She wasn't too sure what was going on at first but she eventually took to him and he had her in giggle fits by the end of the week.

While we went to the beach just a little over a month ago for Memorial Day weekend it was fun to see how much more alert Sophia was this time around.  She had her moments of being a little fussy pants but overall I think she did great and seemed to enjoy just relaxing and napping with the sea breeze blowing behind her.  She's definitely a beach baby!

On 4th of July we all got to watch the fireworks shows all across town from the rooftop of our condo.  It was so neat to see so many shows all at once.  But honestly my favorite part of the night was at the end when we all gathered around the condo's balcony to watch the shows from some residents coming from the beach.  Some people must have spent a lot of money because their fireworks were honestly pretty amazing.  It was the perfect 4th of July and I was happy we could enjoy it from the comfort of the beach rather than our usual routine - which is typically driving home that day.

Happy Fourth of July!

Little Stars and Red White and Blue baby

All smiles with Mimi

On Friday we took some family pictures on the beach.  Can't wait to see how the professional ones turn out with all the cute matching outfits the kids we wearing.

  
On our last day, we left the beach and headed back in town to visit with Memaw Spivey.  Trey and I are so lucky to still have some of our grandmothers around to meet our daughter and I'm so glad Memaw got a chance to meet and hold her.  Sophia seemed so content to just lay in her lap and give her a hug.  It was so sweet to see.

4 Generations of Spivey

From there we headed on for some showers and dinner at Capt'n Bills.  Trey's cousin Jenny and her husband Matt met up with us there and we enjoyed some more family time before it was time to hit the road.  I thought Trey was a little crazy wanting to leave so late last night but in the end we made it home safe and sound (a little after 3 am) and it was nice to wake up in our beds and not have to drive during the day.  Sophia slept the entire way so it made for a much faster drive home.

We came home to rain and from the sound of it, that's all that's been going on in Atlanta this past week. I'm so glad we missed all the rain and had a perfect trip to the beach with good company.  Can't wait for the next family trip!

Jammed Packed Family Weekend & Sophia's Baptism

I had been looking forward to this weekend for months.  All my brothers were coming into town along with Trey's parents for my niece Handley's 6th Birthday, my brother Ryan's engagement party and Sophia and my nephew Jon's Baptism.  Whew!  Just writing that made me tired all over.  I seriously need a few days to recover from the weekend.  Too bad Sophia has been sleeping horribly these past two days (she decided over night that she no longer wants to sleep on her back and rolls onto her face and cries and cries and cries when she can't roll back) and I've been flyin solo without Trey... walking zombie at the moment to say the least.

But back to the weekend.  All the fun started Thursday night when Trey's parents came to town.  We met them at Carrie Beth's house for a quick visit and dinner before the bad storm hit.  I was so excited for Sophia to see her Mimi and Dedaw since the last time they saw her she was so much smaller.  She seems to grow bigger by the minute and I know it was fun for them to see how much she had changed in just a short time.

Friday Sophia got to hang out with Mimi for some quality one on one time in the morning while I got some work done - Thanks again Deborah! and we met Handley and the gang for her birthday lunch at McEntyres Bakery.  Always a fun treat to eat there and spend time with my nieces and Hudson.  Then Friday night we celebrated Handley's birthday with a family pool party.  It was so nice to relax and chill by the pool which was basically ours that night.  I still can't believe Handley is already 6!!!  Time flies!

Saturday was a whirlwind day with Trey and I getting ready for the party that was at our house after the  Baptism.  Then I went dress shopping with Ryan's fiance, Meghan for bridesmaid dresses and finished the night with a party at my parents' house to celebrate Ryan and Meghan's upcoming wedding.  It was a luau themed party and was so much fun!  Trey was in charge of the margaritas - a task he thoroughly enjoyed and everyone loved his drinks.  He's the margarita master for sure with his machine.

The Margarita Master perfecting his craft and totally in his element!

Meeting Aunt Asli

The Bride and Groom

meeting Uncle David

Alex loved Sophia and kept wanting to hold her

Sophia and her Godmother Ali

The whole family minus Jon who was sleeping

Sunday we ended our whirlwind weekend celebrating the Christening of Sophia and my nephew Jon.  It was so nice to have all my family in one place at one time and I'm so glad Sophia got to finally meet her Uncle David, Aunt Asli and cousins Jon and Alex.  I know my parents were in heaven having all their children and grandchildren in the same city and it made me so excited for our family trip coming up in September.

Great-Grandmothers

4 Generations

One little Christian baby coming right up!

Sophia and her Godparents - my brother David and cousin Ali

Little princess in the middle of all her Magid cousins

Perfect way to end the day playing with daddy - which was Trey's First Father's Day!  

Weekends are too short!

I can't get over how fast this weekend flew by.  It seems like that will always be the case now that I'm back at work.  I feel like we try to soak up as much family time as possible but mix that with getting errands run, etc. and it's just too short.  We did have a good weekend though so that's a good thing.

It all started Friday night when Trey and I went on a date night at Pricci in Buckhead.  We took Sophia over to my parents so they could watch her and then went out for a nice dinner.  This is only the second time we've been out without our little baby and while it is fun to have some adult time, I always miss her and can't wait to see her when we pick her up.

We spent Saturday getting things done around the house and working on our latest project - Sophia's playroom.  I started working on it before my leave ended but hadn't quite finished it.  It's still a work in progress but it's coming along nice.  I love the nautical theme and thought it would be a good gender neutral theme in case we have boys later on.  Can't wait to see how it looks when I hang the letters I made and make some curtains.

Saturday night we had a low key family dinner at the pool.  It was just what Trey and I needed after running around all day getting things done around the house.  We had the pool to ourselves (not that we got in because it was a little cool) but it was just so nice to relax.

Today we worked on the room some more and just spent some lazy time playing with Sophia.  I must say I really appreciate every second I get to spend with her now that I can't spend as much time during the week.  I could stare at that cute little face all day and it warms my heart to see her smile at her mama.

I can't get over how big she's looking these days.  I feel like I'm going to blink and she'll be walking.  I love this phase she's entering though.  She's become so alert, is rolling over like crazy and she's so cuddly.  Love this girl!

Our Busy Weekend and Sophia's Three Months Old!

Thursday afternoon Trey called home to see if I was up for heading to the Braves game.  He was offered the company seats and I was so excited to take Sophia to her first game!  He didn't get home until the game started and after feeding her, driving down there, etc. it was already the 6th inning by the time we got to our seats.  But- it was so much fun and she stole the show.  Everyone kept saying how good she was that she wasn't crying, etc.  She basically kept falling in and out of sleep on my chest snuggled inside the baby Bjorn but she would get all wide eyed and alert as soon as the fans started cheering loudly.  She didn't know what was going on but it was cute nonetheless.  In all honesty, it was probably best that we didn't get there sooner because that was a good little intro for her.

With her Wubbanub of course

Saturday we decided to head to Virginia Highlands for their annual Summerfest.  It sure was hot but it was just as fun as last year.  We ate lunch at Murphys then headed down the street to see all the vendors booths.  They have lots of food and music all over and it's just a good time for all.  I love heading to the summer festivals and can't wait until Sophia's old enough to play in the kid section.

Saturday also marked a special day because Sophia is officially 3 months old!  Gosh time flies.  Our sweet little girl is growing up so fast!!!  I am loving this cute cuddly, giggly phase.  She is turning into such a little girly girl with her little sounds and the way she moves her hands.  She's just precious and I wish I could bottle this time up.  Trey suggested I post some developmental things on here so I could remember when I look back.  So at 3 months old Sophia:

• Loves her Wubbanub paci (looks like Clifford the dog on the end of a paci) and clutches onto it when she sucks.  We really can't leave home without it.
• Smiles all the time and has started giggling and cooing a lot.  She's really trying to talk it seems.
• Loves looking at herself and others in the mirror and always smiles when she does.
• Sleeps in her crib at night (anywhere from 6-9 hour stretches most nights).
• Loves her Happy Baby squishy book (basically a book with colors - she always smiles when I flip to page 1 that has a little mirror on it)
• Has started reaching up for toys on her playmat
• Is really getting pretty good at tummy time and holding her head up
• Sits pretty decently in a bumbo chair
• Makes lots of girly little sounds and squeals and moves her hands very dainty like a girl girl when she sleeps
• Loves her swing and takes naps in it throughout the day

God's Divine Grace on an anxious working mom

This morning I stepped out onto our screened in porch to take a quick work call.  It felt so good with the shade and a slight breeze that I decided to take Sophia out there on our newly slipcovered couches (finally!  We only ordered them back in March!) for her mid morning feed. 

Anyway, I took a break from sifting through the massive amounts of work emails I’ve been going over these past two days and grabbed the May issue of American Baby.  I’d been wanting to read it for the past two months but never seemed to find the time to do so.  I suppose God had wanted me to find the perfect time to read it.  As I sat there enjoying the quiet sounds of nature around me holding my sweet baby and reading that magazine I found a little bit of peace that I really needed to calm my anxiety over the nanny starting tomorrow.

I came across a section in the magazine that was talking all about the worries moms face in finding child care as they stare down the barrel of their maternity leave ending.  A lot of the fears expressed by moms in the magazine were the same ones I have been feeling for months.  “What if my baby loves the caregiver more than me?”  “What if the childcare giver doesn’t know the particular things my baby likes and doesn’t know how to calm her when I’m not around?”  “What if I become out of touch with my child’s life?  I knew and adored her every move for three months and now someone else would be spending that precious time with her.”  If I write any more I might start to tear up (more than I already am). 

The truth is it’s just hard to let go and face the unknown and you really can’t imagine what you’re going to feel like before you actually hold your baby in your arms the day they're born.  It’s easy to say “oh I’ll be fine when the time comes to go back to work,” but the reality is quite different.  I think for some moms the thrill of having adult time away from the house makes going back to work an easier transition but for others (and I think I fall in this camp) the thrill of becoming a mom makes everything else just fade away.  It's a job that's harder than you can imagine at times but one of the most rewarding jobs you’ll ever have – which makes that jump back to work even harder.

Anyway, I started this post talking about why I found peace in the article and while I’m obviously still struggling with it all, it did make me feel better to read responses to the mothers’ concerns.  “No matter how close the baby gets to his caregiver, your mother-child bond is irreplaceable,” said one clinical psychologist.  Another suggested creating new mommy and me rituals to ensure that precious one on one time with your baby daily.  I guess I didn’t read anything I hadn’t heard before but it somehow made me feel better all the same.

Then as I was reading, Sophia finished feeding and fell asleep on my chest. 

little sleeping beauty

Just then, I noticed an email came through on my phone from a customer who was commenting on me returning to work and how I needed to treasure the quiet moments of the day when I get to hold her and how that’s what I’ll remember later.  I couldn’t agree more in that moment looking down at my precious sleeping beauty.  She didn’t have a care in the world and looked so comfortable nuzzled up on me.  

It just made me feel great knowing how comfortable she was in my arms and somehow made me really believe all the talk about how she’ll always know who her mama is.  I sat there with her like that for about 20 minutes.  I kept thinking how I should probably get up and get back to work but I just didn’t have it in me to wake her or move her.  And I suppose I needed that quiet mommy and me time.  I was relishing in the moment and it gave me peace I needed to face tomorrow and the weeks and months ahead when my work schedule gets a little busier and dare I say or think it (the over night trips that are coming).

Just goes to show you that God never gives you more than you can handle and although it’s going to be an adjustment to accept help from someone who’s now essentially a stranger to our family I know with time it’ll get easier and I’m sure everything will work out.  We have a great nanny lined up who I know will be good with Sophia and at the end of the day I’ll always have my baby girl to snuggle up with and love on.  I just hope and pray she'll always have smiles and love back for her mama.