Mamahood

Ok ok so I know I've been a mama for only about one month now (not including pregnancy) but as i think about mothers day coming up I can't help but write about how I love motherhood and I think I'll continue to love it. Everyday is new and fresh and every decision about what I wear, eat, or the places I go, all these choices revolve around my daughter or they at least affect her in some way. Some people might find this to be a negative thing but there is something beautiful about how she depends on me fully and I'm strengthened by our interdependence.

I love Cora-wearing (some people find attachment theory in general to be limiting for the mama, like she is not able to be free in a way because she always has a baby strapped to her) however I see it the opposite. I think when you wear your baby, you are therefore more free to do the things you need to do, clean, shop, cook (preferably without a flame too close to baby), pay bills, whatever. You have both hands! How could you not get things done!?

I love breast feeding. I hope everyone wanting children at least will give nursing a go. It's a bit daunting to think about being needed every two to three hours around the clock, in the beginning at least but it is also nice to think about how every two to three hours (or whatever) you get to sit in a cozy chair and relax for twenty minutes or so while she nurses. Talk about leisure! Now I only have one baby, I'm sure things get a little more interesting when there are more little ones running around. Side note: I love when she bobbles her head on your chest when she is hungry with her mouth slightly open, like a little bird ;) it's the cutest thing

I love cuddling in the night. We have been blessed with a good little sleeper. She only wakes softly (never opens her eyes) when she is hungry during the night. Which lately has been only once or twice a night. It's crazy that no matter how deep of sleep I am in, I will still wake up gently to her soft sounds and nurse. My sleep seems to be affected very little by our sleeping arrangements so I'm well rested and ready for the following day! Jonathan sleeps great and sticks to his side of the bed. No rolling around like mad for the umbriacos! :)

I love being just the thing she needs when she is upset. Yesterday was the first day where she was so upset due to exhaustion. She usually gets adequate naps during the day but I think she underwent another growth spurt yesterday (6 weeks soon) and so she wanted to eat almost every hour. (Whenever she has a growth spurt, I know for sure because the next day all she does is sleep, hence today, all she is doing is sleeping and eating, then right back to sleeping again, therefore I have time to write a blog post :) anyway, she was so upset and into a little fit of tears yesterday, I thought she wanted more food, no this made her more upset, I thought she had to burp, no, she kept crying. Jonathan tried to calm her down but wasn't quite successful. I finally took her and held her tight in my arms, and just started bouncing (quite strongly) on the sofa and she immediately fell asleep for the night. I even went out to hang out that night with girlfriends over pie and ice cream and she slept for the majority of that too. It's a great feeling to satisfy her needs, no matter how simple they may seem. She is the world to me to her needs are that big too.

On Mother's Day, I especially think about my own mama and how much I love her and miss her. She has been a wonderful mama for nearly three decades and she isn't slowing down. She still has two little ones at home, (not that little really, 15 & 13, but they will always be little to me :) She has worked very hard to be the best mother she can be to raise five girls for heavens sake, and she has taught me about strength and endurance and tenderness. I am naive to think motherhood is a breeze, it can be at times at this stage of the game for me, but I think The Lord eases us into it. Just wait until all your kids get sick and can't make it to the loo to vomit, so puke sprays over the entire wall on the way to the bathroom. Lets see how much fun parenthood is at that point. Well I remember doing exactly that, not making it to the bathroom one night when I was little and my mom cleaned up after me and loved me so well when I was sick. I hope I have as much patience and love as her when Cora gets sick in the future. One last thing about my mother, she is so funny! I never really realized but when she was here last for Cora's birth, we laughed so much and so hard! Her jokes and impressions and faces, they make me smile every time I rethink back to them.

Here are some things we've been up to:

Cora was baptized!! Oh it was so beautiful and i'll never forget how calm and peaceful she was as our pastor held her over the water and sealed her into Gods covenant love and family. Until she is old enough to confess faith herself, she has a seal of Gods faithfulness and promise to her. Hopefully for her, like others before her, her baptism will be a reminder and proof that when she believes, sin will no longer be her master.

Godparents came over for lunch after the church service. They love her so much!

Jonathans parents came to town earlier that week to meet and visit with Cora. They fell in love immediately and Cora loved them too. She loved to nap in Nanas arms and she loved being held by grandpa too!

I think the thing I love most about mamahood is smelling and kissing and snuggling up to that cute little face with all that hair. It never gets old. 

Thanks for reading!

Mi {Cora}zon. 1 month

 So here we are, March 17, 2013, the night before our sweet little baby arrives. My mother came just in time. Here she is giving me a foot massage Sunday night as we try to induce labor ;) 

12:30 am that Monday morning, I woke up to my water breaking. First things first, I text my boss informing her my leave has officially started. (Hooray!) At 1:00 am contractions start. I call my doula and she tells me to try to get some sleep in between contractions and call her once they become more intense. So around 4:30 am we all head to the hospital. After enduring through labor, (the hardest thing ive done in my life) Cora arrives at 3:03 that afternoon!

My doctor asked if I'd like to pull her out. I told her YES! and so I reached down and grabbed hold of my daughters little body and pulled her out and onto my chest.  She wiggled and snuggled in my arms as she tried to take in her very new world. I immediately began to cry as I had just experienced the most beautiful moment in my entire life. 

The delivery staff was incredible. My nurse and OB were so attentive and kind and everyone was so respectful of our birth plan. (My nurse Jill most of all!) They allowed me to have skin to skin bonding for as long as I wanted, they wait to cut to cut the cord until it had stopped pulsating, and they allowed the placenta to be delivered on its own, plus everything else in our plan. Everything was done in the same room and we never had to move to another room for recovery. Our sweet Cora nursed right away and I was so grateful that I was able. I was afraid I would not be able to breastfeed because my mother had difficulty with her supply. Praise The Lord that my supply was abundant! Our room was spacious and cozy, my mother slept on the sleeper sofa in the room and my husband slept on the bench that served as a bed too. (This hospital we delivered at has also been referred to as the "spa") We loved the blue icees for a snack whenever we wanted too :) initially I wanted a home birth, but my mother encouraged me to be in the hospital (maybe next time?) however I will never forget our wonderful experience with them.

 Here is Papa, getting to hold his brand new baby girl for the first time. 

 And my mother, taking it all in, as she coos over her new granddaughter :)

Cora's very first visitors were our best friends who arrived to see her later that evening. I think Cora loves them as much as we do!

One thing we never heard the end of was: "Look at all that hair!"

Our beautiful baby Cora Alys Umbriaco, Born 3/18/13 at 3:03 pm, 7 lbs 11 oz, 19.5" 

More visitors the next day from our very good friends!  

Midnight feedings in the hospital. I couldn't get enough of that sweet little face, still can't.  

She learned to nurse right away and was always just so content.  

Meeting her godparents:) Who love her so much! 

One of her first baths at home. She absolutely loves her baths. she never once cried. She simply lays there enjoying the warm water on her skin. Her favorite thing is her hair being washed. She will gently close her eyes and coo as we wash and rinse the shampoo out. 

Here are just a few photos of Cora's first weeks. She loves her swing from Nana and grandpa Umbriaco. She also loves to be in it with the warm and soft blanket crocheted by her other grandmother. 

My mother sat in the back seat with her as we drove around on our adventures. She captured cute moments with Cora, like this little scowl :) 

One day I sat with her and took a snapshot every time she made a cute little face and to my surprise, I caught her smiling!! She is 4 days old here. 

Cora and her Abuelita 

During one of my naps, my mother was watching Cora and seeing as she was OUT fast asleep, my mother decided to play a little game with her as she slept. She placed her in all these random spots around the house just for giggles because she was so tiny and cute. We call it "Where's Cora?" :)

In the luggage :) 

In the hutch :) 

In the buffet drawer with the tablecloths :) 

 Spice drawer too

One of my favorites, in the baby book shelf ;)

In her highchair :)

Our Pastor came that Saturday to meet baby Cora and to pray for her and bless her. We are so grateful for the church fellowship we will bring Cora up in. She will be blessed indeed. 

Cute little faces in her sling as mama does things around the house.  

Kisses with her papa 

Many people have commented on her "bright little eyes". We think it is very sweet. We sometimes call her Mouse only because she is so tiny and so super cute. 

another funny photo my mother took as she plays with her in the backseat.  :)

 Cora's very first Sunday and church service was Easter Sunday! Praise the Lord for His many good gifts! She is 6 days old here. We were very thankful that we could celebrate the Risen Lord with her. 

Friends came over for Easter lunch and she got to meet all her new friends again.  

This is the way you worship when you are one week old. This was after the Easter service as we all head outside to release balloons, a Grace and Peace tradition. Praise the Lord for sleep! 

We took a stroll to Tower Grove park one lovely Spring day. Daddy loves to hold her close.  

My mother and I had lunch at crown candy in ONSL and then head to the newly renovated downtown City Library. 

 

Friday movie night with S

One of the many things I love about motherhood/parenthood is co-sleeping. I love nursing her during the night and hearing only her little coos that wakes me to nurse instead of a screaming infant from another room. Depending on the night, we will place her in the bassinet next to our bed which makes for an gentler awakening when she needs to nurse in the night too. This was a special moment I saw one early morning :) 

One of my favorite motherhood blogs: EP

A lunch date at blueberry hill with the godparents 

Getting bigger! :)

Recently we had some other visitors from out of town, Cora's aunt, uncle and new cousin!  

We loved getting to spend time together and we so grateful they could come :) 

 

So cute!!

Cora and her Cousin Judah posing for pictures. It doesn't get cuter than this!

{Thank you for your visit Uncle J, Auntie E, and little dinosaur cousin Judah! We will miss you!!}

Our lives have become filled with such joy, warmth, and beauty because of this little one that we love with all our hearts. Each day brings new moments to treasure. 

Happy *one month* Cora!! We love you!