GMA+GPA visit!

visitors are kind of like christmas. they bring such a lively, loving, and warm feel to the house and as soon as they leave, that feeling disappears. i hate that about christmas as you're taking down the decorations and i especially hate that when guests leave.

this weekend was no exception. GMA+GPA came into town for the long weekend since my mom has winter break and timmer and i had monday off. we "made" them stay until monday, giving them a full day to hang with stella. it was so great to have them here, we played around the house and did errands/shopping together. i miss having my mom close by to go shopping with or running here and there. i am always so jealous and envious of people who have their families near to them that are able to do those things. i really hope you take time and show your appreciation and don't take it for granted...

i could tell stella loved having GMA+GPA here...she was a little hesitant at first, she is more used to being at their house than she is having them at her house, but she warmed up to them quicky! [except when GPA tried to take a onesie off that was a bit tight to pull over stella's head--then she wasn't too thrilled ;)]  GPA really gets into playing, it is so fun to watch! stella is more interactive now also so it is fun to sit back and watch.

OH! and stella ROLLED OVER for the first time today! i was beyond excited that she finally rolled over and was so happy that my parents were able to see a milestone in person, too! since they see her at least once a month, they miss those things, so i was pumped they saw it!

stella+GPA

GMA+stella

hi beautiful girl!

i can sit up and play my piano now :)

jellybean.

so much fun with GPA!

we cannot wait to see you again, we hope you come back to visit again soon! we love you!!

xoxo mucho!!!!

she's heeeeereeeeeee! [about three months late ;)] part dos.

we made it through our first night, and then had a handful of visitors our first weekend with stella.  cousin livvy was heading back down to DC, so aunt kristen uncle elan uncle mick and rachel stopped by to see stella before the weekend was over.

august 10, 2012

aunt kristen+stella

uncle mick+stella

rachel+stella

babies are so precious when they sleep <3

uncle elan did not want to hold stella when she was this little [it's okay stella, your father is the same way!  he does not like to hold other people's baby's until they are not breakable.  maybe that has changed since you've come into the world :)], but they had so much fun visiting with you.  aunt kristen wanted you to open your eyes, but you kept sleeping.  you are now a week+ shy of four months, so it is amazing to look back and see how tiny you were!  i already miss those days...

after our visitors left, we went on our first walk!  

daddy+stella ready for a walk...and ava too!

a few days later...

checking things out on the changing table of the pack and play.

we had to capture a picture.  it is all too cute and funny at the beginning.  i guess everything is funny after a while of not much sleep :)

dadddy+stella [august 12, 2012]

back to sleeping sweet.

kara+cam came to visit [august 13, 2012]

aunt colleen came to visit! [august 14, 2012--a whole week old!]

aunt colleen had a hard time remembering when riley was this small.  we tried to tell her that riley was even smaller!

she has another one coming her way, due january 5, 2013.  she'll remember again, soon!

mommy needed to get out of the house, so we took our first "road trip" out to ithaca.

i hope stella enjoys the water just as much as i do.

love me some sweetness.

GPA+stella

daddy's first day back to work since stella was born.

sad he had to go back, but grateful GMA came to stay for a couple of weeks to help out!

kristen came to visit! [august 19, 2012]

we had a great time catching up + she loved meeting stella <3

little peanut!

lindsay, allie, stella + i.

allie is two weeks and one day older than stella :)

mommy + stella <3

GMA + stella

don't get any closer, mister!

sleepy stella.

big yawn!

september 7, 2012 -- happy one month to stella!

stella + i after one month of her being born.

so tiny.

we love you, stella margaret!  we made it through one whole month, here's to many, many, many more!  love, mommy + daddy.

she's heeeeereeeeeee! [about three months late ;)] part uno.

it has been for-ever since i have blogged!  waahhh.  but for good reason--stella margaret entered the world!  here is a recap of our beautiful little lady from the day she was born until now, through pictures.  [i hope to blog more as i am learning to manage my time and prioritize it better :)]

august 7, 2012 -- induction day+stella's arrival!

i was a giant...yikes!  and i was a nervous wreck at this point!  i didn't even want to call the hospital to see if they were ready for me.  i was ready for stella, but not at all ready for the delivery part!

but when we got to our room, a calm came over me...even though i had no idea what was in store for me!

all settled in at the hospital.

i by-pass that nasty green sign and cannot get over how long my nails were!  miss them!

(pitocin...not nice!)

EPIDURAL IS IN...LIFE IS GOOD AGAIN!

waiting for the anesthesiologist felt like an eternity... and i'm sure tim thought i was about to punch him :)

see ya in the O.R.!

stella margaret arrived at 7:57pm on august 7, 2012 <3

august 8th - august 10th -- hospital stay+visitors!

in absolute awe.

if this picture doesn't scream NEW MOM and NEED SLEEP...

GPA+stella

grammy+stella

GMA+stella

GMA+GPA+stella

gorgeous baby.

cousins!  livvy+stella

great-grandma green a.k.a. nana

grandpy+stella

mom+dad+stella!

my parents and i with my baby... <3

"my baby is having a baby." my mom

looking ROUGH, but loving every minute with stella!

hi pretty face!

DISCHARGE DAY!  

we have to do this all on our own now?  yes?!

we made it HOME!  

the first night home was a little tough, but as each day came and as each day went, things got better and we learned how to communicate with one another and we learned so much about stella.  my mom came to help for a couple weeks as i was unable to drive, couldn't go up the stairs, and tim was back to work.   it is crazy looking back on that time and it seems like it was a while ago that it all happened, but it has only been about three months.  it goes by so fast!!

we love her so much and are incredibly grateful for all the help+support we have gotten and continue to receive! <3

stay tuned for part two :)